Symptoms of hypothyroidism or Hashimoto thyroiditis | Dizziness and thyroid gland – What are the connections?

Symptoms of hypothyroidism or Hashimoto thyroiditis

The symptom tachycardia is usually associated with hyperthyroidism, in which too many thyroid hormones are produced. Here too much thyroid hormone is present in the body and this leads to an overactivation of the body functions. The heart is also affected and a fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or even cardiac arrhythmia (e.g. atrial fibrillation) can occur.

If the thyroid gland is underactive, the heartbeat tends to slow down (bradycardia). This is often accompanied by increased blood pressure and manifests itself as inner restlessness and nervousness. The symptom tachycardia can also be well treated by an appropriate therapy of the hyperactivity.

In rare cases, the rapid pulse can develop into a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia, which is why it is advisable to contact a doctor if it persists for a long time. Shortness of breath is a symptom that can have many different causes. In relation to the thyroid gland, it is – in contrast to dizziness – rather typical for hyperthyroidism.

Causes of shortness of breath can include palpitations or cardiac arrhythmia. Due to the rapid heartbeat, the affected person may feel that he or she is getting bad air, which can be accompanied by a feeling of anxiety. Breathlessness in this context tends to occur in attacks.

If the thyroid gland is greatly enlarged due to overfunction, this can lead to shortness of breath, which is permanently present. This may be due to the fact that the significantly enlarged thyroid gland presses on the windpipe and constricts it. However, hypothyroidism can also lead to an enlargement of the thyroid gland (goitre, goiter) and thus constrict the airways and cause shortness of breath.

Dizziness such as that which can occur with an underactive thyroid may occasionally be accompanied by visual disturbances. However, visual disturbances related to the thyroid gland are more frequent in a certain form of hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease. This can lead to eye involvement (endocrine orbitopathy).

Externally, this disorder is mainly recognized by the fact that the eyes seem to protrude far out of the skull and look like they have been “torn open”. In the context of this disease, visual disorders often occur, for example double vision (double images) or blurred vision. The occurrence of tremors in connection with the thyroid gland is more common in cases of hyperthyroidism.

In addition to an increase in heartbeat (tachycardia) and body temperature (hyperthermia) as well as restlessness and frequent diarrhea, tremor (trembling of the hands) is not uncommon here. This is due to the overactivation of the body by an excess of thyroid hormones. The occurrence of anxiety is also more frequently described by patients suffering from hyperthyroidism, while dizziness is more likely to occur in exceptional cases of an overactive thyroid gland.

Accompanying the feeling of anxiety can be tachycardia, cardiac dysrhythmia, an increase in body temperature, severe restlessness, diarrhea and weight loss. Increased sweating is a common sign of hyperthyroidism. Due to the excessive production of hormones, the body’s metabolic processes run at full speed and thus lead to an increased release of heat in the form of sweat.

In addition, thyroid hormones have an influence on the sensation of heat and cold in our body and can send the wrong impulses when concentrations are incorrect. Everyday activities, such as climbing stairs or carrying shopping bags, can lead to an exertion beyond the normal level and thus to an unusually strong production of sweat. But even at rest, some patients with hyperthyroidism have described sweating outbreaks. However, as soon as the hormone level is within the normal range, sweating returns to its individually normal level. If the thyroid gland is underactive, sweating is less likely to be a typical symptom.