9 silent signs of a thyroid problem you may be ignoring

The thyroid produces hormones essential for metabolism and brain activity. If you notice any of the following signs persisting, or have more than one, endocrinologists recommend a simple blood test to gauge your hormone levels.
1. Sleep changes

If you’ve always been a good sleeper but suddenly can’t snooze through the night, it could signal a thyroid problem. An overactive thyroid pumps out certain hormones (triiodothyronine, known as T3, and thyroxine, known as T4) in excess, which can overstimulate the central nervous system and lead to insomnia, says Dr Hossein Gharib, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist. On the flip side, if you still feel tired after a full night’s sleep, or the need to sleep more than usual, you might have an underactive thyroid, in which case your body doesn’t produce enough of these hormones.
Here are 13 more surprising things that could explain your sleep woes.
2. Out-of-nowhere anxiety?

Your thyroid might be hyperactive. Too many thyroid hormones can cause jittery feelings, says Dr Ashita Gupta, an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai Roosevelt Hospital, New York. “There’s more brain stimulation so it excites you to the point where you don’t feel good about it,” she says.
How many of these 15 sneaky things in your home that trigger anxiety could you easily do away with?