Skip links

Thyroid Health and Diet

Your One Stop Source

Header Right

Underactive Thyroid Symptoms You Should Know About

Underactive Thyroid Symptoms – Top Signs You Could Have Hypothyroidism

Underactive Thyroid Symptoms

It is crucial to become familiar with underactive thyroid symptoms.
This is especially true if you are a female between the ages of 25 and
55. Hypothyroidism accounts for approximately 80% of all instances of
thyroid disease.

In the United States alone, it is estimated that
approximately twenty seven million individuals have a disorder that is
directly related to the thyroid. Approximately half of all individuals
that have a thyroid disease have not yet been diagnosed with the
condition. If these conditions are not treated, other
serious health complications may arise – even potentially life
threatening conditions.

What is Hypothyroidism?

Before delving into the most common symptoms,
it is essential to be aware of the basics of Hypothyroidism. If you are
experiencing this condition, it means that your thyroid is not creating
enough of the hormones that are designed to assist in the body’s
metabolism – or, the way that the body utilizes energy.

The thyroid is a
special gland that is located in the front region of the neck. If you
suffer from symptoms
that are commonly associated with Hypothyroidism, there are many health
issues that may develop. This is because an underactive thyroid has the
capability of affecting the entire body.

Common causes of this condition include issues where the immune
system attacks the thyroid tissue, radiation therapies to treat common
cancers, surgical procedures that are performed to remove the gland,
viral based infections and certain medications. If you feel as if you
are suffering from underactive thyroid symptoms, you should confirm the diagnosis with a medical professional.

Common Underactive Thyroid Symptoms

There are numerous low thyroid symptoms
that you may experience. By
being able to identify these symptoms in the early stages of the
condition, you will be able to receive the treatment that you require to
properly manage the condition.

Keep a running list of any symptoms you may be experiencing. Start a word document and add to the list as you think of items to add. This will help you remember as thyroid suffers tend to have “brain fog”. This will also help your doctor get an accurate picture of your health.


Below, you will find the most common issues that patients encounter when they suffer from this thyroid disease:

  • The majority of patients will find that they experience moderate to severe fatigue.
  • It is common for weakness to be experienced.
  • Gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation, are fairly common.
  • Many individuals that suffer from hypothyroidism find that they
    experience discomfort in the body. This discomfort usually consists of
    muscle aches and muscle cramps.
  • Many patients experience changes that affect the hair and skin. This
    could include the loss of hair or their hair and skin may start to
    become exceptionally dry and coarse.
  • Weight issues are common symptoms.
    Many experience difficulty in losing weight despite the fact that they
    have increased their level of physical activity and decreased the amount
    of calories that they consume. Then, there are many that find that they
    gain weight with no underlying cause.
  • Women that suffer from underactive thyroid symptoms
    may find that they experience abnormalities with their menstrual cycle.
    Many women may have more frequent, heavier periods while others do not
    have a regular cycle that is lighter than usual.
  • Mental and emotional issues such as depression, irritability and anxiety may be experienced.
  • Cognitive complications such as memory loss may be experienced.
  • Many find that when they suffer from hypothyroidism that they develop an increased sensitivity to cold.
  • It is common for sufferers to find that they have a decreased libido.
  • When hypothyroidism has advanced to a severe stage, many underactive thyroid symptoms
    may be experienced. The most serious include slow speech, an
    increase in the size of the tongue and possibly even the onset of
    jaundice.

Return from Underactive Thyroid Symptoms to Thyroid Disease Symptoms page