Thyroid gland disorders are one of the most common pathologies and endocrine conditions evaluated and treated by clinicians worldwide. While most thyroid disorders are curable with early diagnosis, they do not cause noticeable symptoms till later.

As a result, most are not aware of having such a condition until it reaches a severe phase. This is why early diagnosis is recommended so a thyroid specialist can take immediate intervention and prevent the condition from reaching a severe stage.

However, like with any disease, observing and following up on suspicious symptoms is an easy way to predict the onset of health concerns and those that need a doctor’s attention. But the increasing importance given to the link between weight gain and thyroid disorders has made many overlook other obvious yet silent symptoms of this condition.

This article will list down some lesser-known symptoms of thyroid disorders that indicates your thyroid isn’t functioning correctly.

Ear Pain

Thyroid pain can also be felt in the ear, apart from the well-known areas like the neck and jaw. This often happens in a condition called subacute thyroiditis, often occurring after a viral upper respiratory tract infection or a viral infection of the ear or throat.

Skin Changes

Sudden and unusual changes in the skin may be a sign of thyroid, especially if you have skin that is either dry, pale, and cool or moist, soft, and warm. Rashes, painless lumps, itchy skin without a rash, palms, and soles that appear a yellowish-orange color, and patches of scaly, discolored skin are some other changes to watch out for.

Alongside this, certain hair or nail changes can also be telltale signs of thyroid disorder. This includes hair loss, coarse, dull, or brittle hair, thinning eyebrows (especially the outer third), crumby nails, and curved nails with a swollen fingertip.

Brain Fog

If you constantly feel like you are in a brain fog, have difficulty concentrating, or even find yourself becoming more forgetful, it possibly means your thyroid levels are out of balance. This can occur alongside continuous anxiety, impulsiveness, and fatigue without any explainable reasons.

High Blood Pressure

The thyroid plays a crucial role in your cardiovascular system, so blood pressure issues can sometimes be highly related to thyroid disorders. High blood pressure or hypertension specifically can mean that there is not enough hormone being produced or that the gland is making too much.

Blood Sugar Levels

Recent studies have been showing an increased link between diabetes and thyroid disorders. If you have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), it could lead to you being hypoglycemic. Alternatively, if you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), you can experience hyperglycemia.

Dry Eye

Another lesser-known or somewhat surprising symptom of thyroid disorders is dry eyes. If you have a family history of an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid, such as Hashimoto’s disease or Graves’ disease, then dry eyes can be an obvious sign that points to it.

Constipation/Diarrhea

Your liver is the most affected organ in both cases of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. In truth, thyroid disorder can disrupt your whole digestive system. So persistent gastric pain, diarrhea, and constipation can also be signs of a thyroid issue.

Thankfully, thyroid nodules are cancerous in fewer than 10 percent of cases. At GluCare, we have a unique AI-Integrated thyroid image testing, with a more sensitive and objective method than simply relying on traditional methods or the physicians alone. It has been validated across numerous studies and has proven highly accurate and reliable in detecting thyroid abnormalities. This avoids the need to go through invasive diagnosis or procedures like Fine Needle Aspiration or surgeries unless you have a complex case or issue that needs further examination.

We also conduct extensive real-time thyroid laboratory tests in real-time, which only takes 30-40 minutes – significantly less time than standard tests. This way, you can discuss everything with your endocrinologist during your first visit and make informed decisions early.