Feeling Exhausted? How Your Thyroid Might Be Affecting Your Energy

When exhaustion hits but there’s no clear reason why, we as medical practitioners may look to the thyroid gland for an explanation. Hypothyroidism, caused by an underproducing gland, can result in fatigue, weight gain, and depression. 

At The Well for Health in Mooresville, North Carolina, we focus on functional medicine, an approach that takes a medical view of you as a whole person, not an isolated collection of symptoms and illnesses. 

This month, we’re taking a closer look at hypothyroidism to help you recognize the condition and know when to approach us about a diagnosis. 

Hypothyroidism: an underactive thyroid gland

When you have too few thyroid hormones in your system, your body doesn’t produce as much energy as it needs to function at a normal level. You may feel both weak and tired without necessarily having a reasonable explanation for your fatigue. 

It’s estimated that 25 million people in the United States have hypothyroidism, but about half of them are unaware they have a problem. The condition tends to run in families, and it’s most common in older women.  

Thyroid hormones contribute to these functions and symptoms in your body: 

• Bone maintenance
• Brain development
• Breathing
• Digestion
• Fertility
• Heart rate
• Mental activity
• Metabolism
• Skin maintenance

Thyroid hormones affect virtually every system in your body, including the nervous, cardiovascular, digestive, and reproductive systems. 

Conditions that affect the thyroid gland

Hypothyroidism occurs due to certain conditions affecting the thyroid, reducing the output of thyroid hormones. The most common causes of hypothyroidism are: 

• Nonfunctioning thyroid gland, a type of birth defect
• Removal of the thyroid gland
• Iodine deficiency
• Hashimoto’s disease, a form of autoimmune disease
• Thyroiditis, an inflammatory condition affecting the gland
• Overtreating hyperthyroid gland, a condition where the thyroid makes too many hormones

A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, and it can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, but it can also occur alongside hyperthyroidism and normal thyroid function. 

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

As well as exhaustion and fatigue, an underactive thyroid can cause symptoms such as: 

• Brain fog, an inability to concentrate or think clearly
• Brittle fingernails and toenails
• Cold sensitivity
• Constipation
• Depression
• Dry skin
• Weight gain without an obvious cause

Thyroid symptoms are often subtle or easily confused with other conditions or illnesses. In women, thyroid dysfunction can be mistaken for signs and symptoms of menopause. 

When you experience changes in your energy levels, mood, or weight, talk to us about a blood test that easily and quickly monitors your thyroid hormone levels, establishing whether your thyroid is involved. 

Hypothyroidism can be successfully treated, so contact us at The Well for Health if you suspect your fatigue may be related to a hormone imbalance. Call or click to request a consultation today.