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The Facts About Hypothyroidism.

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The Facts About Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism isn’t picky, it can strike at any age and can affect anyone. However, it’s favorite victim appears to be women since it occurs in approximately 1 in 50 women and only about 1 in 1,000 men. It typically occurs in adults and becomes more common as age increases.

What is Hypothyroidism?

This is a condition in which the thyroid gland no longer produces enough of vital hormones.

This can be problematic due to the fact the thyroid is the control mechanism for the metabolism which in turn affects your body’s temperature, heartbeat and how well a person burns calories. So if your thyroid hormone is low your body may have less energy and your metabolism can become very stagnant.

Potential Symptoms

Varying symptoms can present themselves, depending on the severity of the actual hormone deficiency. However, symptoms do not always present themselves early on, but be on the look out for these and other potential signs or symptoms:

Fatigue
Increased cold sensitivity
Unexplained weight gain
Muscle weakness
Pain, stiffness or swelling in joints
Thinning hair
Depression
Impaired memory
Dry skin

How Do I Know?

Pay attention to your body and the signals it’s trying to give you, watching for any of the symptoms listed above. If you feel something may be off balance don’t hesitate to reach out to your physician.

A physician will potentially order blood test to check your hormone levels, checking your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

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