Hyperthyroidism can accelerate your body's metabolism, causing unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Several treatments are available for hyperthyroidism. Doctors use anti-thyroid medications and radioactive iodine to slow the production of thyroid hormones.
Sometimes, hyperthyroidism treatment involves surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland. Although hyperthyroidism can be serious if you ignore it, most people respond well once hyperthyroidism is diagnosed and treated. Hyperthyroidism can mimic other health problems, which can make it difficult for your doctor to diagnose. It can also cause a wide variety of signs and symptoms, including:.
Older adults are more likely to have either no signs or symptoms or subtle ones, such as an increased heart rate, heat intolerance and a tendency to become tired during ordinary activities. Sometimes an uncommon problem called Graves' ophthalmopathy may affect your eyes, especially if you smoke. This disorder makes your eyeballs protrude beyond their normal protective orbits when the tissues and muscles behind your eyes swell.
Eye problems often improve without treatment. If you experience unexplained weight loss, a rapid heartbeat, unusual sweating, swelling at the base of your neck or other signs and symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, see your doctor. It's important to completely describe the changes you've observed, because many signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be associated with a number of other conditions. If you've been treated for hyperthyroidism or you currently are being treated, see your doctor regularly as advised so that he or she can monitor your condition.
Your thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck, just below the Adam's apple. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Hyperthyroidism. Table of Contents. What is hyperthyroidism? Symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Common symptoms include: Unplanned weight loss.
Rapid heartbeat, abnormal heartbeat, or pounding of the heart. Nervousness, anxiety, or touchiness. Tremors trembling of the hands and fingers. Changes in menstrual patterns, such as lighter flow or less frequent periods, in women. Increased sensitivity to heat. Increased sweating. Bowel changes. An enlarged thyroid gland called a goiter , which can appear as swelling at the base of the neck. Muscle weakness. Trouble sleeping. Increased appetite.
You may have pain: Pain. Blurry or double vision. Sensitivity to light. What causes hyperthyroidism? Two other common causes for hyperthyroidism are: Hyperfunctioning overactive thyroid nodules. One or more nodules or lumps in the thyroid grow. This increases the production of the thyroid hormone. A problem with the immune system or a viral infection causes the thyroid gland to become inflamed.
This causes extra thyroid hormone to leak into your bloodstream. Thyroiditis could lead to hypothyroidism underactive thyroid over time. How is hyperthyroidism diagnosed? Can hyperthyroidism be prevented or avoided?
This includes people who: Were born female. Have a family history of thyroid disease. Are younger than 40 or older than Have certain problems, such as type 1 diabetes , pernicious anemia, or an immune system disorder.
Home Illnesses and conditions Glands Overactive thyroid. Overactive thyroid See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About overactive thyroids 2. Symptoms of an overactive thyroid 3. Causes of an overactive thyroid 4. Diagnosing an overactive thyroid 5. Treating an overactive thyroid 6. Complications of an overactive thyroid. About overactive thyroids Overactive thyroid also known as hyperthyroidism is a relatively common hormonal condition that occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the body.
Read more about the symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland What causes an overactive thyroid gland? Read more about the causes of an overactive thyroid gland Treatment An overactive thyroid usually responds well to treatment, and most people are able to control their symptoms. The three most widely used treatments for an overactive thyroid gland are: thionamides — a group of medications, including carbimazole and methimazole, that stop the thyroid gland producing too much thyroid hormone radioiodine treatment — a radioactive substance called iodine that helps shrink the thyroid gland, reducing its activity the radiation contained in iodine is a very low dose and does not pose a threat to health surgery — in a small number of cases surgery may be required to remove some or all of the thyroid gland, particularly if there is a large goitre Beta-blockers may also sometimes be used to temporarily relieve many symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland, although it doesn't target the thyroid gland itself.
Read more about the treatment of an overactive thyroid gland Complications Around 1 in 20 people with Graves' disease will also develop symptoms affecting their eyes, such as: double vision sensitivity to light photophobia tearing excess production of tears This is known as Graves' ophthalmopathy and should be seen by a doctor who specialises in treating eye conditions an ophthalmologist. Read more about the complications of an overactive thyroid gland Who is affected Women are 10 times more likely to have an overactive thyroid gland than men.
Symptoms of an overactive thyroid An overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism has many signs and symptoms, although it is unlikely you would develop all of them. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism If you have hyperthyroidism, you may experience some of the following symptoms: hyperactivity mood swings — such as anxiety , irritability and nervousness difficulty sleeping insomnia feeling tired all the time fatique muscle weakness needing to pass stools faeces or urine more frequently excess fats in your stools — which can make them greasy and difficult to flush down the toilet steatorrhoea sensitivity to heat and excess sweating unexplained or unexpected weight loss — despite having an increased appetite though in a small number of cases, the increase in appetite can lead to weight gain very infrequent or light periods, or periods stopping altogether infertility loss of interest in sex If you have diabetes , your diabetic symptoms, such as extreme thirst and tiredness, may be made worse by hyperthyroidism.
Causes of an overactive thyroid Overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormones thyroxine or triiodothyronine. Graves' disease Graves' disease is the most common cause of overactive thyroid.
