symptoms of hypothyroidism usually appear slowly over months or years. symptoms and signs may include: coarse and thinning hair. dry skin. brittle nails. a yellowish tint to the skin. slow body movements. cold skin. inability to tolerate cold. feeling tired sluggish or weak. memory problems depression or difficulty concentrating. constipation. heavy or irregular menstrual periods that may last longer than 5 to 7 days. other less common symptoms may include: an enlarged thyroid gland ( goiter ). modest weight gain often or less. swelling of the arms hands legs and feet and facial puffiness particularly around the eyes. hoarseness. muscle aches and cramps. in general how bad your symptoms are depends on your age how long you have had hypothyroidism and the seriousness of the condition. the symptoms may be so mild and happen so slowly that they go unnoticed for years. the older you are the more likely you are to notice symptoms. mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism often causes no symptoms or vague symptoms that may be attributed to aging such as memory problems dry skin and fatigue. symptoms of hypothyroidism during and after pregnancy include fatigue weight loss dizziness depression and memory and concentration problems. some women develop a goiter. because of the variety of symptoms hypothyroidism can be mistaken for depression especially during and after pregnancy. in older people it may be confused with alzheimer's disease dementia and other conditions that cause memory problems. symptoms of hypothyroidism in infants children and teens although rare hypothyroidism can occur in infants children and teens. in infants symptoms of a goiter include a poor appetite and choking on food. symptoms of hypothyroidism may include dry scaly skin. in children and teens symptoms include behavior problems and changes in school performance. children and teens may gain weight and yet have a slowed growth rate. teens may have delayed puberty and look much younger than their age. webmd medical reference from healthwise this information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. © 1995-2011 healthwise incorporated. healthwise healthwise for every health decision and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise incorporated.
what are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?