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Thyroid hormones help regulate growth and a variety of metabolic functions in the body. When the thyroid gland, located in the lower part of the neck, fails to produce enough of these hormones, almost all bodily functions slow, including skin regeneration and digestion. In children, hypothyroidism can severely stunt growth and result in retardation (in the United States, newborns are routinely tested for the disease). Though this condition can be hereditary in many cases, it usually requires an environmental trigger, such as stress or a virus, to activate it, says Donald L. Gordon, M.D., professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology at Loyola University in Chicago. Exact causes, however, cannot always be determined, he adds.

You shouldn't worry if you experience one, or even several, of the following commonly overlooked symptoms. "The symptoms of hypothyroidism should be considered as a package," says Gordon. "You should notice a pattern. They're all interconnected." Women, he says, ought to be extra-vigilant about noticing signs that something is amiss; they're three times more likely than men to develop the disease. If you suffer from three or more of any of these symptoms, consult your primary care doctor for a simple blood test.

1. Weakness: You find it difficult to lift or move objects that once would have been no problem.

2. Fatigue: You want to sleep all the time.

3. Dry/coarse skin: Dead skin cells are not sloughed away, so skin builds up, causing it to look and feel thick. Your face will also appear puffy.

4. Slowed speech

5. Weight gain: Hypothyroidism causes metabolism to slow down which, in turn, causes weight gain. Sufferers of hypothyroidism usually do not gain more than 5 to 10 pounds, however, because their appetite also decreases.

6. Constipation: Waste products' transit through the colon is slowed significantly.

7. Heavy menstrual flow: For women, abnormally heavy periods for three months or more may be a symptom of hypothyroidism.

8. Hearing difficulties: Hypothyroidism may cause gradual hearing loss.

9. Impaired intelligence: You may experience difficulty with numbers and simple tasks such as adding a restaurant bill.

10. Cold intolerance: Ask yourself if you always feel colder than everyone else. If feeling cold is a constant complaint of yours, it could be a symptom.

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