Fatigue can be a sign of thyroid problems
Regular fatigue can be rooted in several different health conditions and causes of illness, your dietary habits and your lifestyle. However, one of the most common causes in the disease category is thyroid disease. Thyroid problems can have an effect on your body and affect your overall health. The problems are common in women from middle age and above but occur at all ages.Symptoms in the form of fatigue can gradually develop as thyroid hormone levels are affected over time. For that reason, it can be more difficult to discover that you actually have a problem with the thyroid gland.
Hypothyroidism or Hyperthyroidism
The thyroid gland produces hormones that in turn affect many of the body's functions and control your body's metabolism, among other things. In thyroid disease, you either have an underactive thyroid gland (Hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid gland (Hyperthyroidism). In both cases, you may experience fatigue as a symptom, but there are also several others:
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (lack of thyroid hormone)
- Fatigue and sleep problems
- Powerless
- Freezes
- Concentration difficulties
- Dejection
- Weight gain
- Hair waste
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormone)
- Fatigue and sleep problems
- Sweating
- Heart palpitation
- Shaky hands and decreased muscle strength
- Weight loss
- Hair waste
Symptoms of an imbalance in the thyroid gland can of course vary from person to person, and an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can produce different symptoms from an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) as described above. Common symptoms of imbalance can include sudden weight gain, fluctuations, changes in mood, sleep problems and irregular periods. As previously mentioned, one of the most common symptoms of thyroid disease is recurrent intense fatigue.
Investigations and thyroid tests
If you suspect thyroid problems, you should contact a doctor for further advice and help. If interested, you can also order a thyroid test on our website. Abnormal thyroid values can be detected with a regular blood test, which can also be carried out in connection with a general health check. If you are only interested in your thyroid values, we recommend the following health checks:
Over 450,000 Swedes suffer from thyroid disorders
Should it turn out that you are diagnosed with a disorder in the thyroid gland, you are not alone. Thousands of Swedes suffer from thyroid diseases according to the Thyroid Association. Unfortunately, however, it is common that it takes a long time to get the correct diagnosis, and many people often feel that they are not taken seriously. Through preventive and regular testing, you can detect any changes at an early stage. More research and increased knowledge in healthcare, along with updated guidelines, are necessary for more people to receive the correct diagnosis and adequate treatment.
