Nearly 5 out of 100 Americans suffer from hypothyroidism. While some of the symptoms of thyroid dysfunction are quickly obvious (such as weight gain or hair loss), some symptoms can be more covert.
When you can’t identify your symptoms as thyroid issues, they become harder to treat. Neurological symptoms can be some of the hardest to recognize and identify.
Whether you know you have thyroid problems or not, you should be aware of their neurological symptoms to be able to share any you suffer from with your doctor.
Keep reading to find out about the neurological symptoms of hypothyroidism and how integrative neurology can help.
What Is Thyroid Dysfunction?
The thyroid is a small gland shaped like a butterfly housed inside of your neck. It is responsible for making and distributing important hormones throughout your body. These hormones send messages to bodily systems about how they’re supposed to behave based on stimuli.
When you experience thyroid issues, your thyroid is making and distributing either too much or too little of your body’s necessary hormones. Hypothyroidism is when your body makes too little hormones while hyperthyroidism is when it produces too much.
Both thyroid conditions can result in nasty symptoms to both your body and your mind. While this article will be focusing mainly on neurological symptoms, you can check here to see if you are experiencing any physical symptoms as well.
As soon as you recognize thyroid issues, you should book an appointment with a doctor who specializes in integrative medicine. Not only can they treat the problem and your symptoms, but they can also recognize serious and life-threatening conditions related to the thyroid such as thyroid cancer.
Common Neurological Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Thyroid symptoms can affect both the brain and the body. While it’s obvious when you’re having rapid weight changes or losing hair, you may be faster to brush off neurological symptoms such as stress (which can trigger a thyroid problem) or something else less threatening.
If you experience any of the following neurological symptoms, be sure to seek the help of a doctor specializing in integrative neurology. They can determine if you have nothing to worry about or if you need treatment for a thyroid disorder or other serious condition.
Fatigue
Of course, everyone experiences tiredness from time to time. If you have been getting good sleep or have been stressed and working hard, you may feel more tired than usual. That’s nothing to worry about.
It’s different if you’re getting eight or more hours of sleep every night, not working harder than usual, and not facing any particular stressors in your life and still feel tired all the time. That could be a sign that you are facing fatigue as a symptom of a more serious condition.
Depression or Anxiety
Depression and anxiety can exist as their own health conditions. However, if they come on suddenly and you’ve never suffered from them before, they could be a sign of thyroid issues.
You may feel little motivation to do the things you love, experience suicidal thoughts, or have trouble getting out of bed even when you aren’t tired.
Whether you have a thyroid problem or not, it’s always worth bringing up depression and anxiety to a doctor. They can be life-threatening at a certain point and greatly reduce your quality of life.
Burnout
Are you suddenly unable to perform the amount of work that you used to be able to? You may be experiencing significant burnout due to a thyroid problem.
Burnout is categorized by physical and emotional decline due to stress or a health condition. If you no longer feel capable of completing your work or daily habits, talk to a doctor. They may be able to treat a health condition or at the very least give you some stress relief methods.
Headaches
While we all get the occasional headache, headaches can be an important indicator of health. Frequent headaches or headaches that take you out of your normal routine due to their intensity are not to be ignored.
Headaches can be indicators of a future stroke, neurological conditions, and of course thyroid conditions.
Sometimes the influx of hormones from an overactive thyroid can cause intense headaches and even migraines. On the other hand, a lack of hormones caused by an underactive thyroid can also result in headaches.
No matter what causes your frequent or intense headaches, they should be brought to a doctor to get relief and answers.
Memory Deficit
Recent studies have found a link between hypothyroidism with memory and executive function deficits.
Have you noticed yourself forgetting important events or tasks? Do you start a task and then hours later realize that you never finished it? These could be signs of a thyroid disorder.
While a memory deficit can feel embarrassing, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Memory issues are not a moral failing but an indication that your brain requires treatment and care from a doctor.
Other Autoimmune Conditions
Sometimes thyroid conditions can coincide with other autoimmune conditions. The combination of these conditions can lead to even more neurological dysfunction. Other conditions to consider include Guillain-Barre syndrome and pernicious anemia, which can result in symptoms such as paralysis.
Identifying the Link Between Neurology and the Thyroid
Never ignore neurological symptoms just because they are more covert than physical symptoms. If you notice sudden depression, fatigue, headaches, memory deficit, or burnout, bring them up to your doctor. In the best-case scenario, they’re nothing to worry about. But if you are suffering from thyroid dysfunction, it’s better to know now and receive treatment right away
Are you looking for an integrative neurology option to help treat your thyroid condition? Contact us here for a consultation!