Thyroid issues can affect almost every part of your body.
Because the thyroid controls your metabolism, problems often show up as changes in energy, mood, weight, and body functions.
This page explains the most common symptoms in a simple way.
Thyroid problems usually fall into one of two categories:
Hypothyroidism – thyroid is too slow
Hyperthyroidism – thyroid is too fast
The symptoms are often opposites of each other.
When the thyroid is underactive, everything in the body tends to slow down.
You may notice:
Feeling tired all the time
Low energy
Weight gain
Feeling cold easily
Dry skin
Hair thinning or hair loss
Constipation
Depression or low mood
Brain fog
Slower heart rate
Heavy or irregular periods
Puffy face
Brittle nails
Many people describe it as feeling like they are “running on low battery.”
When the thyroid is overactive, your body speeds up.
You might experience:
Feeling anxious or jittery
Trouble sleeping
Unexplained weight loss
Fast or pounding heartbeat
Feeling hot all the time
Sweating more than usual
Shaky hands
Diarrhea or frequent bowel movements
Mood swings or irritability
Thinning hair
Muscle weakness
Lighter or irregular periods
People often describe feeling like their body is stuck in “overdrive.”
Thyroid symptoms are not always obvious.
Sometimes they look like:
Stress
Aging
Depression
Anxiety
Poor sleep
Hormone changes
Just being “busy and tired”
This is why thyroid problems are often missed at first.
Two people with the same thyroid condition can feel very different.
For example:
One person may mainly feel tired
Another may mainly gain weight
Someone else may mostly have mood changes
There is no single symptom that proves you have a thyroid problem.
Sometimes thyroid issues cause visible or measurable signs:
Swelling in the neck (goiter)
A small lump or nodule in the thyroid
Changes in heart rate
Changes in blood pressure
Dry or thinning hair
Skin changes
Eye changes (especially in Graves’ disease)
It’s important to remember:
Feeling tired or anxious does not automatically mean you have a thyroid problem.
Many other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
That’s why blood tests are so important.
Thyroid problems can also happen in younger people.
Signs may include:
Trouble concentrating
Slow growth
Delayed puberty
Mood changes
Tiredness
Weight changes
School difficulties
In older adults, thyroid symptoms can be more subtle:
Memory problems
Depression
Weakness
Balance issues
Heart rhythm changes
Sometimes they are mistaken for normal aging.
Seek medical help more urgently if you have:
Chest pain
Fainting
Severe shortness of breath
Extremely fast heartbeat
Sudden confusion
These can be signs of serious thyroid complications.
If you have ongoing symptoms, the usual next steps are:
A visit with your doctor
Basic thyroid blood tests
Discussion of results
Possible further testing if needed
The most common first test is the TSH blood test, which we’ll explain next.
Thyroid symptoms can be very broad
They often mimic other conditions
Blood tests are needed to know for sure
Most thyroid problems are very treatable
The next page will help you understand the most important thyroid test: