What Are Symptoms of Hypothyroidism: Primary and Secondary

Hypothyroidism is very common these days; every two in five women struggle with the health problem. It happens when the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. The condition is also known as an underactive thyroid. It may not cause noticeable symptoms in the initial stage; however, if you don’t treat the condition, it can lead to other health problems, such as high cholesterol and heart problems. Suppose it is always better to know about the initial signs of the health problem. If you wonder what are symptoms of hypothyroidism, then read further to know more. 

What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism? 

Know about primary and secondary signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism here:

Primary Hypothyroidism: Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

You will experience the following symptoms if you suffer from primary hypothyroidism.

• Dry and brittle hair: Hair that is soft and curly is most desired for women, but with hypothyroidism, it becomes tough, dry, brittle and frizzy.
• Weight gain: If the symptoms of hypothyroidism are present in a woman, but her weight is under control, then this means that she has a low metabolism that is alarming for her body functions. The woman can also experience weight gain if she does not control the extra calories she takes from food.
• Joint pain: Joints of the body require enough warmth and moisture to move freely; if the joints are not that flexible, they will start causing pain.
• Eye problems: It is important that your vision is sharp to see properly from a near and far distance. Hypothyroidism makes a person’s eyesight blurry, sometimes it happens after some time and may be permanent too.
• Difficulty in swallowing: Difficulty in swallowing is a good sign. This is because the food might be choking you, and it obstructs your throat.
• Fatigue: Fatigue is always associated with stress, but when the person does not get enough sleep due to thyroid issues that cause fatigue, it becomes a serious problem for her. 
• Very dry skin: Skin that is very smooth and soft is a desired quality everyone looks for in their skin. But with hypothyroidism, this quality is lost in an individual. The skin starts getting drier and becomes very tight as the layer of dead cells gets thicker.

Secondary Hypothyroidism: Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Once you know what are symptoms of hypothyroidism, then let’s understand the secondary signs of hypothyroidism. Secondly, people suffering from hypothyroidism do not have the symptoms of primary hypothyroidism. Those people have these symptoms despite the treatment of medicine. 

• Dehydration: As you know, every cell and every part of your body requires water to function properly; even the thyroid gland needs water for its functioning, so dehydration can cause problems for the thyroid gland.
• Constipation: Another sign of hypothyroidism is constipation. The problem occurs because of the lack of sufficient fibre in the diet.
• Dry skin: If a person is suffering from discomfort due to the dryness of her skin, then she can be a victim of hypothyroidism. Every year, you have to visit your dermatologist for a checkup to skip any skin problems in the future.
• Hair loss: Hair loss is difficult for people to deal with as it not only makes them feel unattractive but also lowers their confidence.
• Fatigue: Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism, but there are many other factors for which a person becomes tired, too; that’s why you need to remind yourself about the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Impact of Primary Vs Secondary symptoms of hypothyroidism

The symptoms of hypothyroidism show up within a few years, and they can be brought under control with the treatment of medicine. It is always better to check the initial signs of hypothyroidism so that it comes under control easily. You can consult your doctor as soon as possible if you have doubts.

When your thyroid gland malfunctions, it means there is a slow production of thyroid hormones. The sufferers of this condition often complain about headaches regularly. According to experts, thyroid hormone deficiency is the major reason behind frequent headaches in people suffering from hypothyroidism. In addition, these people suffer from severe headaches due to improper emotional balance, lack of concentration, or memory problems. According to experts, the brain requires a certain amount of energy and oxygen to perform its functions properly. Many patients think what are symptoms of hypothyroidism, also it is difficult to identify between primary and secondary symptoms. Therefore, it is important to know about the signs as early as possible. 

A person who suffers from hypothyroidism feels tired for a longer time. This is the reason why he tends to have frequent headaches. Moreover, the sleep pattern of these people is also disturbed, due to which they feel exhausted the whole day long. More than 70 percent of the people who suffer from hypothyroidism complain about frequent headaches, thus suggesting that this condition is one of the main signs of hypothyroidism.

The sufferers complain that they feel exhausted or tired the whole day long.

How to identify the early signs of hypothyroidism?

You need to consult a physician if you are suffering from any of these symptoms. If you are confused and want to know what are symptoms of hypothyroidism, you can consult a doctor for a further procedure. 

People who suffer from hypothyroidism often complain about memory problems and lack of concentration. They feel that they cannot concentrate on a particular task for a longer duration. Whenever they try to do so, their mind wanders toward something else, creating a lot of distraction. As a result, they become less productive and unable to perform even the simplest of tasks without making any mistakes.

If you are struggling with hypothyroidism, you will have to have the following symptoms.

You should consult a physician in case you have these symptoms along with some other symptoms.

The sufferers of hypothyroidism need to keep an eye on all the symptoms they suffer from at different periods so they can be treated easily.

What to do if you observe early signs of hypothyroidism? 

If you have observed the early signs of hypothyroidism, you must pay attention to them. Consult a physician as soon as possible to treat the symptoms properly. If you notice any changes in your health related to hypothyroidism, you will have to do something about it and get help immediately. In just 2 or 3 years of your being a sufferer of hypothyroidism, your thyroid can become inactive, which is why you should think about your health seriously.

There are different thyroid problems like primary hypothyroidism, secondary hypothyroidism and tertiary hypothyroidism.

Primary hypothyroidism is the most common cause of different types of thyroid problems. They are also termed primary because they occur due to an initial problem with the thyroid gland. If a person suffers from this type of problem, he will have to go through different stages before getting the right treatment for this problem, and by then, it is already too late. Taking a doctor’s opinion help to understand what are symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Conclusion

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms and notice that it is getting worse, you need to consult a doctor immediately. You can also visit the doctor even if you are not suffering from any symptoms. If your throat starts to hurt for no reason or your tongue starts to numb, then it will be beneficial to consult your physician as soon as possible. Hypothyroidism causes frequent headaches, which are more prevalent in women than men.