Health Topics A-Z

What Are the Symptoms?

Hyperthyroidism:

• Weight loss despite increased appetite.
• Increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, nervousness, and excessive perspiration.
• More frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhea.
• Muscle weakness, trembling hands.
• Development of a goiter.
• Lighter or shorter menstrual periods.

Hypothyroidism:

• Lethargy, slower mental processes or depression.
• Reduced heart rate.
• Increased sensitivity to cold.
• Tingling or numbness in the hands.
• Development of a goiter.
• Constipation, heavy menstrual periods or dry skin and hair.

Subacute thyroiditis:

• Mild to severe pain in the thyroid gland.
• The thyroid feels tender to the touch.
• Pain when swallowing or turning your head.
• Appearance of these symptoms shortly after a viral infection, such as the flu, mumps, or measles.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You are feverish, agitated, or delirious, and have a rapid pulse; you could be having a thyrotoxic crisis, a sudden and dangerous complication of hyperthyroidism.
• You feel intensely cold, drowsy and lethargic; you could be experiencing a myxedema coma, a sudden and dangerous complication of hypothyroidism that can cause unconsciousness and possibly death.