Small but great! The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland sits in the front of the neck and performs numerous tasks in our body. However, many people suffer from thyroid dysfunction, which manifests itself through numerous symptoms. We name 5 problems caused by the thyroid.
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Typical symptoms – the thyroid could be to blame for these problems
1. Weight fluctuations
Are you gaining weight even though you haven’t changed your diet and aren’t eating more than usual? Maybe you suffer from an underactive thyroid, which almost completely paralyzes the metabolic processes in our body. If, on the other hand, your metabolism works faster than usual and you suddenly lose weight, this indicates an overactive thyroid gland.
2. Hair loss
Are you suddenly losing more hair than usual? A thyroid dysfunction could also be the trigger here. Due to the accelerated metabolism, the hair falls out more frequently and faster.
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3. Sleep disorders
Difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep as well as inner restlessness can be a sign of an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. The hormone fluctuations usually affect not only the sleep itself. Due to the lack of sleep and the lack of recovery phases, the body is usually also weakened during the day. Tiredness, an increased need for sleep and a lack of drive are typical side effects of a malfunctioning thyroid gland.
4. Visual disturbances
Do you suffer from sudden eye pressure and are you struggling with conjunctivitis more and more often? If your ophthalmologist doesn’t find anything, you should also have your thyroid examined. An overactive thyroid gland can damage the eyes and cause blurred vision.
5. Hot flashes
Not only the menopause cause hot flashes – but also the thyroid! If this releases too many hormones, the body goes into overdrive and you start to sweat profusely.
By the way: If your thyroid enlarges, swells or even forms knots, this is probably a goiter or goiter. This can be another warning sign of an overactive or underactive thyroid.
How can a thyroid malfunction be diagnosed?
If the patient describes his symptoms, the doctor usually gets the clues that lead him to suspect an initial diagnosis. However, in order to be able to confirm this assumption, some examinations can be used to determine a malfunction of the thyroid gland:
- Blood test
The laboratory value TSH can give important indications of a thyroid dysfunction. - Ultrasound examination
The size and condition of the thyroid gland can also be examined using ultrasound. - Scintigraphy
This procedure examines the functionality of the thyroid gland.
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