Thyroid disease, regardless of type, impacts thyroid hormone secretion. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland situated at the front of the neck. This vital gland is responsible for producing vital hormones that maintain healthy heart, muscle, metabolic, and brain function.
The most common types of thyroid disease—hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism—both impact the function of the thyroid gland, causing havoc on body metabolism, energy, and more.
Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism have exact opposite impacts on the body in these ways:
Hypothyroidism causes the metabolism to decrease, often causing sudden weight gain and energy loss in patients. Patients with hypothyroidism are also prone to these symptoms due to low thyroid hormone output:
- Slower than normal heart rate
- Digestive issues (i.e., constipation) due to a sluggish intestinal tract
- Chills due to drop in body temperature
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Forgetfulness and foggy memory
- Brittle hair and nails
- Dry skin and hair
- Decreased menstrual flow
- Mood swings and depression
- Muscle cramps, particularly in the legs and feet
- Swollen thyroid gland (goiter at the front of the neck)
Hyperthyroidism, on the other hand, causes metabolism to increase due to an overactive thyroid gland, usually causing these telltale symptoms:
- Increased metabolism and weight loss
- Elevated heart rate and heart palpitations
- Excess sweating
- Increased body temperature hot
- Disrupted sleep
- Increased anxiety and nervousness, panic attacks for some patients
- Forgetfulness
- Irritability and emotional outbursts
- Muscle loss
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Menstrual irregularities and amenorrhea
