What are early warning signs of thyroid problems?
Medically reviewed on January 7, 2022 by Jordan Stachel, M.S., RDN, CPT. Last updated January 4, 2023. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.
Table of contents
- What is the Thyroid?
- Thyroid Hormones
- What are the main causes of thyroid problems?
- Potential Early Signs of Thyroid Problems
- Symptoms of Thyroid Issues vs. Other Health Conditions
- Treating Thyroid Problems
The American Thyroid Association estimates that about 12 percent of Americans will develop a thyroid condition of some kind in their lifetime. About 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease [1].
The thyroid is an incredibly important gland, and any issues or malfunctions in the thyroid can contribute to severe health issues. What’s concerning is that thyroid problems can be hard to pinpoint. Estimates suggest that about 60 percent of Americans with thyroid disease don’t even know that they have it [1]. Symptoms may be easy to mistake for other health problems, or people may ignore thyroid symptoms altogether. However, discerning the early signs of thyroid disease means getting help and treatment sooner. Learn more about thyroid problems and some potential early signs of thyroid disease below (and consider learning more about at-home thyroid testing).
What is the Thyroid?
The thyroid is a gland that is part of the body’s endocrine system. Relatively small in size, the thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that wraps around your trachea at the front of your neck [1]. The thyroid functions to produce hormones that are involved with regulating your metabolism. Your metabolism is the process through which digestible nutrients get turned into usable energy. With the right balance of these hormones, your metabolism can work at a proper rate [2].
Aside from regulating your metabolism, your thyroid hormones are involved in a variety of bodily functions, including:
- Brain development
- Bone maintenance and regulation
- Controlling your heart
- Maintaining digestive function [2]
Thyroid Hormones
The thyroid produces two hormones: T3 and T4. T3 is known as triiodothyronine, while T4 is known as thyroxine. T3 is the more active of the two hormones, but only about 20 percent of the thyroid’s production comprises T3. The other 80 percent comprises T4 [2]. However, enzymes in the liver, kidneys, and other tissues convert T4 into the more bioactive T3 [2].
Maintaining a balance of the thyroid hormones and knowing how to understand thyroid levels is the key to upholding your overall health and the health of your thyroid gland. Thyroid hormone production is regulated by the pituitary gland. This gland sits at the bottom of your brain and produces a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). If the levels of thyroid hormones decrease too much, the pituitary gland produces TSH to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more hormones.
The pituitary gland is regulated by the hypothalamus, another gland that sits just above the pituitary. The hypothalamus gets signals from the brain to release a hormone called thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). This hormone stimulates the pituitary gland to release TSH, which then signals the thyroid to release its own hormones [2].
This is a complex series of processes, but it’s all well-regulated in a healthy human. The brain is constantly adapting throughout the day based on your body’s needs, thyroid levels, and any metabolic changes.
What are the main causes of thyroid problems?
Although the thyroid is a small gland located at the base of your neck, it plays a major role in your overall health and wellness. When it produces too much or too little thyroid hormone, the effects on your body vary. Hyperthyroidism is the term for the overproduction of thyroid hormones, while hypothyroidism refers to their underproduction.
What causes these thyroid problems? Let’s break down some of the potential conditions that can contribute to hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, starting with hypothyroidism:
- Thyroiditis: When your thyroid gland is inflamed or swollen, lowering the amount of hormones your thyroid produces.
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: An inherited autoimmune condition where the body’s cells attack and damage the thyroid. This brings up the question: Is hypothyroidism genetic? In the case of Hashimoto's, it can be.
- Postpartum thyroiditis: This condition occurs in 5% to 9% of women after childbirth and is usually temporary.
- Iodine deficiency: Iodine is used by the thyroid to produce hormones and when your body doesn’t produce enough iodine, your thyroid cannot function properly.
- A non-functioning thyroid gland: Sometimes, the thyroid gland doesn’t work correctly from birth. This affects about 1 in 4,000 newborns, and if left untreated, the child could have both physical and mental issues in the future.
Conditions that can cause hyperthyroidism include:
- Graves’ disease: A condition that may cause the thyroid gland to be overactive and produce too much hormone.Nodules: Hyperthyroidism can be caused by overactive nodules (abnormal growths of thyroid cells within the thyroid).
- Thyroiditis: When your thyroid gland is inflamed or swollen, lowering the amount of hormones your thyroid produces.
- Excessive iodine: When you have too much iodine (the mineral that is used to make thyroid hormones) in your body, the thyroid makes more thyroid hormones than it needs.
Potential Early Signs of Thyroid Problems
The two main types of thyroid disease are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. An underactive thyroid can result in your body not making enough thyroid hormones. This is known as hypothyroidism [3]. Alternatively, an overactive thyroid, known as hyperthyroidism, can cause an overproduction of these hormones [4]. Understanding the differences between hypothyroidism vs. hyperthyroidism is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment.
These two conditions can share some broad similarities, but many potential early warning signs of thyroid disease can be hard to miss. Here are some of the most common signs of thyroid dysfunction.
Unintended Weight Fluctuations
Your metabolism is how your body utilizes food and converts it into usable energy. That process is naturally linked to your weight. Without enough thyroid hormone, your metabolism may slow down, which can result in unintended weight gain. Even with changes to your diet and exercise regimen, weight gain can be hard to shed if you have a hormone imbalance [3].
Alternately, with hyperthyroidism, you experience weight loss unintentionally, even without changing your diet or physical activity [4].
Digestive Issues
Along with its close link to your metabolism, your thyroid can also affect your digestion, leading to potential gastrointestinal issues. You may experience frequent bowel movements or constipation depending on your thyroid hormone levels.
Mood Changes
Thyroid problems can potentially contribute to changes in mood, most often manifesting as depression and/or anxiety. Usually, the more severe your thyroid issues, the more severe the mood swings or disorders [5].
