How To Tell If You Have A Thyroid Disorder: Fatigue, Weight Gain And Other Symptoms To Look Out For

How To Tell If You Have A Thyroid Disorder
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If you're feeling irritable, exhausted too hot or too cold your thyroid could be to blame.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck - it produces hormones that affect metabolism and temperature.

When it's not functioning properly, the thyroid gland can become under-active or over-active.

So how can you tell if you're suffering from either?

Hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid):

Symptoms include fatigue, feeling cold, mild weight gain, muscle cramps, dry skin and constipation.

Hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid):

Symptoms include having an irregular heartbeat, shaking hands and an enlarged thyroid gland. You may also experience sensitivity to heat, unexpected weight loss, a change in menstrual cycle or a drop in libido.

If you think you may be suffering from a thyroid disorder, your GP can give you a blood test or biopsy to assess the functioning of your thyroid.