Thyroid Risks and Symptoms

RISK FACTORS FOR THYROID DISEASE

Some of the key risk factors for thyroid disease include...

___ Female: Women are at greater risk than men.
___ Over 50 -- women 50 and above are at the highest risk, through thyroid disease can strike at any age.
___ A personal or family history of thyroid and/or autoimmune disease increases risk.
___ Being left-handed, ambidextrous or prematurely grey mean greater risk of autoimmune disease, including thyroid problems
___ Being pregnant or within the first year after childbirth
___ Current or former smoker
___ Recent exposure to iodine via contrast dye or surgical antiseptic
___ Iodine or herbal supplements containing iodine, in pill or liquid form
___ Living in an iodine deficient area
___ Various medical treatments, including Interferon Beta-1b, Interleukin-4, immunosuppressants, antiretrovirals, monoclonal antibody (Campath-1H), organ donation recipient, bone marrow transplant, Lithium, amiodarone (Cordarone), and various other medications (See the book "Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough" for a more comprehensive list)
___ Overconsumption of raw goitrogenic foods, i.e., brussels sprouts; turnips; cauliflower; soy products and others
___ Overconsumption of soy foods
Recent neck trauma, biopsy, injection or surgery
___ Radiation exposure, through radiation to neck area, or exposure to nuclear facility or accident, i.e., Chernobyl
___ High stress life events

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THYROID DISEASE

Some of the key signs and symptoms of thyroid disease include...

___ Low body temperature
___ Particularly low or high pulse re
___ Unusually low or high blood pressure
___ Enlarged, tender, or sensitive neck or lump in neck
___ Hoarse, husky, or gravelly voice
___ Extreme thirst or hunger
___ Noticeable change in weight (gain or loss) despite no change in diet and exercise
___ Feeling warm or hot when others are cold, or cold when others are warm
___ Heart palpitations, flutters, skipped beats, strange patterns or rhythms
___ Constipation and or diarrhea/loose stools
___ Fatigued, weakeness
___ Pains, aches, and stiffness in various joints, hands, and feet.
___ Carpal tunnel, tarsal tunnel, plantar's fascitis
___ Puffiness around my eyes
___ Loss of outer eyebrow hair
___ Lesions on lower legs, feet, toes, arms, face, shoulders and/or trunk.
___ Hair loss
___ Dry eyes
___ Swollen hands or feet
___ Dry, sensitive, gritty or achy eyes
___ Changeable moods
___ Brain fog, difficulty concentrating or remembering
___ Depression
___ Anxiety, panic attacks, jumpy
___ Tremors
___ Insomnia
___ Irregular periods
___ Low sex drive
___ Infertility
___ Miscarriage or multiple miscarriages
___ Difficulty breastfeeding
___ Leaking milk when not lactating or breastfeeding
___ Difficult perimenopause/menopause symptoms

NEXT: Thyroid Testing/ Diagnosis