Thyroid Symptom Checker

Why symptoms alone can't diagnose thyroid problems

Every symptom on the list — fatigue, weight change, cold sensitivity, dry skin, low mood — overlaps with anaemia, vitamin D deficiency, depression, sleep problems and plain modern life. That is exactly why the TSH blood test exists: it is cheap, widely available, needs one small blood sample, and gives a definitive answer that no symptom checklist ever can. This tool's only job is to tell you whether your pattern makes that test worth requesting.

What hypothyroidism actually is

An underactive thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone — the body's metabolic accelerator — so everything gradually slows: energy, digestion, heat production, hair growth, mood. It is common (especially in women and after 40), easily confirmed by TSH, and very treatable with a daily hormone tablet that restores normal levels for the vast majority of people.

Diet and thyroid: the honest version

Food cannot cure an underactive thyroid — but it matters at the edges. The thyroid needs iodine (iodised salt, dairy, fish and eggs cover most people) and selenium (eggs, seafood, sunflower seeds, whole grains). Two cautions with better evidence than most "thyroid diets": don't take high-dose iodine or kelp supplements — excess iodine can worsen thyroid problems — and if you take levothyroxine, timing matters: empty stomach, 30–60 minutes before breakfast, and 4 hours away from calcium or iron supplements, which block its absorption. Goitrogenic foods (cabbage, broccoli, soy) are a practical non-issue at normal cooked amounts with adequate iodine.

Neck swelling is different

A visible swelling or fullness at the front of the neck (goitre or nodule) should be examined by a doctor promptly regardless of any other symptom or score — most causes are benign, but it needs eyes and usually an ultrasound, not a checklist.