Effects of low thyroid levels in our body
Hypothyroidism, or the disease caused due to low thyroid activity in our body, has many levels or degrees of diagnosis. Sometimes it can be very mild and cannot be identified until a much later stage, but some simple blood tests can usually diagnose it.
This is a common disorder that occurs when our thyroid does not produce enough hormones for the processing of energy from food, i.e., for metabolism. The thyroid gland is located in your lower neck and controls many essential processes of your body. That is why it is essential for this part to release its required amount of hormones.
The causes of hypothyroidism can vary from instances of low iodine in a diet, pregnancy, pituitary gland disorder to thyroid surgeries. It is always better to eat a complete and fulfilling diet filled with lots of iron, vitamin, and calcium.
Effects of low thyroid levels
Effects of low thyroid levels may be:
- Obesity
This is the utmost severe and commonly found effect of hypothyroidism. The low production of the hormones by the thyroid gland messes up the metabolism and the conversion of food into energy in our body. All this food gets accumulated as fat and increases a person’s chances of obesity. This is a serious risk for victims suffering from hypothyroidism as it does not always stop at this and may lead to heart attacks or other serious instances. - Heart-related diseases
This disorder leads to a deceleration in our heart rate, and in turn, weakens our circulatory system by making it less effective in pumping blood. That is why people suffering from hypothyroidism may tire out quickly. The decreased blood pumping leaves one with respiratory problems and even ragged breathing. This can seriously affect our day-to-day activities. It can also lead to high cholesterol or high blood pressure, which can become serious enough to cause heart attacks or even death. - Peripheral neuropathy
Extreme cases of hypothyroidism can cause our nervous system to destabilize and not to work as it should. Our peripheral activity becomes restricted due to lesser and lesser shoots of neurons that inhibit our memory capacity and also cause numbness, tingling or pain as an aftermath. - Lung problems
Hypothyroidism can cause a lot of respiratory problems that may lead to serious illnesses. The decrease in the production of the thyroid hormone leads to weakening of the esophagus and the cords in the throat making it difficult to take good long breaths, and that can lead to difficulty in exercising. - Stomach problems
This disorder leads to a decelerated speed of the food and the blood in our body. This might lead to constipation or affect our bowel movements drastically. The slow digestion of food inside our body may cause serious problems like kidney stones or stomach infections. It might also lead to constipation, diarrhea, and gallstones in our body. We must take care as to what we ingest or intake in the form of food or fluids. It can also cause gastrointestinal problems and increase the cholesterol levels of our body. - Menstrual problems
Hypothyroidism can cause a lot of interference with our menstruation system, affecting periods- missed, heavy or unpredictable periods. Even during pregnancy, one might face the serious challenges of miscarriage, and some might not even get pregnant easily. Low thyroid levels lead to an unstable uterus and interfere with our menstrual flows also. - Physical appearance changes
Hypothyroidism causes hair thinning, eyebrow thinning and hair loss. It also causes stomach bloating. It also causes dry skin, an unpleasant effect that leaves dry rashes as well as unwanted marks on our body. These interferences with our appearance are never altogether acceptable. That is why low thyroid levels are dangerous and need to be checked out. - Other issues
A person having low thyroid levels in his body is prone to a lot of weakness, darker skin and health effects like jaundice, heart attack risk and goiter and brain fog. It also may lead to delayed puberty, slow growth of the body, lethargy or feeling constantly cold. Irregular uterine bleeding, weird sexual afflictions, and a slow-paced life become common for the victims with low thyroid levels. Itching and tearing of the skin on our shins are also common occurrences.
The thyroid gland remains protected in our lower neck, but even the slightest imbalance in our diet or lifestyle may lead to low thyroid levels of its hormones, the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and TRH (Thyrotropin-releasing hormone). So it is always better to eat a good and balanced diet filled with every nutrient required to sustain our body.
Also, prevention is, of course, better than cure. At the slightest hint of any of the symptoms, we must consult a physician and not let the disorder take a dire turn and nip it in the bud. It is not always about an inconsequential organ or an inexhaustible source of hormones, and one must always remember to take care of their body.
