Symptoms of Thyroid Problems: Slow vs. Overactive Thyroid

Symptoms of thyroid problems can be easy to miss. They creep in slowly, and they look like many other things. Patients tell me they feel tired, cold, wired or foggy, and they want to know why. Others ask what foods have iodine and whether diet matters. So let me walk you through the signs, the tests and the foods that count.

First, a word on where supplements fit. A nutrient formula such as our thyroid support supplement may help support healthy thyroid function. Still, it comes after a proper diagnosis, not before. Symptoms of thyroid problems need a doctor and a blood test first. Then we can talk about food and nutrients.

What Your Thyroid Does Each Day

Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the front of your neck. It makes two main hormones, T4 and T3. These hormones set the pace for almost every cell in your body. They help control your heart rate, body heat, energy use and digestion.

Your brain keeps watch over the thyroid. The pituitary gland sends out TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone. When thyroid hormone runs low, TSH rises to push the gland harder. When hormone runs high, TSH drops. That back-and-forth explains why a TSH test is usually the first step.

The thyroid also needs raw materials. It uses iodine to build its hormones. It also relies on selenium to protect itself and to turn T4 into active T3. We will come back to both nutrients later. First, though, let's look at the symptoms of thyroid problems themselves.

Symptoms of Thyroid Problems When the Gland Runs Slow

An underactive thyroid makes too little hormone. Doctors call this hypothyroidism. Because thyroid hormone sets your pace, everything starts to slow down. The symptoms of thyroid problems in this group tend to build over months or years.

Common Thyroid Symptoms When Hormone Runs Low

• Tiredness that sleep does not fix.
• Feeling cold when others feel fine.
• Weight gain without a change in diet.
• Dry skin, brittle nails and thinning hair.
• Constipation.
• A slow heart rate.
• Low mood, poor focus or memory fog.
• Heavy or irregular periods.
• Muscle aches, stiff joints or a puffy face.

Not everyone has all of these symptoms of thyroid problems. In fact, some people have only one or two. That is one reason the symptoms of thyroid problems so often go unnoticed. Many people blame stress, age or a busy life instead. So if several of these sound familiar, ask for a blood test.

The most common cause of a slow thyroid in the United States is Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In this condition, the immune system attacks the gland. Around the world, however, low iodine intake remains a major cause. Thyroid surgery and some medicines can also slow the gland.

What Are Overactive Thyroids?

So what are overactive thyroids? An overactive thyroid makes too much hormone. Doctors call this hyperthyroidism. Now the body speeds up instead of slowing down. The symptoms of thyroid problems on this side can feel like your engine is stuck in high gear.

The most common cause is Graves' disease, another immune condition. Thyroid nodules that make extra hormone are another cause. Inflammation of the gland, called thyroiditis, can also cause a short burst of high hormone. Too much thyroid medicine or too much iodine can push levels up as well.

Signs of Thyroid Problems From Too Much Hormone

• A fast, pounding or irregular heartbeat.
• Weight loss even with a good appetite.
• Nervousness, anxiety or irritability.
• Shaky hands.
• Feeling hot and sweating more than usual.
• Trouble sleeping.
• More frequent bowel movements.
• Lighter or fewer periods.
• Bulging or irritated eyes, mainly with Graves' disease.

These symptoms of thyroid problems can come on faster than the slow type. Either type can also cause a goiter. That is a swelling at the front of the neck. So when patients ask me what are overactive thyroids, I explain that both fast and slow glands can enlarge. A goiter alone does not tell you which one you have.

Who Is More Likely to Have Thyroid Issues?

Anyone can develop thyroid issues. Yet some people face a higher chance. Women develop thyroid conditions more often than men. Your chance also rises with age, especially after 60.

Family history matters a great deal, too. Other risk factors include:

• A parent, brother or sister with thyroid disease.
• Another autoimmune condition, such as type 1 diabetes or celiac disease.
• Pregnancy or the first year after giving birth.
• Past thyroid surgery or radiation to the neck or chest.
• Some medicines, such as lithium or amiodarone.
• Very low or very high iodine intake.

If any of these apply to you, keep a closer eye on the symptoms of thyroid problems. Also, mention your risk to your doctor at your next visit.

