Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much of the thyroid hormone. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is the autoimmune condition Graves’ disease, where antibodies target the gland and cause it to speed up hormone production. The most noticeable side effect of hyperthyroidism is weight loss. The person affected appears to be able to eat anything and not gain a pound. They appear to have an abundance of energy as well when in reality; their metabolism is working overtime and wearing their body out that much faster.

Doctor Feeling Patient's Thyroid

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is under active and does not produce enough of the thyroid hormone. Symptoms of hypothyroidism usually coincide with a slowdown in metabolism, and can include fatigue, weight gain, and depression, among others. The most commonly noticed symptom of someone suffering from hypothyroidism is rapid weight gain. Not only is it hard for the person to prevent it, it is even more difficult to lose the weight that was gained. Hypothyroidism usually develops at birth but also can develop from an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s disease, in which antibodies gradually target the thyroid and destroy its ability to produce thyroid hormone.

Many people notice rapid hair loss as a symptom of their hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. When the body is in crisis, the hair cells can shut down to redirect energy elsewhere. The types of situations that can cause hair loss include hormonal changes, poor diet and nutritional deficiencies, a variety of medications, surgery, and various medical conditions, but more noticeably, thyroid disease seems to affect the chances of developing hair loss. Either type of thyroid condition seems to be the number one contributing factor to hair loss in women especially.Not only does stress in general contribute to the chances of losing hair, but the stress of being diagnosed with a thyroid condition definitely adds to it.

If you experience hair loss in association with hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, be sure to consult with your physician. If he knows as much as you can tell him, he can better find the proper medicine, dose or solution that is right for you. This is important because sometimes the thyroid medicine prescribed can contribute to rapid hair loss and if this is the case, the doctor can modify the dosage or change the prescription altogether.

Another contributing factor could be nutritional deficiencies, so if you are missing certain foods in your diet or aren’t getting enough of a particular vitamin. This can easily be corrected with a multi-vitamin or a specific vitamin tablet. Again, consult your doctor to see what the correct course of action is for you and your body.

Diagnosis of both thyroid problems and hair loss seem to be on the rise and the two most definitely go hand in hand. If you begin to experience any symptoms associated with either thyroid disease or hair loss, consult your doctor right away. The sooner you catch it and do something about it, the easier it is to deal with and conquer.