It is amazing how something so small can have such a large impact on our body. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that is located just below the Adam’s apple. Your thyroid gland produces hormones that influence almost all of the body’s metabolic processes and are essential for normal brain and growth development.

According to The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, almost 30 million Americans have a thyroid disorder – half of them are undiagnosed. Women are 10 times more likely to have a thyroid disorder than men.

To help understand thyroid conditions more, the experts at NorthShore, discuss the different symptoms that help us realize when our thyroid is haywire:

• Feeling exhausted
• Decreased appetite
• Experiencing anxiety and/or jitteriness
• High cholesterol
• Muscle aches
• Feeling your heart race or having an irregular heartbeat
• Dry skin
• Weight gain or unexplained weight loss
• Change of your typical bowel movements
• Irregular menstrual cycles
• High blood pressure
• Feeling abnormally warm or cold
• Depression
• Swollen neck
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarse voice
• Difficulty sleeping
• Coarse hair or hair loss
• Difficulties conceiving

These are the most common types of thyroid conditions:

• Hyperthyroidism happens when your thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.
• Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone.
• A goiter describes a thyroid gland that is too large.

If you think you have many of these symptoms, talk with your doctor to further explore your next steps to assess if you have a thyroid condition.

What symptoms did you experience with your thyroid condition?