Effects of Hypothyroidism on Your Body

Effects of Hypothyroidism on Your Body
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The symptoms of hypothyroidism are not the same across the board. In other words, the symptoms one person experiences may not be the same as another. That being said, there are many common symptoms to watch out for. Generally speaking, symptoms of hypothyroidism tend to develop slowly and may take several years to become bothersome enough to seek medical attention.

What Happens to Your Body When Affected with Hypothyroidism

With hypothyroidism your metabolism begins to slow down over time. As noted above, this may take several years but it will eventually catch up with you. When it does it is safe to say that many of the following symptoms will show: sluggishness, fatigue, hoarseness, weak muscles, elevated blood cholesterol, constipation, sensitivity to cold, depression, and brittle hair and nails. While these are the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism there are others that you may experience as well.

What if hypothyroidism is not treated right away? Many people don’t think this is a big deal but it definitely can be. If you don’t treat hypothyroidism at once there is a very good chance that the above symptoms can become more severe and lead to other health related issues. To go along with this, as your thyroid is stimulated it can lead to an enlarged thyroid gland.

It should also be noted that advanced hypothyroidism is a condition known as myxedema. This is a rare condition, but if left untreated it can be life threatening. Symptoms of this advanced type of hypothyroidism include decreased breathing, lower than normal blood pressure, and eventual coma like effects.

All levels of hypothyroidism can occur in both adults and children. It may be more common in middle aged individuals but this does not mean that children are immune. In most cases, young children and teenagers who are suffering from hypothyroidism have the same symptoms as adults. In addition, they may also notice symptoms including stunted growth, late puberty, and below average mental development.

Even though hypothyroidism is not a major problem it is a medical condition to be aware of. It affects millions of people the world over, and living with the symptoms is never easy.

Reference: MayoClinic.com, https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypothyroidism/DS00353/DSECTION=symptoms