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Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary in accordance to the severity of the hormone deficiency that is a contributory cause. In most cases, however, any resulting problems that occur will likely develop slowly, perhaps even over a period of years rather than weeks or months. In fact, at first, you may attribute symptoms such as fatigue and sluggishness to the aging process, but as your metabolism continues to slow, symptoms that are more obvious may begin to appear such as:

• Increased sensitivity to cold

• Constipation

• Pale, dry skin

• Puffiness in your face

• Hoarseness

• Elevation in blood cholesterol level

• Weight gain with no explanation

• Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness

• Pain, stiffness, or swelling of the joints

• Muscle weakness

• Menstrual periods that are heavier than normal

• Depression

When you fail to treat hypothyroidism, the symptoms become more severe. In addition, constantly stimulating your thyroid in order to release more hormones may lead to an enlarged thyroid, and you may become more forgetful, you may become depressed, or you may notice a slowing of your thought processes relative to the condition.

More advanced cases of hypothyroidism (myxedema) are rare, but when the condition occurs, it can be life-threatening with symptoms such as low blood pressure, decreased breathing capacity, hypothermia, unresponsiveness, and sometimes coma. Sometimes myxedema may be fatal.

Although hypothyroidism is usually a condition that affects middle-aged and older women, it has been seen in teenagers and infants as well. Babies who are born without a thyroid gland or an improperly working gland may initially have few symptoms, but when they do, they may experience jaundice, frequent choking, and have a large, protruding tongue. The cause of the jaundice is the inability of the baby’s liver to metabolize bilirubin, a molecule that forms when the body recycles the old and damaged red blood cells.

With the progression of the disease, infants may experience a failure to thrive because they have difficulty feeding, and as such, they may fail to grow and develop at a normal pace. In addition, they may experience constipation, poor muscle tone, and excessive sleepiness. Even a mild case of hypothyroidism that goes untreated in infants can lead to severe physical problems and mental retardation.