Do you have an overactive or an underactive Thyroid? Here are signs

India is suffering from a significant burden of Thyroid. According to official data, there are 42 million people who are battling from a thyroid disorder. The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is quite a powerful organ. Besides many bodily functions, it is also responsible for keeping your heart and brain working to help regulate energy.

Two of the most common thyroid disorders are Hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. It means that there is lesser quantity of thyroid hormones in the body. On the other hand is the overactive Hyperthyroidism, which means there are excessive thyroid hormones. Fortunately, once diagnosed and with treatment, a lot of these symptoms can be reversed. Here they are:

Thyroid leads to weight gain without any reason. Your appetite may be high anyway, you may be leading a sedentary lifestyle, but you should know that if you are gaining weight without any specific reason, it can be because of thyroid.

People suffering from hypothyroidism often feel fatigued. And that does not happen because they haven't slept well, but happens despite them being well rested. It could also start to impact their reflexes, concentration and sometimes even movements.

Thyroid can change the texture of your hair. It usually happens in case of hypothyroidism. They break easily and become really unruly. If this is happening to you, you may have an overactive thyroid.

Your body retains fluid in the body if you have hypothyroidism, which is also the reason you gain weight. This water weight can make you feel bloated and it may even show on your face. The bloating can be so bad that it can make you feel uncomfortable after every meal. According to Dr. Ajay Phadke, Centre Head, SRL Dr. Avinash Phadke Labs, Mumbai, “Nearly every third Indian suffers from some kind of thyroid disorder. Commonly, thyroid disorders are of five types – Hypothyroidism (reduction in thyroid hormones), Hyperthyroidism (increase in thyroid hormones), Goitre, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Thyroid cancer.

Hypothyroidism is common, not just in adult women but also in newborns and can be congenital. It can affect 1 in 10 adults in India. One of the causes of hypothyroidism originally was iodine deficiency. India has incorporated iodine repletion in salt but this has triggered the incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. Environmental factors such as pollution and pesticide use may be linked. Two age groups need more attention while detecting this disease –

1. Neonates, since untreated hypothyroidism can lead to neurocognitive developmental problems

and

2. Pregnant women due to hypothyroidism being linked to high blood pressure, cognitive development delay in fetus as well as abortions, among others.

Hypothyroidism is commonly seen in women, in the age bracket of 40, but can also be seen in younger women. In these women, it can lead to weight gain, puffiness around the face, itchy skin, high cholesterol levels and fatigue. Since this is a disorder which can affect all genders and age groups and is easily detectable, screening programs are necessary during pregnancy, in neonates and in adults after 40. It is also recommended on a periodic basis for younger adults.”

Do you feel like you experience aches that just suddenly pop up, without you having brushed against anything or even without any trigger. Remember, hypothyroidism can make you achy.

Hypothyroidism slows down your digestion and other bodily functions, which can put pressure on your bowel movements. The resulting constipation can be because your body retaining a lot of water from your food or your colon not contracting the way it should.

People suffering from hyperthyroidism often feel more cold than their peers. You can feel this increased sensitivity to cold if you have not been sensitive to it in the past. This happens because your body isn't releasing energy the way it should.

Hyperthyroidism makes you lose weight because of an overactive thyroid. It also makes you more hungry. The more severe level of hyperthyroidism you have, the more weight you will lose.

Thyroid is responsible for regulating your body temperature but when it is uncontrolled (read: hyperthyroidism), the body fails to regulate temperature making you intolerant of heat.

Just like you suffer from constipation during hypothyroidism, the increased metabolic rate in hyperthyroidism makes your body clear the bowel multiple times.

Hyperthyroidism makes your monthly period cycle lighter and sometimes non existent. If you haven't stopped already, they will be timed erratically, with long gaps between two cycles.

The more common type of thyroid is Hypothyroidism. It impacts the metabolism hormone, if not produced in the right quantities can cause hormonal imbalance in women. It has direct and indirect implications on many bodily functions, for e.g.: Hypothyroid often leads to infertility, and causes problems in conception, shares Dr. Ajay Phadke, Centre Head, SRL Dr. Avinash Phadke Path Labs. Other implications are menstrual irregularities, cardiovascular problems, constipation, excessive weight gain, thinning of hair, intolerance to cold atmosphere and peripheral neuropathy.