Thyroid nodules It is possible for lumps to develop in your thyroid gland. Toxic thyroid nodules account for about 1 in 20 cases of hyperthyroidism. Iodine supplements Iodine contained in the food you eat is used by your thyroid gland to produce the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Amiodarone Amiodarone is a type of medication known as an anti-arrhythmic, which helps to control an irregular heartbeat atrial fibrillation.
Follicular thyroid cancer In rare cases, you may develop an overactive thyroid as a result of thyroid cancer that starts in your thyroid follicles.
Diagnosing an overactive thyroid See your GP if you think you may have an overactive thyroid gland hyperthyroidism. Thyroid function tests Your GP will take a sample of your blood and test it for levels of: thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH thyroxine and triiodothyronine the thyroid hormones TSH is made in the pituitary gland in your brain and controls the production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
When the level of thyroxine and triiodothyronine in your blood are normal, your pituitary gland releases a normal level of TSH. When thyroid hormone production becomes excessive, the pituitary gland stops releasing TSH. When the level of thyroxine or triiodothyronine drops, the pituitary gland produces more TSH to boost it. Subclinical overactive thyroid gland In some cases, tests may show you have normal thyroid hormone levels, but low or suppressed levels of TSH.
However, you will need a further thyroid function test so your condition can be monitored. Determining the underlying cause If tests confirm an overactive thyroid gland, you may be referred for further tests to determine the underlying cause. A scan is then used to measure how much of the isotope has been absorbed by your thyroid gland. If the amount is low, the underlying cause could be due to: swelling inflammation of the thyroid gland thyroiditis , often caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking thyroid tissue or, less commonly, by infection having too much iodine in your diet in rare cases, thyroid cancer.
Treating an overactive thyroid If you are diagnosed with an overactive thyroid gland hyperthyroidism , your GP will refer you to a specialist in hormonal conditions endocrinologist to plan your treatment.
The most widely used treatments for an overactive thyroid are outlined below. Thionamides Thionamides, such as carbimazole and propylthiouracil, are a common treatment. Around 1 in 20 people will experience side effects when they first start taking thionamides, such as: itchy skin rash joint pain These side effects should pass once your body is used to the effects of the medication. Symptoms of agranulocytosis include: fever gum pain, swelling and bleeding sore throat mouth ulcers persistent cough shortness of breath If you are taking thionamides and you experience any of the symptoms above, call your GP immediately for advice and an urgent blood test.
Beta-blockers Beta-blockers, such as propranolol or atenolol, can relieve some of the symptoms of an overactive thyroid, including tremor shaking and trembling , rapid heartbeat and hyperactivity. Beta-blockers can sometimes cause side effects, including: feeling sick feeling tired all the time fatigue cold hands and feet trouble sleeping, sometimes with nightmares Radioiodine treatment Radioiodine treatment is a form of radiotherapy used to treat most types of overactive thyroid.
Thionamides or radioiodine? Both treatments have advantages and disadvantages. Advantages of thionamides include: They are straightforward to take and you do not have to go to hospital to take them.
There is less risk of getting an underactive thyroid gland hypothyroidism as a result of treatment. Disadvantages of thionamides include: Treatment may not be as successful as radioiodine treatment.
There is a higher risk of side effects. Advantages of radioiodine treatment include: Treatment is usually very successful. Disadvantages of radioiodine treatment include: There is a higher chance of your thyroid gland becoming underactive as a result of treatment. Thyroid nodules, which are growths on your thyroid. They are usually benign not cancer.
But they may become overactive and make too much thyroid hormone. Thyroid nodules are more common in older adults. Thyroiditis, inflammation of the thyroid. It causes stored thyroid hormone to leak out of your thyroid gland. Too much iodine. Iodine is found in some medicines, cough syrups, seaweed and seaweed-based supplements. Taking too much of them can cause your thyroid to make too much thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid medicine.
This can happen if people who take thyroid hormone medicine for hypothyroidism underactive thyroid take too much of it. Who is at risk for hyperthyroidism? You are at higher risk for hyperthyroidism if you Are a woman Are older than age 60 Have been pregnant or had a baby within the past 6 months Have had thyroid surgery or a thyroid problem, such as goiter Have a family history of thyroid disease Have pernicious anemia , in which the body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells because it does not have enough vitamin B12 Have type 1 diabetes or primary adrenal insufficiency, a hormonal disorder Get too much iodine, from eating large amounts of foods containing iodine or using iodine-containing medicines or supplements What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can vary from person to person and may include Nervousness or irritability Fatigue Muscle weakness Trouble tolerating heat Trouble sleeping Tremor , usually in your hands Rapid and irregular heartbeat Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea Weight loss Mood swings Goiter, an enlarged thyroid that may cause your neck to look swollen.
Sometimes it can cause trouble with breathing or swallowing. What other problems can hyperthyroidism cause? If hyperthyroidism isn't treated, it can cause some serious health problems, including An irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots , stroke , heart failure , and other heart problems An eye disease called Graves' ophthalmopathy.
It can cause double vision, light sensitivity, and eye pain.
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