Hypothyroidism Overview & Symptoms
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The thyroid gland, despite its relatively small size, can cause a plethora of diseases. This is because the thyroid produces hormones that are critical for metabolism, the process through which your body generates the energy necessary to digest food, pump your heart, and perform other crucial cellular functions.
When the thyroid becomes sick or malfunctioning, it may begin generating excessive or insufficient amounts of these hormones, resulting in a variety of symptoms. If your thyroid is underactive (hypothyroidism), you may experience fatigue, constipation, and weight gain. In comparison, if the thyroid is hyperactive (hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis), you may experience difficulty sleeping, have loose bowels, and lose weight.
Hypothyroidism manifests itself differently depending on the severity of the hormone shortage. Problems typically develop gradually, frequently over a period of years.
At initially, hypothyroidism’s symptoms, such as fatigue and weight gain, may go unnoticed. Alternatively, you might simply credit them to aging. However, as your metabolism slows further, you may develop more visible symptoms.
Among the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism are the following:
- Fatigue
- Increased sensitivity to cold
- Constipation
- Dry skin
- Weight gain
- Puffy face
- Hoarseness
- Muscle weakness
- Elevated blood cholesterol level
- Muscle aches, tenderness, and stiffness
- Joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
Social Security and Hypothyroidism
There are numerous thyroid gland problems, and many of them can have a significant detrimental influence on your life. If you are unable to work due to a thyroid disease, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program to persons who have worked long enough and paid enough taxes to the SSA to earn an adequate number of credits.
While many people have thyroid diseases that can be managed medically, there are some who have much more difficult-to-manage thyroid disorders that disrupt their everyday lives and render them unable to work.
If you are one of those individuals, you may apply for disability compensation through the Social Security Administration.
If you are approved for SSDI, certain dependents may also be eligible for benefits. To be eligible for disability benefits, your thyroid gland illness must be severe enough to render you totally unable.
Partial disability benefits are not available. The thyroid gland is a tiny gland located at the base of the neck.
It is responsible for creating hormones that enable your body’s cells to work appropriately. These are hormones that aid in the production of energy in the body and aid in the growth of children. Inactivity or hyperactivity of the thyroid gland can impair your capacity to operate normally.
The Social Security Administration’s Evaluation and Medical Qualifications for Hypothyroidism
While thyroid diseases are significant, they are not specifically listed in the SSA’s medical guidance, dubbed the Blue Book.
While many individuals are able to function normally and manage their thyroid disorders with medicine, others have serious repercussions such as strokes, heart problems, anxiety, melancholy, or unintentional and uncontrolled weight loss or increase.
Numerous Blue Book entries deal with thyroid diseases. Several of the more frequent thyroid medical problems, as well as how the SSA examines and analyzes them, include the following:
- Thyroid cancer is discussed in Listing 13.09, Malignant Neoplastic Diseases, Thyroid.
- The Digestive Systems section of Listing 5.08 discusses unintended weight loss.
- Cardiovascular System, Listing 4.00, evaluates thyroid-related heart issues.
- Strokes caused by thyroid problems are covered in Listing 11.04, Central Nervous System Vascular Accidents.
- Mood disorders such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive difficulties that might be caused by thyroid abnormalities are evaluated in Listing 12.00.
If any of your symptoms match the SSA’s Blue Book criteria for disability, you would be accepted for SSDI compensation.
If you do not fulfill the criteria for a particular disease, you may have enough difficulties and symptoms from many conditions to qualify for SSDI benefits through a medical-vocational allowance.
You May Qualify for $3,148 Per Month! Request a No-Cost Disability Evaluation
Consult a Social Security attorney or advocate if you have a thyroid gland disease and are considering applying for Social Security benefits.
Social Security attorneys are compensated on a contingency basis, which means they are compensated only if you prevail. They can assist you in gathering all of your documentation and simplify the application procedure significantly.