With hypothyroidism, you may be more prone to symptoms of depression [3]. Those with hyperthyroidism may experience nervousness, irritability, and anxiety [5].
Difficulty Regulating Temperature
Your metabolism plays an integral role in your temperature regulation. For example, when you’re cold, you naturally burn more calories to keep your body warm [6].
Fluctuations in your metabolism can then obstruct your body’s natural temperature regulation. When your thyroid is underactive, you might get cold easily. Winters may feel unbearable, or you may have to turn up the heat in your home even when it’s a relatively warm day [3]. Alternately, if you have an overactive thyroid, you may have difficulty with hot weather. You may sweat even in perfectly mild climates, or you may turn on the air conditioner even on colder days [4].
Sleep Problems
Thyroid problems can contribute to ongoing sleep disturbances. Hypothyroidism may contribute to sleep issues through obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which you periodically stop breathing in your sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is a form of this disorder characterized by physical obstructions that prevent you from breathing freely in your sleep. Hypothyroidism can cause obstructive sleep apnea through multiple factors, like enlarging the tongue, disrupting the muscles that control your airways, or causing damage to the nerves and muscles involved with breathing [7].
Hyperthyroidism may cause sleep problems by contributing to night sweats. Remember, thyroid issues can disturb your temperature regulation. At night, that may translate to hot flashes and night sweats that can keep you up or otherwise prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep [8].
Swelling or Nodules
If you have thyroid problems, you may notice swelling or nodules on your neck, where your thyroid is located. Swelling of the thyroid nodules is typically a sign of thyroiditis–or an inflamed thyroid. Nodules or lumps usually are not serious, but a very small portion may be cancerous. If you notice any growth or deformation in your neck, you should get it checked out immediately, even if it isn’t thyroid-related.
Symptoms of Thyroid Issues vs. Other Health Conditions
Without the help of blood tests, thyroid issues are often misdiagnosed due to their ambiguous, broad range of symptoms [9]. For example, Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland, often resembles hyperthyroidism in its early stages due to the similarity of symptoms such as difficulty with sleep, heat sensitivity, and elevated heart rate. If Hashimoto’s disease is left untreated, symptoms will eventually shift to resemble that of hypothyroidism, which can include fatigue, digestive issues, and dry skin. This is why it’s important to test for thyroid dysfunction as soon as symptoms develop to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment.
However, these symptoms aren’t always indicative of thyroid dysfunction. Symptoms such as constipation, chronic fatigue, brain fog, or anxiety can all point to poor gut health. Taking steps to improve digestive health such as the following could help address some of these symptoms:
- Eating a well-balanced diet complete with gut-friendly foods
- Consistent exercise
- Maintaining a steady sleep schedule
- Reducing stress
Studies have shown that the gut microbiome plays a role in the absorption of key minerals that support thyroid activity, indicating a clear link between gut health and thyroid function [10].
Treating Thyroid Problems
Once your healthcare provider has identified your thyroid problem, you can typically receive treatment to manage your symptoms and regain healthy hormone levels. Hypothyroidism is usually treated with synthetic thyroid hormones, which restores your thyroid hormone levels and reverses signs of an underactive thyroid. Hyperthyroidism can be treated with a variety of treatment options designed to reduce thyroid hormones or slow down hormone production.
It’s impossible to diagnose yourself based on just the above symptoms alone. The only real way to know if you have a thyroid problem is to take a blood test and receive a diagnosis from your healthcare provider. Everlywell offers an at-home thyroid test that measures your thyroid hormone levels. If the results come back with any abnormalities, you can take them to your healthcare provider and determine any necessary steps for treatment and better health.
Related content
Can Thyroid Problems Cause Headaches?
Can Thyroid Problems Cause Hair Loss
Can Stress Cause Thyroid Problems?
References
1. General Information/Press Room. American Thyroid Association. URL. Accessed January 7, 2022.
2. Thyroid gland. Society for Endocrinology. URL. Accessed January 7, 2022.
3. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Mayo Clinic. URL. Accessed January 7, 2022.
4. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Mayo Clinic. URL. Accessed January 7, 2022.
5. Thyroid disease: Can it affect a person's mood? Mayo Clinic. URL. Accessed January 7, 2022.
6. Cool Temperature Alters Human Fat and Metabolism. National Institutes of Health. URL. Accessed January 7, 2022.
7. Grunstein RR, Sullivan CE. Sleep apnea and hypothyroidism: mechanisms and management. Am J Med. 1988 Dec;85(6):775-9. PMID: 3057899.
8. Bryce C. Persistent Night Sweats: Diagnostic Evaluation. Am Fam Physician. 2020 Oct 1;102(7):427-433. PMID: 32996756.
9. Wenzel KW, Riedemann JH. Fehldiagnosen und Fehltherapien bei Schilddrüsenerkrankungen [Misdiagnoses and mismanagement in thyroid diseases (author's transl)]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1981 Nov 13;106(46):1526-32. German. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1070547. PMID: 7307988.
10. Knezevic J, Starchl C, Tmava Berisha A, Amrein K. Thyroid-Gut-Axis: How Does the Microbiota Influence Thyroid Function? Nutrients. 2020 Jun 12;12(6):1769. doi: 10.3390/nu12061769. PMID: 32545596; PMCID: PMC7353203.
Jordan Stachel, M.S., RDN, CPT is most fulfilled when guiding others towards making stepwise, sustainable changes that add up to big results over time. Jordan works with a wide variety of individuals, ranging in age from children to the elderly, with an assortment of concerns and clinical conditions, and has written for publications such as Innerbody. She helps individuals optimize overall health and/or manage disease states using personalized medical nutrition therapy techniques.