Why Testing Matters More Than Guessing

Here is the part I stress most with my patients. Please do not self-diagnose. The symptoms of thyroid problems overlap with many other conditions. For example, low iron, low vitamin D, poor sleep, depression and menopause can all cause fatigue and brain fog. Only a blood test can sort them out.

Also, guessing about symptoms of thyroid problems can backfire. Some people start iodine or kelp on their own, hoping for more energy. However, extra iodine can upset a gland that already has a problem. A blood test first keeps you safe.

What a Full Thyroid Panel Includes

A TSH test alone is a good screen. Still, it does not tell the whole story. In my practice, I prefer a fuller look. A complete panel usually includes:

• TSH, the signal from your brain.
• Free T4, the main hormone your gland makes.
• Free T3, the active form your cells use.
• rT3, an inactive form of T3, in some cases.
• TPO and thyroglobulin antibodies, which can point to an immune cause.

Your doctor may also order an ultrasound if they feel a lump or swelling. Together, these results show how your gland works and why. Then you and your doctor can make a plan that fits you. That plan should match your labs, not just your symptoms of thyroid problems.

Iodine, Selenium and Your Thyroid

Food plays a real role in thyroid health. It will not erase the symptoms of thyroid problems on its own, but it does matter. Two minerals matter most: iodine and selenium. Both help your gland do its daily work.

A 2015 review in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology looked at iodine and thyroid disorders [1]. It found that severe iodine deficiency causes goitre and hypothyroidism [1]. In milder deficiency, most people keep normal hormone levels [1]. Even so, the constant strain on the gland raised rates of nodular goitre and hyperthyroidism [1]. The review also linked higher iodine intake to a small rise in subclinical hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity [1]. In other words, both too little and too much iodine can matter.

Selenium matters, too. A 2017 review in the International Journal of Endocrinology looked at selenium. It explains that the thyroid holds more selenium per gram than any other organ [2]. Selenium-based enzymes help convert T4 into active T3 [2]. Others guard the gland against the oxidants made during hormone production [2]. The authors also warn that selenium follows a U-shaped curve [2]. As a result, both low and excess intake may cause harm [2].

What Foods Have Iodine?

Many patients ask me what foods have iodine. The good news is that a normal diet covers most people. Good sources include:

• Seaweed, such as kelp, nori and wakame.
• Cod, tuna and other saltwater fish.
• Shrimp and other shellfish.
• Milk, yogurt and cheese.
• Eggs.
• Iodized table salt.

Seaweed is the richest source by far. Yet the amount of iodine in seaweed and kelp products varies a lot. You can read more about iodine from kelp on our ingredient page. If you have thyroid disease or take thyroid medicine, talk with your doctor before you use iodine or kelp supplements.

Foods Rich in Selenium

Brazil nuts are the best known source. Just one or two nuts can supply a lot of selenium, so do not overdo them. Tuna, sardines, eggs, turkey, chicken and whole grains also add selenium. You can learn more about selenium as L-selenomethionine, the organic form the 2017 review preferred [2].

Other Nutrients That May Help Support Thyroid Health

Your thyroid also uses other nutrients. Zinc, from oysters, beef and pumpkin seeds, plays a part in hormone production. Iron, from lean meat, beans and greens, supports the enzyme that builds thyroid hormone. Vitamin D and the amino acid tyrosine round out the list. Our Thyroid Support formula combines iodine, selenium, zinc and L-tyrosine. You can also browse our hormone health collection for related options.

When Thyroid Symptoms Mean It Is Time to See a Doctor

Some signs should not wait. Call your doctor if the symptoms of thyroid problems last for weeks. That applies even when they seem mild. Also, book a visit if you notice a lump or swelling in your neck. Trouble swallowing or a hoarse voice also needs a check.

Seek care right away if you have a racing heart, chest pain, fainting or shortness of breath. These can signal a serious problem that needs prompt attention. Sudden, severe symptoms of thyroid problems should never wait for a routine visit.

Pregnancy deserves special care. Thyroid hormone matters for a growing baby, so tell your doctor about any symptoms. Likewise, if you are pregnant, nursing or taking any medication, ask your doctor before you start a supplement. That includes any product with iodine, kelp or selenium.

The symptoms of thyroid problems can feel confusing, but you do not have to sort them out alone. Our physicians look at the whole picture, from labs to sleep, stress and diet. Learn about our holistic medicine care in Atlanta, or visit Taylor Medical Group to schedule a visit.