Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism occurs when your body is exposed to too much thyroid hormone leading to the enlargement of the thyroid gland.This is called a goiter.
Symptoms may include:
- irregular or fast heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute)
- trembling hands
- weight loss without change in diet
- increased anxiety and irritability
- intolerance of heat and increased perspiration
- loss of scalp hair
- muscle weakness
- loose and frequent bowel movements
- change in menstrual pattern
- prominent “stare” of eyes
- protrusion of eyes with or without double vision
- loss of calcium from bones, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures
Laboratory tests
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Free thyroxine
- Free triiodothyronine
- Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI)
- Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU)
Possible Causes
- Graves disease
- Postpartum thyroiditis
- Silent thyroiditis
- Subacute thyroiditis
- Toxic multinodal goiter
- Toxic nodule
- Excessive iodine ingestion
- Overmedication with thyroid hormone
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the hyperthyroidism and other conditions present. The main treatments are :
- Antithyroid drugs called propylthiouracil and methimazole
- Radioactive iodine treatment
- Surgical removal of the thyroid
- Iodine drops