So, if you’re noticing changes in how often you’re running to the bathroom, it could be connected to your thyroid health.
3. Excessive thirst
If you have an overactive thyroid, symptoms can vary from person to person.
So, if you’re feeling extra thirsty, don’t panic just yet — but it’s a good idea to keep an eye on other signs like unexpected weight loss, shaky hands, feeling exhausted, anxiety attacks, or lightheadedness. If you notice a few of these symptoms along with that excessive thirst, it might be time to see your doctor and get things checked out. It’s always better to be safe and catch any issues early.
4. Unusually fast heart rate
Hyperthyroidism, or having too much thyroid hormone, is rare, affecting less than 1% of people. But it can still have a serious impact on your heart.
Some common signs include trouble sleeping, feeling too hot, sweating a lot, weight loss, feeling constantly hungry, and having loose stools. Too much thyroid hormone makes your heart work harder and faster, which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, like atrial fibrillation, where the heart’s upper chambers beat out of sync. You might also feel palpitations, which is that sudden, uncomfortable awareness of your heartbeat.
High blood pressure is another possible symptom. For people with blocked or stiff heart arteries, the combination of a racing heart and high blood pressure could even lead to chest pain. If you’re noticing these symptoms, it’s definitely worth talking to your doctor.
5. Swelling in your neck
A goitre is a lump or swelling at the front of your neck caused by an enlarged thyroid. Your thyroid is a small gland that makes hormones, and when it gets bigger, it can form a goitre.
While goitres aren’t usually a big concern, it’s a good idea to have a doctor check it out. The main sign of a goitre is a swelling at the front of the neck, and it’s usually painless. If you notice anything like this, it’s best to get it checked by your GP just to be sure.
The swelling usually appears at the lower front of the neck. You may also have other symptoms, including:
- a cough that does not go away
- a hoarse voice or voice changes
- feeling like something is stuck in your throat
- a wheezing noise when you breathe
- finding it hard to swallow or breathe
6. “Staring” or “bulging” eyes
Thyroid eye disease (TED) is an autoimmune condition where the muscles and fatty tissue around your eyes get inflamed.
This inflammation can make your eyes appear to bulge or stick out, often leading to a “staring” look. You might also notice your eyelids and eyes becoming red and swollen. In some cases, the inflammation affects the muscles controlling eye movement, which can cause your eyes to become misaligned, leading to double vision.
Although it’s rare, TED can cause serious problems like blindness due to pressure on the eye nerve or ulcers on the cornea. TED is most often linked to an overactive thyroid caused by Graves’ disease, but it can also occur in people with a normal or underactive thyroid. Around 25% of people with Graves’ disease will develop TED at some point.
It’s also called Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) or Graves’ eye disease (GED). The most common symptoms of TED include:
- Bags under the eyes
- Blurred/double vision
- Change of the eyes’ appearance (usually staring/bulging)
- Difficulty moving the eyes
- Dry or watery eyes
- Gritty feeling in the eyes
- Low tolerance of bright lights
- Pain in or behind the eye — especially when looking up, down, or sideways
- Redness of the lids and eyes
- Swelling or fullness in one or both upper eyelids
