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https://ahealthminute.com/thyroid-hyperthyroidism/

Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid condition that affects 2 out of 100 women and 2 in 1000 men. The prevalence of thyroid in the general population in adults ranges from 1 to 10 Percentage. The thyroid is a small organ that sits on the front of the neck and lies below Adam’s apple. The thyroid has two lobes, and generally, you are not able to feel it under normal conditions.

The thyroid produces several hormones collectively called Thyroid hormones, predominantly a hormone called tetraiodothyronine (T4), T4 is later converted into triiodothyronine (T3), these hormones are used by your body to regulate the metabolism of your body. When there is an increased production of T3 and/or T4 or both, it is an indication of hyperthyroidism.

What is the function of the Thyroid?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that releases hormones that help in the body’s metabolism. Thyroid hormone is very vital for your everyday body’s needs. These are a few main functions of the Thyroid Hormone:

• Regulating your heart rate,
• Regulating the whole-body temperature,
• Maintain metabolism [Metabolism is the process of breaking down food that you eat and converting it into energy that your body can use].

A normal thyroid level is important for good systemic health. Too much or too little thyroid may show visual symptoms and other associated problems.

What Causes Hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism can be caused by many reasons, the most common cause being Graves’ disease, it is an autoimmune disorder where antibodies created by your body attack your healthy tissues, causing the hormone to be secreted in excess amounts. Statistics have shown that it affects women more than men and it has a genetic factor to it as well. Please consult your doctor if anyone in your family or your relatives have been diagnosed with Graves’ disease.

Other causes of hyperthyroidism:

• Consuming excess iodine: Iodine is a key ingredient of T4 and T3, people who consume excess iodine through diet or medication are at risk of hyperthyroidism.
• Thyroiditis: Is the inflammation of your thyroid gland, Thyroiditis can present with or without any pain. It may also present within one year of delivering a baby, this condition is called postpartum thyroiditis. In some patients after an episode of thyroiditis, thyroid cells can be damaged and lose the ability to produce thyroid hormone.
• Thyroid Nodules: In simpler words, it’s an abnormal growth in your thyroid gland. These nodules can alter the physiology and produce more thyroid hormone than the normal amount, like Plummer’s disease, where the nodules are hormonally active, and result in hyperthyroidism. Plummer’s disease is known to be the second most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
• Graves’ Diseases: GD is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the thyroid. It makes the thyroid produce more thyroid hormone than usual. GD is known to have a hereditary loop, so if anyone in your bloodline is diagnosed with Graves’ disease, you should consult your doctor and check your thyroid levels. Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
• Tumours: Not only can tumours of the thyroid organ elevate your thyroid level, but tumours to your pituitary gland, ovaries or testes can also elevate your thyroid hormone levels.
• Medications: Medicines like, Amiodarone, Interferon-alpha, pembrolizumab, alemtuzumab, nivolumab and rarely medicine like lithium can elevate thyroid hormone levels.

What are the Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism?

Thyroid hormones are used in the daily metabolism of your body. Thyroid hormones convert the food that you eat into energy that your body can utilize. When there is an excessive amount of thyroid, the body will go into a hypermetabolic state. During this period, your body is likely to experience.

• Rapid Heart Beat.
• Increased blood pressure.
• Tremors in hand.
• Excessive sweating.
• Low tolerance to heat.
• Increased bowel movements.
• Weight loss.
• Menstrual irregularities.

Other hyperthyroid symptoms include:- Increased appetite, nervousness, restlessness, hair loss, difficulty sleeping, irregular heartbeat, breast development in men, dizziness, shortness of breath, loss of consciousness, fast and or irregular heart rate.

If you have experienced or currently have any of the above symptoms, we advise you to seek immediate medical attention.

It is also possible to find a high amount of thyroid in individuals with stress or infection.

How to diagnose Hyperthyroidism?

Self-diagnosis for hyperthyroidism is not recommended, please consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.

Signs and Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

• Weight loss.
• High blood pressure.
• Bulging eyes.
• Increased heart rate.
• Inflamed thyroid gland.

Medical Tests for Hyperthyroidism

Thyroid Function Test consist.

TSH [Thyroid Stimulating Hormone] is secreted in the anterior pituitary gland, Lower TSH generally means an overactive thyroid.
Normal TSH level typically falls in the range of 0.4 to 4.0 milliunits per litre (mU/L).
T4 or Thyroxine will be elevated in hyperthyroid patients — Normal rage is 5.0 to 11.0 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dL).
T3 or triiodothyronine is elevated in hyperthyroid patients — Normal rage is 0.9–1.7 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).

Cholesterol and Triglyceride Test.
Hyperthyroid, cholesterol levels are found to be low because of the increased metabolic activity. And cholesterol is burnt quickly due to this factor.

Imaging test for hyperthyroidism.
Different types of imaging services can be used to diagnose hyperthyroidism. Ultrasonography [USG] can give information about the size of the thyroid, also it can detect if there are any masses within it. USG also aids in recognizing the character of the mass, whether it’s solid or cystic.
Computed Topographic Imaging [CT], or Magnetic Resonance Imaging [MRI] can show if the pituitary gland is functioning nominally.

How to treat Hyperthyroidism?

Medications: There are mainly 2 medications that are available in the US for hyperthyroidism: Propylthiouracil and Methimazole. Carbimazole is available in other parts of the world, but not in the United States.

A class of medication called Beta-blockers are used to treat high blood pressure, even though they do not affect your thyroid levels or production, beta-blockers are known to alleviate symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism.

Radioactive Iodine: Is the preferred treatment of choice for hyperthyroidism. As per the American Thyroid Association around 70 percent of US adults with hyperthyroidism are treated with radioactive iodine. The procedure eliminates the thyroid gland that produces thyroid hormone, but because the thyroid is very important for your daily body functioning, individuals will have to take thyroid supplement medications for life.

Surgery: Depending on your conditions, your doctor can recommend full or partial removal of the thyroid gland. Medically this procedure is called total or partial thyroidectomy. If you undergo total thyroidectomy, you will be required to take thyroid supplements for life. Thyroidectomy is recommended for individuals who are suffering from thyroid cancer, goitre or hyperthyroidism.

Radiation: If you are experiencing hyperthyroidism because of cancerous growth, your doctor might recommend external high energy radiation to target cancer cells and eliminate the cancer growth.

How to improve or prevent Hyperthyroid Symptoms?

Since Iodine is a key ingredient in thyroid production, regulating excess iodine or if you are taking medications that can increase your thyroid hormone, balancing your medication and regular check-up is the best way to prevent hyperthyroidism.

Since some hereditary conditions like Graves’ disease cause hyperthyroidism, consult your doctor if your blood relatives have been diagnosed with Graves’ disease.

Hyperthyroidism is not always preventable nor is it a communicable disease, but it is treatable. Consult your doctor if you are suffering from symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Listen to the advice given by your healthcare provider and adhere to a strict diet. An endocrinologist is best equipped to treat hormone systems like your thyroid. Some cases of thyroid conditions go away without any treatment.

Stay Happy! Stay Healthy!