Symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism may vary depending on the stage of the illness or the severity of the imbalance in chemical reactions. A patient typically develops complications gradually over several years. Many people hardly recognize symptoms, and even if they do, they usually attribute symptoms like sluggishness to ageing.
However, as the metabolism of a person with hypothyroidism slows down, he could develop noticeable signs and symptoms, including sensitivity to cold, dry skin, hoarseness, stiffness and muscle ache, constipation, heavy menstruation for women, depression, abnormal weight gain and brittle hair.
Untreated hypothyroidism could lead to severe symptoms that heavily burden the patient. Stimulating the gland constantly may result in its enlargement, a condition more commonly known as goiter. These processes could affect your memory, causing forgetfulness and difficulty in comprehension, as well as depression.
While rare, hypothyroidism could develop into a fatal condition called myxedema. This dangerous condition has symptoms such as unresponsiveness, low body temperature and blood pressure and abnormally infrequent breathing.
Hypothyroidism in Children
Anyone has a risk of developing hypothyroidism, even teens and infants. Newborns born with a dysfunctional thyroid or without a thyroid would usually exhibit a couple of symptoms that include jaundice, puffiness in the face, abnormally frequent choking and a tongue that protrudes.
As hypothyroidism progresses, the mother may find it difficult to feed the baby and she could observe abnormal growth. In addition, symptoms such as poor muscle tone, constipation and mental retardation could occur.
Most teens and children who suffer from hypothyroidism manifest the same symptoms present in afflicted adults. In addition, they may experience retarded mental and physical development. There could also be a delay in the onset of puberty as well as in the growth of permanent teeth.
Visit your physician immediately if you are experiencing many of the above-mentioned symptoms. It’s important to diagnose hypothyroidism early, so that appropriate treatment can begin.