Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

If the thyroid gland, over secretes the thyroid hormones, it results in hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis may be due to diffuse over activity of the gland (as occurs in Grave's disease) or as a well- defined overactive foci in nodular goitre.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

In Grave's disease hyperthyroidism, symptoms are : the patient complains of shortness of breath on exertion, palpitations,consciousness of the heart's action,tiredness,muscular weakness, tremor of the hands,nervousness.  Some of the, hyperthyroidism symptoms, in Grave's disease are noticed by friends and relatives of the patient like thyroid enlargement or stariness of the eyes.The patient is tense and restless.The gland feels smooth and firm. The skin is warm and pink.There is tremor in outstretched hands and fingers.A systolic murmur caused by the high cardiac output is audible over the pulmonary( lungs) area.There may be unilateral or bilateral exopthalmos. Clubbing of fingers is found very rarely.

In congenital hyperthyroidism, symptoms are shown sometimes, before birth, in the fetus itself. T he fetal heart heart rate is unduly rapid. At birth the baby is emaciated and hyperactive. It may have goitre and diarrhoea.In nodular toxic goitre, which is also known as secondary hyperthyroidism,symptoms are -
increased fatigue, palpitations,shortness of breath,swelling of ankles,initial loss of weight which is followed by a gain due to accumulation of odema fluid.Enlargement of thyroid is noticed and may contain single hot nodule or multiple nodules.Right sided cardiac failure is common. Trachea is compressed and displaced and causes cough and strider.

Patients with nodular toxic goitre, are usually aged 50 ,and in this hyperthyroidism,symptoms of cardio-vascular and metabolic disturbances are less prominent  , as in Grave's disease.