The thyroid gland produces the thyroid hormone, which is instrumental in the regulation of the body’s metabolism, or rate of burning energy. This is a function that takes place in both humans and animals. The metabolism works by ensuring that a specific amount of oxygen travels around the body at a specific rate. Your Base Metabolic Rate (BMR) is this rate when you are resting. An ill functioning thyroid may be responsible for lowering the activity of this BMR and, thereby, causing your metabolism to slow down significantly. To see if you have any symptoms, read further…

The thyroid has been compared to the cruise control setting of a motor vehicle. When cruise control is activated, the driver does not need to accelerate or slow down, the speed is controlled and even. So, a healthy thyroid maintains an even, controlled rate of metabolism within the body. However, when the thyroid stops functioning as well as it used to, the metabolic activity at a cellular level drops or rises considerably, causing many side effects and long-term complications. If the activity within the cells drops, they need less energy to function. As the energy is stored as opposed to being used up, the person gains weight. They also become cold and sluggish (tiring easily, physically and mentally), as their bodies are not burning energy efficiently. Conversely, if the activity within the cells increases, more energy is burned and the patient will lose weight. They will be hot and will sweat more than usual. In addition to a physical over-activity, the brain is also agitated and constantly working, creating an irritable sense in the sufferer. An overactive thyroid is called HYPERTHYROIDISM and an underactive one is called HYPOTHYROIDISM.

It is vital that either of these conditions be treated as quickly and efficiently as possible to avoid long-term damage and further discomfort and suffering. Symptoms can often be misdiagnosed, based purely on their appearance. For this reason, it is vital that thorough research be done before settling on a diagnosis and treatment.

The symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to cold
- Depression
- Muscles cramps
- Joint pain
- Hair and nails in bad condition
- Sweating more than usual despite feeling colder then usual
- Weight gain
- Water retention
- Deepening of the voice
- Menstrual cycles that are abnormally out of sync

Hypothyroidism is frequently the cause, or one of them, for inexplicable weight gain. This weight is difficult to lose and seems to remain or increase despite greater efforts to rid one’s self of it. Sufferers often end up depressed and despondent, feeling like their weight is out of their control. This depression often results in a vicious circle of comfort eating and weight gain. This is only one dilemma that may easily be avoided by correctly diagnosing and treating hypothyroidism early.