An overactive thyroid speeds up bodily systems, including digestion. You may notice more frequent bowel movements or even diarrhea.
Did you know that the thyroid has a relationship with your digestion? When the thyroid gland is imbalanced it can result in digestive problems such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), among other things.
GI hypomotility in hypothyroidism may promote bacterial overgrowth leading to chronic GI symptoms. SIBO is a common cause of chronic diarrhea.
Digestive symptoms of an underactive thyroid can include dyspepsia (chest pain), low stomach acid, poor absorption, constipation, gallstones, anemia and bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. The thyroid gland can have a significant impact on the gastrointestinal system.
Patients with hyperthyroidism can experience frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, even malabsorption with steatorrhea[1,3]. Chronic dyspeptic symptoms such as epigastric pain and fullness, as well as eructation, nausea and vomiting are also frequently seen in these patients.
One such autoimmune disorder that occasionally occurs in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease is autoimmune gastritis, a chronic inflammatory condition in which parietal cells of the stomach are destroyed by antibodies. Patients with autoimmune gastritis have problems with iron and vitamin B12 absorption.
Gut microbiota also influences the absorption of minerals that are important to the thyroid, including iodine, selenium, zinc, and iron. All of them are essential for thyroid function and there is a clear link between thyroid dysfunction and altered levels of these minerals.
Constipation is a common symptom for people with an underactive thyroid, a condition called hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism slows down many of your body's systems, including digestion and elimination. Some people can end up being chronically constipated as a result of their disease.
Both thyroid hormone excess and deficiency can have similar digestive manifestations, such as diarrhea, although the mechanism is different in each situation.
Hypothyroidism can affect the heart and circulatory system in several ways. Lower production of thyroid hormone slows your heart rate. Hypothyroidism also makes the arteries less elastic, and blood pressure rises in order to circulate blood around the body.
What are the long-term effects of thyroid medication? The long-term effects of thyroid medication include weight fluctuations, sensitivity to heat, joint pain, changes to your menstrual cycle, and possibly even autoimmune dysfunction.
Hypothyroidism is a common condition where the thyroid doesn't create and release enough thyroid hormone into your bloodstream. This makes your metabolism slow down. Also called underactive thyroid, hypothyroidism can make you feel tired, gain weight and be unable to tolerate cold temperatures.
Hypothyroidism that goes without treatment for a long time can damage the peripheral nerves. These are the nerves that carry information from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. Peripheral neuropathy may cause pain, numbness and tingling in the arms and legs.
Sensitive Skin and Skin Discoloration
Thyroid hormones also influence the quality of your skin in various ways. For example, with hyperthyroidism, you may notice itchy and dry patches of skin. Your face may feel softer and swollen. You may even notice swelling around your fingertips.
Does Hypothyroidism Affect Life Expectancy? With proper treatment, a person with hypothyroidism usually has a normal life expectancy, with little or no decrease in quality of life. 1 Hypothyroidism generally carries a greater life expectancy than hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
Fatty foods – Fats are known to upset your body's ability to absorb thyroid replacement hormones. Fats can also prevent the thyroid's natural ability to produce hormones. Physicians recommend that you cut out all fried foods and limit your intake of fats from butter, mayonnaise and fatty meats.
Gut dysbiosis is often found in those with thyroid disease, like Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease (more on these below). Poor gut health may impair thyroid function and poor thyroid function can contribute to inflammation and 'leaky gut'.
It's understood that hypothyroidism decreases gastroesophageal motility, causing symptoms of acid reflux.
Persistent nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain can be caused by hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a rare cause of these symptoms. Thyroid function tests should be conducted in patients with refractory gastrointestinal symptoms, especially if routine investigations do not reveal a cause.