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Hyperthyroidism Explained

Hyperthyroidism~The Overactive Thyroid

Hyperthyroidism is a thyroid disorder that
develops when the gland produces an abnormally large amount of the
hormone that it is responsible for creating and delivering through the
body. According to statistics, approximately 1% of all people in the United
States suffer from Hyperthyroidism.

In simplest terms, it is referred to as “Overactive Thyroid”. In
professional settings, it is often called “Thyrotoxicosis”. This term
informs medical professionals that there is too much of the hormone from
the thyroid gland located in the blood of the sufferer.

While both men
and women may suffer from this troublesome condition, females are more
likely to be diagnosed. Read on to learn some basic
– but highly relevant – facts you should be aware of.


What is Hyperthyroidism?

As mentioned previously, this disease occurs when the thyroid gland
produces too much of a hormone. This hormone is called “Thyroxine”. The
thyroid gland plays a highly significant role in the body’s metabolism.
When there is an excessive amount of thyroxine within the body, the
metabolism is boosted to abnormal levels. Some of the causes of Hyperthyroidism can be due to stress.

While it is true that many of us
desire to have a high metabolism, when it occurs as a result of an
overactive thyroid, it could result in numerous complications that could
have a detrimental impact on the sufferer’s health. Examples of these
issues include drastic weight loss, irregularities with the beating of
the heart and even high levels of nervousness. 

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms associated with this disease are often quite challenging
for medical professionals due to the fact that they commonly mimic
symptoms that are associated with other types of health issues. This list below is not a full list of Hyperthyroidism symptoms.

The
following outlines the most common symptoms:

  • Many patients find that they experience a high level of nervousness;
    this could include bouts of irritability and agitation of which no
    cause may be identified.
  • Sleep complications, such as not being able to fall asleep, the
    inability to sleep throughout the night and waking up too early may be
    experienced.
  • Issues with the muscles, such as fatigue and weakness are common.
  • Irregularities associated with the heart such as unusual fluttering
    sensations in the chest and abnormal beating of the heart may be
    experienced.
  • Many sufferers find that they develop a low tolerance to warm temperatures.
  • Experiencing bowel movements more than usual or suffering from bouts
    of diarrhea are commonly experienced.
  • One of the main symptoms is abnormal weight loss.
  • Many patients find that they develop small tremors in and around the hands.
  • In some cases, the thyroid could become enlarged. As a result, the
    neck of the sufferer may appear to be swollen. When this occurs, it is
    called “Goiter”.

Diagnosis and Treatment

If you find that you are experiencing any of the symptoms
outlined above, you should set up an appointment with your
doctor. At the appointment, you can expect the medical professional to
inquire about the symptoms that you have been experiencing.

Once this
part of the appointment is over, the doctor will likely proceed with a
detailed physical examination. In addition to this, they may order
special tests that you will need to take that will inform them of how
much your thyroid gland is producing in terms of the hormone thyroxine.

Examples of these tests include:
  • Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Test
  • Thyroid-Stimulating Immunoglobulin
  • Test Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test
  • Scan of the Thyroid Gland

If your doctor determines that you have Hyperthyroidism, they
will then determine the severity of the condition. There are several
other factors that may be used to determine the most appropriate
treatment for your condition. If left unchecked this disease can progress to Graves Disease. In rare circumstances if left unchecked, some patients may experience a Thyroid Storm.

Examples include your age, your medical
history, and any allergies that you have personally experienced with
certain medications in the past.

Most commonly, medications are
prescribed in order to control the symptoms that you
experience. One of the most common types of medications used are those
that are identified as “Beta Blockers”. In addition to this, antithyroid
medications may also be prescribed. In some cases, radioiodine therapy
and thyroid surgery can be treatment options.

If you have Hyperthyroidism, most doctors have the ability to prescribe a treatment
that will level out hormone production and reduce the symptoms that you are experiencing.You may want to consider changing what and how you eat at this time as well. Certain foods can help to reduce the symptoms you are experiencing. 

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