Hypothyroidism is a common condition that can make it  challenging to live your life to the fullest. Check out these  signs and symptoms below to see if your thyroid health  needs a checkup! 

You’re tired 

Fatigue is one of the primary symptoms of  

hypothyroidism. This is because our thyroid is like our  body’s internal thermostat – it responds to other cues  from our body and environment and decides  

when energy needs to be conserved or when it  can be expended. 

You’re experiencing hair loss ‍

Hair loss from your head or the outer third of your eyebrow can be a sign of low  thyroid function. While there are other things that may cause hair loss,  checking thyroid function as part of a thorough workup is important if this is a  concern. 

You experience brain fog 

Just as your metabolism can be slowed by low thyroid function, so can your  mental processing, you may feel that your thinking is unclear, or that you have  trouble concentrating or remembering things. 

You have trouble losing weight 

Since the thyroid governs our bodies metabolic processes, you could be  working incredibly hard at eating healthy and exercising and still not see the  scale budge one bit if you have a thyroid problem! 

You’re constipated 

Chronically having slow transit time in your digestive system may be a sign of  impaired thyroid function. If you are having less than one bowel movement a  day, it’s worth checking out your thyroid. 

Sound familiar? Here’s how to investigate… 

If you suspect you may have low thyroid function, the first step is to mention  this to your primary care provider. Initial investigation typically involves testing  your TSH or thyroid stimulating hormone levels. TSH is the signal from your  brain to your thyroid, that tells your thyroid how hard to work. However, TSH  does not tell us the full story, and to get a comprehensive understanding of  what is going on with your thyroid health, we need to look at a full thyroid  panel. 

What is tested in a full thyroid panel? 

TSH 

As mentioned above, TSH is the signal that your thyroid responds to. Typically, this lab is measured first to screen for thyroid dysfunction. This lab is also used  to titrate doses of thyroid medications. 

T4 

Free T4 or thyroxine is one of two thyroid hormones. T4 is produced in large  amounts but has low activity and requires conversion into T3 to have activity at  the tissues. 

T3 

Free T3, or triiodothyronine is converted from T4 and circulates throughout the  body, giving your other organs and tissues the signal to upregulate  metabolism. Understanding both T4 and T3 levels allows us to identify exactly  where in the pathway there is a problem. 

rT3 

RT3 or reverse T3, is a storage form of thyroid hormone. It is created from T3, in  times when our body is receiving cues to downregulate metabolism and  conserve energy. 

TPO Antibodies 

Thyroperoxidase antibodies are a marker of autoimmune reactivity towards the  thyroid gland. This measure allows us to identify the cause of low thyroid  function, and if elevated indicates a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – the  most common cause of hypothyroidism. 

If you suspect your thyroid health requires investigation, talk with an  endocrinologist or your primary physician.

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