These 8 Symptoms May Be Caused By a Thyroid Disease

4. High cholesterol levels

Your doctor may not analyze the thyroid gland during a regular checkup. However, he will measure your cholesterol levels, which is often a good indicator that something wrong is going on.

Dr. Reshmi Srinath, assistant professor of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Diseases at Mount Sinai, says that ‘Hypothyroidism causes reduced clearance of cholesterol particles, so LDL and triglycerides may be elevated in a hypothyroid patient.’

A small habit that can lower your LDL levels is to simply eat overnight oats frequently. These cereal grains are rich in beta-glucan, a fiber which can reduce LDL cholesterol levels by up to 10 percent.

5. Dry skin

If you’re really taking good care of your skin by applying all the right creams and lotions and still nothing works, it might be time to dig deeper.

A low thyroid function can reduce blood circulation. Due to this fact, your skin cells may only get one-fourth of the usual blood supply. Therefore, your skin texture changes and may become dry, itchy, cracked or wrinkled.

Slow metabolism caused by hypothyroidism can also reduce sweating which, again, changes your skin texture for the worse.

RELATED: Excessive Hand Washing? Here’s How to Keep Your Skin Healthy

6. Digestive problems

No matter how embarrassed you may feel about this topic, if you’re suffering from constipation, you might want to let a specialist know about it.

Severe lack of the thyroid hormone that controls your metabolism causes the digestive tract to work improperly. Furthermore, hypothyroidism can also weaken normal contractions of the muscles around the digestive tract, which makes the stool move too slowly through the intestine.

A quick solution? Eating ripe bananas. This fruit contains plenty of healthy fiber that aids in digestion along with potassium, which is known for reducing bloating and cramping.

If you still think constipation isn’t that much of a big deal, here are 5 more reasons why you should NOT ignore it.

7. Being cold

Wearing a winter coat while everyone else is still wearing T-shirts? It may be just the weather, or it may be hypothyroidism.

When thyroid hormones are too low, your body becomes unable to regulate its own temperature properly. Another reason for feeling cold is that all body functions are slowed down, and believe it or not, even digesting foods can help to regulate your internal temperature.

This symptom can usually go away by following the specialists’ recommended treatment for your condition along with adopting a healthy diet.

8. Feeling down

This is definitely not the most decisive symptom on our list, but feeling down for no apparent reason could also be caused by hypothyroidism.

As Dr. Srinath explains, unusually low levels of the thyroid hormones can cause lethargy, lack of concentration and a general feeling of weakness. Since all of your body functions are slowing down, it’s no wonder your mood is affected too, right?

Many people are scared when being diagnosed with a thyroid problem. However, simple lifestyle changes can make a huge and positive difference in managing this illness. Here are a few simple steps you can take to feel better:

• Stay physically active by performing at least 30 minutes of exercise daily;
• Adopt a balanced diet rich in fiber and antioxidants (check our list of 10 antioxidant-rich foods);
• Contact your doctor before taking any supplement, as they can alter thyroid functions;
• Reduce stress levels by taking yoga classes or meditation;
• Create a healthy sleep schedule.

Are you or a loved one suffering from hypothyroidism? Share your stories in the comment section and let’s help each other to live a healthier, happier life!