Hormone problems can wreak havoc on health.
The thyroid gland can be particularly important in how it impacts sleep.
How can thyroid dysfunction, including conditions like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, cause sleep problems?
Illustration by Emily Roberts, Verywell
Consider its role insnoring,obstructive sleep apnea, night sweats,insomnia, and other symptoms.
This is sometimes referred to as having an underactive thyroid.
When hypothyroidism is present, there may be several changes that might occur.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Some people may experience changes within the upper airway that lead to difficulties breathing during sleep.
Treatment of hypothyroidism with a medication usually reverses this problem.
Hyperthyroidism refers to overproduction of the thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland.
This may occur due to hyperfunctioning nodules or a thyroid goiter,Graves' disease, or thyroiditis.
Surgery or treatment with radioactive iodine may be required to correct the condition.
There are a number of symptoms that can make a diagnosis of hypothyroidism more likely.
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea often experience symptoms including excessive daytime sleepiness, apathy, and feeling lethargic.
Finally, patients with hypothyroidism are at risk for obesity, another factor that contributes to obstructive sleep apnea.
Insomnia
Some people with hypothyroidism and sleep apnea will experience insomnia.
Sleep apnea may cause disrupted breathing that leads to sudden arousals from sleep.
This may be characterized by frequent awakenings during the night, especially towards morning during REM sleep.
Sleep may be light and unrefreshing.
Due to the poor quality of the sleep, the time in bed may be extended.
There may also be a role for sleep-disordered breathing in causing this phenomenon.
Sleep apnea is most commonly treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.
Alternatives include oral appliances from dentists, surgery, positional therapy, and weight loss.
Generally, it can be helpful to evaluate the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
The TSH level may be abnormally low with high T3 and T3 levels in the context of hyperthyroidism.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Fortunately, if hypothyroidism is causing sleep apnea or breathing difficulties, it will improve with thyroid hormone replacement.
This is typically taken as a pill called Synthroid (levothyroxine).
There are also natural alternatives, derived from animal sources, such as Armour thyroid.
It is also very common to have sleep apnea.
There may be a relationship between the two conditions.
It may be helpful to have a sleep study after an evaluation by a board-certified sleep specialist.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid).
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