Hyperthyroidism: symptoms, drugs, causes, how to deal with & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism is a condition when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine hormone. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located on the front of the neck.

This condition can become a serious problem if you ignore it. The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and treatment options will depend on the cause.

The goals of most hyperthorid treatments are to manage symptoms and prevent the risk of complications. On the other hand, most people diagnosed with hyperthyroidism recover successfully.

Cause

What causes hyperthyroidism?

The thyroid gland works to produce tetraiodothyronine or thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These two hormones have a major role in the metabolic process to use and store energy in body cells.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid produces too much T4, T3, or both. Normally, your thyroid gland releases the right amount of hormone, but sometimes it can produce too much.

This hyperthyroid condition can be caused by several reasons, including:

Graves' disease

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies produced by your immune system stimulate the thyroid gland to produce too much T4.

This condition is the condition that is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

Hyperfunctional thyroid nodules

Some examples are toxic adenoma, toxic multinodular goiter, or Plummer's disease.

This form of hyperthyroidism occurs when one or more adenomas in your thyroid produce too much T4.

Adonema is the part of the gland that forms its own wall from other glands, forming a non-cancerous (benign) lump that can cause an enlarged thyroid.

Thyroiditis

Sometimes your thyroid gland can become inflamed after pregnancy, for other autoimmune conditions, or for unknown reasons.

Inflammation can be caused by excess thyroid hormone stored in your glands. The excess leaks into your bloodstream.

What increases my risk of developing hyperthyroidism?

The following are some of the factors that can increase your risk for developing hyperthyroid conditions.

• Hereditary factors, especially those with a history of Graves' disease
• Are female
• Personal history of chronic illnesses, such as type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia and primary adrenal insufficiency

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

The large amounts of T4, T3, or both hormones can cause hypermetabolism, which is a condition when the metabolic rate spikes high.

When you are hypermetabolic, you will experience increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as hand tremors / shakes.

You may also sweat easily and can't stand the heat.

Hyperthyroidism can also cause frequent bowel movements, weight loss, and irregular menstrual cycles in women.

The thyroid gland itself may swell into a goiter that is symmetrical or occurs on one side.

Your eyes may also stick out, a sign that you have exophthalmos, a condition associated with Graves' disease.

Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism are:

• Increased appetite
• Nervous
• Restless
• Unable to concentrate
• Feeling weak
• Irregular heartbeat
• Trouble sleeping
• Fine and brittle hair
• Itchy
• Hair loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Breast development in males
• Dizzy
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of consciousness
• Breath becomes very fast and irregular

When should I see a doctor?

You need to call your doctor when you begin to feel weight loss, irregular heartbeat, unusual sweating, swelling in your neck, or other signs and symptoms related to hyperthyroidism.

You need to describe the changes you feel properly, because the signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be similar to several other health conditions.

If you have or are going through treatment related to hyperthyroidism, see your doctor regularly so that your health can be well monitored.

Complications

Complications that can occur due to hyperthyroidism

Some of the complications that may arise due to hyperthyroidism are as follows:

Heart problems

Some of the most fatal complications of hyperthyroidism are heart problems. If not treated properly, this excess thyroid hormone can make your heart beat faster.

As a result, the work of the heart becomes heavier due to excess hormones. Harvard Health Publishing said that this condition can cause various problems, namely:

• Abnormal heart rhythm

Some heart problems can be the result of an over-stimulated thyroid.

The most common conditions are sinus tachycardia, which is (1) an abnormally fast heart rate of up to 100 beats per minute, and (2) atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular rhythm in the upper chambers of the heart.

• High blood pressure

Hyperthyroidism relaxes blood vessels, lowering the diastolic blood pressure (the second or lower number on a blood pressure reading).

However, excess hormones produced by the thyroid gland can also increase heart contractions and cause an increase in systolic pressure (the first or upper number in a blood pressure reading).

• Chest pain

Whenever the heart beats stronger and pumps more blood, the heart muscle needs more oxygen.

If patients with hyperthyroidism also have blockages in the coronary arteries, they may experience chest pain called angina.

Angina occurs when the coronary arteries narrow because they can't carry all the excess blood the heart muscle demands.

• Heart failure

By forcing the heart to work harder and faster, an overactive thyroid can weaken the heart and lead to heart failure.

It is a condition when the heart can't pump enough blood that the body needs.

Brittle bones

One of the untreated complications of hyperthyroidism is brittle and weakened bones (osteoporosis).

The strength of your bones is influenced in part by the amount of calcium and minerals they contain.

Too much thyroid hormone interferes with the body's ability to get calcium into your bones.

Eye problems

Patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy may have eye problems. These problems include bulging, red or swollen eyes, sensitivity to light, and blurred or double vision.

If left untreated, some hyperthyroid eye problems can result in vision loss.

Red and swollen skin

In rare cases, patients with Graves 'disease can have Graves' dermopathy. This condition can affect the skin, causing redness and swelling.

This usually occurs on the shin or other leg.

Thyrotoxicosis

Another complication due to hyperthyroidism is thyrotoxicosis. This is a condition where there is a sudden increase in symptoms which can cause fever, rapid pulse, even delirium. If this happens, seek medical care immediately.

Diagnosis

How does a doctor determine a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism?

The first step in the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is to look at a medical history and physical exam.

This can explain the signs that hyperthyroid patients experience, such as weight loss, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, bulging eyes, and an enlarged thyroid gland.

There are several tests that will be done to diagnose your condition, namely:

Cholesterol test

Your doctor may check the condition of cholesterol in your body. