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The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, tin accept a dramatic impact on a huge diversity of bodily functions, and if you're a woman over 35 your odds of a thyroid disorder are loftier—more than thirty percent, by some estimates.

At least 30 million Americans accept a thyroid disorder and half—15 million—are silent sufferers who are undiagnosed, according to The American Clan of Clinical Endocrinologists. Women are as much as 10 times as likely every bit men to take a thyroid problem, says integrative medicine specialist Dr. Robin Miller, co-author of The Smart Woman's Guide to MidLife & Beyond.

Located in a higher place the Adam'due south apple, your thyroid produces thyroid hormone (TH), which regulates, among other things, your body'due south temperature, metabolism, and heartbeat. Things can get-go to go incorrect when your thyroid is under- or over-active. If it'southward sluggish, it produces likewise niggling Thursday; amped-upwards and it produces too much. What causes your thyroid to go haywire? Information technology could be genetics, an autoimmune assault, pregnancy, stress, nutritional deficiencies, or toxins in the environment, but experts aren't entirely certain. Considering of thyroid hormones far reach in the torso—from brain to bowels—diagnosing a disorder can be challenging. Hither'southward how to tell if your thyroid could exist on the blink.

Y'all're exhausted

Feeling tired and having no energy are bug associated with lots of conditions, but they're strongly linked with hypothyroidism, the disorder that'southward the upshot of too trivial thyroid hormone. If y'all're still tired in the morning or all day afterwards a full night's sleep, that'due south a clue that your thyroid may be underactive. Too piddling thyroid hormone coursing through your bloodstream and cells ways your muscles aren't getting that get-going betoken. "Fatigue is the number one symptom I see," says Miller. "It's the kind of fatigue where you're still tired in the morn after a full night'due south sleep—that's a clue that yous're not but sleep deprived; your thyroid may be underactive."

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You're feeling downward

Feeling unusually depressed or sad can also be a symptom of hypothyroidism. Why? Information technology'southward thought that the production of as well petty thyroid hormone can accept an impact on levels of "feel expert" serotonin in the brain. With an underactive thyroid turning other torso systems downward to "low," it'due south not surprising that your mood might sink there, also.

You feel jittery and anxious

Anxiety and "feeling wired" are associated with hyperthyroidism, when the thyroid gland is making too much thyroid hormone. Flooded with consistent "all systems go" letters, your metabolism and whole torso may spin into overdrive. If yous feel like you just tin't relax, your thyroid may exist "hyper."

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Your appetite or gustatory modality buds are contradistinct

An increased appetite can be a sign of hyperthyroidism when too much thyroid hormone may have you feeling hungry all of the time. The simply upside is that the "hyper" part of the disorder typically offsets the caloric impact of an increased appetite so the finish result isn't weight gain.

An underactive thyroid, on the other hand, can mess with your sense of gustatory modality and smell.

Your brain feels fuzzy

Sure, it could be caused past sleep deprivation or aging, but cognitive functioning tin can take a hit when your thyroid is out of whack. Too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) can cause difficulty concentrating and also little (hypothyroidism) may cause forgetfulness and general brain fog. "When we care for patients for hypothyroidism, they are often surprised at how fast their brain fog goes away and how much sharper they feel," Miller says. "Many women recollect it's only something that comes along with menopause when information technology really is a sign of a thyroid problem."

You've lost your interest in sex

Having trivial or no desire in the sack could be a side effect of a thyroid disorder. Likewise little thyroid hormone could be a contributor to a depression libido, but the cumulative impact of other hypothyroidism symptoms—weight gain, low energy, and body aches and pains—could besides play a part.

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You're feeling all fluttery

That fluttery feeling yous're having may exist eye palpitations. It can experience like your heart is actually fluttering or skipping a beat or 2, or chirapsia as well difficult or also quickly. You lot may discover these feelings in your breast or at pulse points in your throat or neck. Heart flutters or palpitations can be a sign of too many thyroid hormones flooding your system (hyperthyroidism).

Your skin is dry

Skin that's dry and itchy can be a symptom of hypothyroidism. The change in skin texture and appearance is probably due to slowed metabolism (caused past besides little thyroid hormone product), which can reduce sweating. Skin without plenty moisture can quickly go dry out and flaky. Likewise, nails can go brittle and may develop ridges.

Your bowels are unpredictable

People with hypothyroidism sometimes complain of constipation. The disruption in hormone production has probable acquired a slowdown of digestive processes.

"In that location'south merely no motion in your gut," Miller says. "This is ane of the meridian three most common symptoms of hypothyroidism I see."

On the contrary side of the spectrum, an overactive thyroid gland tin cause diarrhea or more frequent bowel movements, which is why they're symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Your periods have changed

Longer menstrual periods with a heavier flow and more than cramps can be a sign of hypothyroidism, where thyroid hormones are in short supply. Periods may be closer together.

With hyperthyroidism, high levels of TH cause menstrual irregularities in a different way. Periods are shorter, farther autonomously and may be very lite. "I ever ask my patients near their cycles and if they're regular," says Miller. She finds a potent link between irregular cycles and thyroid issues. And if periods are extra-heavy, she checks for anemia, too.

