The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland just below the Adam's apple, regulates metabolism, including pulse and heart rate. A middle-aged woman is much more likely than men of the same age to have thyroid problems, reports MayoClinic.com. The symptoms of thyroid problems in a 42-year old female may be subtle and easily attributed to other conditions. The risk for a thyroid disorder is even higher if she is undergoing menopause.
Swollen Thyroid
A 42-year-old female with a thyroid disorder is likely to have an enlarged thyroid, which is called goiter, reports the MayoClinic.com. The goiter may be too small to be noticed or it may be felt by a doctor during a routine checkup or by the woman herself when she is putting on makeup.
Depending on the size and location, the swollen thyroid may cause tightness in the throat and difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
Premature Menopause
A 42-year-old woman with either an overactive thyroid, which is known as hyperthyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, which is caused hypothyroidism, may experience premature menopause, reports the New York Thyroid Center.
Her period may be infrequent, irregular or absent. If her thyroid is overactive, she may experience hot flashes, mood swings and sleep disturbances. All of these symptoms can be mistaken for the onset of menopause, when they really are caused by a thyroid problem. Proper treatment resolves these problems, and allows normal periods to resume.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
A 42-year-old female may think she is experiencing premenstual syndrome (PMS) when in fact she has an underactive thyroid, reports the New York Thyroid Center. The symptoms of both are similar and may include bloating, weight gain and irritability. Another sign of both PMS and a thyroid problem is a change or reduction in sex drive.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a symptom of both an underactive thyroid and Graves' disease, an overactive thyroid disorder than occurs 10 times more often in women than men, reports the Office of Women's Health and the New York Thyroid Center.
Fatigue may be increased by the troubled sleep that often accompanies Graves' disease. Unfortunately, because fatigue is common and caused by many conditions, a 42-year-old female may not realize she has a thyroid problem.
Hair Changes
A 42-year-old female may experience hair changes if she has a thyroid problem, reports the Office of Women's Health. If her hair seems to become fine or brittle, she may have Graves' disease. On the other hand, hair loss is a symptom of underactive thyroid, explains EndocrineWeb.com.
Skin Changes
A 42-year-old female with an underactive thyroid may note that her skin has become dry, rough and pale, reports EndocrineWeb.com.
If she is developing Graves' disease, her skin may get red, swell or get thicker, especially on the shins and tops of the feet, reports MayoClinic.com and the Office of Women's Health.
