It’s normal to want to bundle up when the temperature drops. But if you’re always cold, even when the temperature heats up, and can’t seem to lose weight no matter how hard you try, you may want to get your thyroid checked.
As experts in hormones and metabolism, our team at MyFitMed in Dallas, Frisco, Heath, and Southlake, Texas, knows the subtle signs of an underactive thyroid that can get overlooked.
Sensitivity to cold, an increase in belly fat, and chronic fatigue are common symptoms of many health issues, including hypothyroidism. Getting tested and properly treated can help you feel a lot better.
The thyroid temperature-weight connection
Your thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces hormones collectively called the thyroid hormones. These hormones are in charge of your metabolism, or your body’s rate of converting the food you eat into energy. Every cell, tissue, and organ needs energy to function.
Since thyroid hormones control your metabolic rate, they must also assist in managing systems that require energy, like your heart rate, digestion, and body temperature.
If your thyroid hormone levels are low, your metabolic rate slows, so you burn fewer calories.
Lowering your temperature is one way your body conserves energy to match the lower metabolic needs.
All of this results in weight gain and sensitivity to cold.
Other signs of hypothyroidism
Symptoms of an underperforming thyroid gland are subtle, appearing gradually over months or even years. The slow onset of symptoms makes hypothyroidism easy to overlook. Additionally, the symptoms are common with many other health issues.
In addition to always feeling cold and watching your waist widen, other signs of hypothyroidism include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dry skin and hair
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Achy muscles
- Constipation
Anyone can develop hypothyroidism, but it’s more common in women and people who have an autoimmune disorder. You’re also at greater risk if it runs in your family.
If you’re feeling tired and cold all the time, it’s time to check your thyroid.
Getting your thyroid checked
We conduct a thorough history and physical to better understand your concerns and symptoms, so we can get to the root cause. We feel the thyroid gland in your neck to check for abnormalities like enlargement in the gland or presence of nodules (lumps).
We also order blood tests to evaluate thyroid function and hormone levels. Imaging tests may also be ordered.
Restoring hormone balance
If we find that your thyroid hormones are low, we create a wellness plan to restore balance. Hormone replacement therapy with thyroid hormones is the most common treatment. We may also include other treatments to ease symptoms, such as:
- Intravenous (IV) vitamin therapy
- Vitamin injections
- HGH peptide
- Nutrition protocol
- Exercise program
Hormones are tiny, but they can elicit big changes in the body. If you’re not feeling quite yourself, it’s time to get checked out. Whether it’s your thyroid or something else, you deserve to feel better.
Call the office nearest you today or book an appointment online. Let us help you get back to feeling like you.