Spotting the Warning Signs of a Thyroid Disorder
May 04, 2026
Your thyroid is a hormone-producing gland at the base of your neck. The thyroid hormone from the gland controls your body’s metabolism, the process of converting food into energy for all your cells. When you have a thyroid disease, your thyroid gland produces too many or too few of these hormones.
At the office of James R. Tryon, MD, board-certified internist Edmee Rodriguez, MD, diagnoses and treats thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer. She specializes in advanced therapies like radioactive iodine and anti-thyroid medications to help restore a balance to your thyroid hormone levels.
Learning the signs of thyroid disorders can help you recognize them early so you can start treatment as soon as possible. In this article, we’ll cover the most common warning signs of thyroid disorders.
If you have hyperthyroidism, it means you have a condition that causes your thyroid gland to overproduce hormones. Too much thyroid hormone in your system speeds up your metabolism.
A fast metabolism associated with hyperthyroidism can cause a wide variety of symptoms. You may find it difficult to gain weight, feel extra sensitive to heat, and have trouble sleeping. Hyperthyroidism also commonly causes feelings similar to anxiety, including a racing heart rate and sweating.
Hyperthyroidism often comes from a condition called Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland. You can also have hyperthyroidism from thyroid nodules (lumps on the thyroid) or too much iodine in your body.
Hypothyroidism is the opposite of hyperthyroidism, which means it involves low or no production of thyroid hormones. Low levels of thyroid hormone slow down your metabolism and can cause otherwise-unexplained weight gain.
Beyond weight gain (or trouble losing weight), hypothyroidism can cause dry skin, depression, fatigue, and a slow heart rate.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease, is one possible cause of hypothyroidism. Others include iodine deficiency (too little iodine in your body) and congenital hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism you’re born with).
Note that warning signs of thyroid disorder can come from other causes, so you should get a medical evaluation if you have them. A hormone blood test can tell you if your thyroid hormone levels are abnormally high or low.
If you’re diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, Dr. Rodriguez can tell you about the treatments appropriate for your diagnosis. You may need radioactive iodine therapy or medications, like beta blockers, to manage symptoms.
In some cases, people need surgery to remove the thyroid. You’ll need to take thyroid hormones for the rest of your life if you get a thyroidectomy.
If you have symptoms of a possible thyroid disorder, get in touch with Dr. Edmee Rodriguez. Call the office or request an appointment online at your earliest convenience.