If you constantly feel cold and tired, it’s easy to put these symptoms down to the harsh winter weather. However, if this is a persistent issue, you could be dealing with an underlying health condition that has gone unnoticed for years.
Dublin-based pharmacist Ashley O’Dubhain highlighted a common health condition that often goes undiagnosed. An underactive thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, is a lifelong medical problem that requires help sooner rather than later.
Said to be roughly ten times more common in women, it occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. Despite this statistic, it’s possible for men and children to have the problem as well.
According to the NHS website, some of the most common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, and feelings of depression. Ashley, who uses the handle @ashthepharmacist on TikTok, explained: “It has many similar symptoms to many other conditions, so it’s essential to get your GP to measure your TSH levels.”
He added: “The good news is, it’s a very manageable condition with a simple medication.” In his video, he mentioned that “most people” are prescribed a tablet called levothyroxine.
Initially, regular blood tests will be required until the correct dose of levothyroxine is determined. This process may take some time, but once the right dosage is established, treatment will typically be lifelong.
There are also natural ways to support your thyroid, including dietary changes to increase your intake of “iodine, selenium, and zinc”. However, these should not replace any prescribed medication.
He provided some examples of such foods, which include:
- Seaweed and fish (for iodine)
- Brazil nuts (for selenium)
- poultry and beef (for zinc)
Hypothyroidism is not a rare condition, it affects around 1-2 out of every 100 people in the UK. There’s no definitive way to prevent this condition, which is most commonly caused by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland or damage to the gland itself.
Several celebrities have publicly discussed their experiences with the condition in recent years to raise awareness. Joanna Page, star of Gavin and Stacey, has shared her experience of constantly feeling cold – even in summer – prior to her diagnosis.
Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway has spoken about her own thyroid issues, which are overactive rather than underactive. This has resulted in a different set of symptoms that can develop either gradually or suddenly.