Okay so first of all, the thyroid is this tiny lil butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, right below your Adam’s apple. You probably never even thought about it till one day you start feeling weird and the doctor says “hmm let’s check your thyroid.”
Boom. Turns out that small thing can mess with like… everything in your body. Your mood, your weight, your periods, your energy, even your sleep. It controls hormones that affect metabolism, so when it goes outta balance — stuff goes real messy.
There’s two main types of thyroid issues:
-
Hypothyroidism – when your thyroid is too slow
-
Hyperthyroidism – when it’s too fast
Let’s break down the symptoms of both in normal human language, not medical textbook-style
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)
This is the more common one, esp in women. Your thyroid isn’t making enough hormone, so your body slows down. Everything feels like it’s in slow motion.
1. Tired ALL the time
Like, you slept 8 hours, but still tired. Afternoon comes and you just wanna nap. You wake up tired, you go to sleep tired. That kinda tired.
2. Weight Gain (even when eating less )
This one really sucks. You’re eating the same or even less, doing exercise but STILL gaining weight. Thyroid slow = metabolism slow = fat stays.
3. Feeling cold all the time
Even when others are comfy or sweating, you’re shivering. Your hands and feet are always cold. Blanket is your best friend.
4. Dry Skin & Hair Fall
Your skin gets all rough, flaky. Hair feels like straw and starts falling like crazy. And nails too – they break easy.
5. Constipation (yup, even your poop slows down)
Nobody talks about it but yeah, your digestive system also gets lazy. You feel bloated, heavy, and bathroom trips get frustrating.
6. Depressed or Moody
Mood swings are real. You feel sad or irritable, sometimes for no reason. Anxiety, low energy, crying spells — all connected to low thyroid hormones.
7. Slow Heart Rate
Sometimes your pulse drops low, you feel sluggish. Like your body’s battery is low-key dying.
8. Menstrual issues
For women – periods can become heavy, irregular, painful. Some even face fertility issues or PCOS-like symptoms.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)
Okay now this one is like the opposite. Your thyroid is going too fast and everything in your body speeds up.
1. Weight Loss (even if you eat more)
You’re eating 3 rotis + rice + dessert and STILL losing weight. At first it feels great but then you realize it’s not healthy.
2. Fast Heartbeat / Palpitations
Heart is racing even when you’re just sitting. Sometimes feels like fluttering or pounding in chest. Can be scary.
3. Anxiety & Panic
You feel jittery, restless, nervous all the time. Can’t relax. Small things make you feel anxious. Sleep becomes hard.
4. Shaky Hands / Tremors
Your hands might start shaking, even when you’re calm. Feels like you had 5 cups of coffee.
5. Sweating & Heat Intolerance
You feel hot all the time, sweaty even in AC. Others are fine and you’re like “is it hot in here or just me?” Spoiler: it’s you.
6. Sleep Trouble
Even if you’re tired, sleep doesn’t come easy. You toss and turn, or wake up middle of night.
7. Frequent Pooping
Yeah… opposite of constipation. You go to toilet more often. Not full-on diarrhea, but definitely more “active” than normal.
8. Eyes Issues (esp in Graves disease)
Sometimes eyes look big or bulging, or feel dry, gritty. Can be painful or affect vision too in some cases.
Common Signs in BOTH Hypo & Hyperthyroid
Some symptoms show up in both, so it can be confusing. That’s why blood test is the only sure way to know.
-
Neck swelling / goiter
If your thyroid swells, you can sometimes see a lump in neck or feel tightness. -
Hair thinning
Whether it’s too fast or too slow, hair suffers either way -
Mood issues
Depression, anxiety, brain fog — all common in both types. -
Fatigue
Whether things are fast or slow, you still feel wiped out.
Who Gets Thyroid Problems?
Honestly, anyone can. But more common in:
-
Women (esp. after 30, pregnancy, or menopause)
-
Family history of thyroid
-
People with autoimmune diseases (like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, etc)
-
People with iodine deficiency (rare these days but still happens in some areas)
When to See a Doctor?
If you’ve had these symptoms for weeks or months, not just one or two days — go get a blood test. The doctor will check your:
-
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
-
T3 and T4 levels
-
Maybe also anti-TPO antibodies if autoimmune thyroid is suspected.
Can Thyroid Be Treated?
Yes. 100%. But you need proper diagnosis and regular medication. No skipping pills.
-
For Hypothyroid: doctors give you Levothyroxine (synthetic T4 hormone). You take it every morning, empty stomach.
-
For Hyperthyroid: treatment can be anti-thyroid meds, radioactive iodine, or even surgery in some cases.
Also, you’ll need to do follow-up blood tests every 3-6 months at first, then maybe once a year.
Home Remedies? Lifestyle Stuff?
Okay, so food and lifestyle do help along with meds, but they can’t replace medicine completely (trust me, I tried ).
-
Eat healthy — green veggies, protein, fruits
-
Avoid too much soy, raw cruciferous veggies if hypothyroid (like cabbage, broccoli)
-
Exercise lightly — helps mood, weight, metabolism
-
Manage stress — meditation, yoga, sleep well
-
Take iodine, selenium only if doc says
And PLEASE — stop Googling random cures like “drink 5 tulsi leaves daily at 4am to fix thyroid.” Just… no.
Final Thoughts (Your Thyroid is Boss)
Look, it’s just one small gland but it’s the CEO of your hormones. If thyroid’s outta balance, your whole system feels off. But the good news is — it’s manageable, treatable, and not some mystery disease.
If you feel off — tired, sad, gaining weight, losing hair, heart racing — just go get your thyroid checked. It’s a simple blood test. Better to know than guess.
Don’t ignore it thinking “maybe I’m just stressed.” Maybe. But maybe your thyroid is screaming for help.
Take care of your health, sleep well, drink water, and don’t believe everything your auntie’s WhatsApp group says.