You may have a thyroid issue and not even be aware of it.

A recent report by the American Thyroid Associationshowed that 60% of the 20 million Americans living with some form of thyroid disease were completely unaware of the condition. There are ways to tell if you have a thyroid problem and it starts with recognizing symptoms.

The thyroid is a gland that produces hormones influencing every cell, tissue and organ in the body. If it is not functioning at optimal levels, it will trigger various health problems you should be on the lookout for -- ranging from weight gain to weight loss, irritability, fatigue, vision problems, depression and sleep disturbances.

It all depends on whether you have an underactive thyroid that produces too few hormones, a condition called hypothyroidism, or an overactive thyroid that produces too much of the thyroid hormone, a condition called Hyperthyroidism.

Naturopath Natasha Turner, author of "The Supercharged Hormone Diet" broke it down to Reader's Digest. She spelled out the symptoms you should be looking for that may indicate you have a thyroid problem.

“Without enough thyroid hormones, every system in the body slows down," she said. "Those who suffer from hypothyroidism feel tired and tend to sleep a lot. They can also experience extremely dry skin, hair loss, even slower mental processes. Their digestion is slow and weight gain typically occurs."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, those who suffer with hyperthyroidism may experience anxiety, an intolerance to cold, difficulty sleeping, increased appetite, weight loss, and restlessness. These symptoms could be present for a number of reasons but Turner advised undergoing a blood test to determine the levels of thyroid hormones in the system.

If the tests do come back positive for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, there are various treatment plans that can alleviate the symptoms and counteract the condition. The first step is prescribed medication that contains synthetic thyroid hormones but Turner suggested speaking to a doctor about adopting certain natural treatments as well such as supplementing with the Ayurvedic herb ashwagandha, the amino acid L-Tyrosine and coconut oil.

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