You have painful extremities or muscles

Sometimes you lot stub a toe or work out too hard—that kind of pain tin be explained abroad. Merely if y'all accept mysterious or sudden tingling or numbness—or actual hurting—in your arms, legs, feet, or hands, that could be a sign of hypothyroidism. Over time, producing too picayune thyroid hormone can damage the nerves that send signals from your brain and spinal cord throughout your torso. The result is those "unexplained" tingles and twinges.

Y'all have high blood force per unit area

Elevated blood pressure can be a symptom of a thyroid disorder. Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism take been fingered as culprits. By some estimates, people with hypothyroidism have two to 3 times the risk of developing hypertension. One theory is that low amounts of thyroid hormone can slow centre beat, which can bear on pumping strength and blood vessel wall flexibility. Both may cause a rise in claret pressure.

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Your thermostat is on the fritz

Feeling cold or having chills is associated with hypothyroidism. The organization tiresome-down caused past an underactive thyroid means less free energy is being burned by cells. Less energy equals less oestrus.

On the other hand, an overactive thyroid puts free energy-producing cells into overdrive. That's why people with hyperthyroidism sometimes feel as well warm or sweat profusely.

You lot're hoarse or your neck feels funny

A alter in your vox or a lump in your throat could exist a sign of a thyroid disorder. One way to check is to take a skilful wait at your neck to run across if you tin can detect any signs of thyroid swelling. Y'all can do a physical bank check of your own thyroid at home with these directions from The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists:

Using a paw mirror, watch your throat every bit you lot swallow a drinkable of water. You're looking for whatever bulges or protrusions in the thyroid surface area, which is below your Adam's apple but above your collarbones. Yous may want to try this several times to get a hang of where your thyroid really is. If you lot come across anything that's lumpy or suspicious, see your doctor.

Your sleep schedule is messed up

Desire to sleep all of the time? It could exist hypothyroidism. A sluggish thyroid tin deadening bodily functions downwards to the signal where sleeping (even in the daytime) seems like a vivid idea.

Tin can't sleep? Information technology could be hyperthyroidism. An overactive thyroid tin can cause anxiety and rapid pulse, which tin make it hard to fall asleep or fifty-fifty wake you in the middle of the dark.

You lot've gained weight

Going up a few dress sizes can be caused by so many things that it'south unlikely your doctor will look at weight gain lone as a potential thyroid disorder symptom. Yet, weight gain is one of the top reasons women show upwards in Miller's function for a thyroid checkup. "They'll tell me that they aren't eating whatever more than usual, but they're gaining weight," she says. "They are exercising, but they are getting nowhere. They tin can't lose it." It'due south almost always due to an underactive thyroid, she says.

On the other end of the scale, a sudden weight loss can signal hyperthyroidism.

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Your hair is thinning or falling out

Dry, brittle hair that breaks or falls out can be a sign of hypothyroidism. As well little thyroid hormone disrupts your hair growth bicycle and puts also many follicles into "resting" mode, resulting in hair loss—sometimes all over your body including at the outside of your eyebrows. "Lots of my patients come in and tell me that their barber sent them," says Miller. "They'll say, 'My hair stylist said I'm losing my pilus and I needed to become ask my doctor near my thyroid.' The hair salons are more than enlightened of thyroid problems than some doctors!"

An overactive thyroid can also do a number on your hair. Hair problems due to hyperthyroidism typically prove up as thinning hair just on your head.

You accept trouble getting significant

If you've been trying to have a baby for an extended period of time with no luck, an under- or over-active thyroid could be a contributing factor. Difficulty conceiving has been linked to a college gamble of undiagnosed thyroid problems.

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can interfere with ovulation, which impairs fertility. Thyroid disorders are also linked to pregnancy complications.

You have high cholesterol

High levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol that haven't responded to diet, exercise, or medication have been linked to hypothyroidism. Elevated levels of the "bad" cholesterol can be caused by an underactive thyroid and are cause for business. Untreated hypothyroidism tin lead to heart problems, including an enlarged centre and heart failure.

Get your thyroid tested

If you have ane or more of these symptoms and suspect it's your thyroid, see your physician and ask for a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test, Complimentary T3, and Free T4 tests, says Miller. Based on test results, your symptoms, and your physical exam, you may be prescribed synthetic hormones. Testing and treating a thyroid disorder takes a bit of trial-and-error so expect to visit the doc a few times earlier the dosage is correct.

Push for thyroid treatment

Look to have to be your ain advocate when it comes to your thyroid. Some doctors may exist resistant to a thyroid diagnosis, although the American Associated of Clinical Endocrinologists narrowed the TSH range for acceptable thyroid office from 0.v-5.0 to 0.3-three.04 in 2003. That means more women fall into a range that tin can be treated. "Discover a doctor who treats the person, non merely the lab tests," says Miller. "If you're feeling improve at a sure dosage—that should carry simply equally much weight equally the lab results."

This article originally appeared on Wellness.com.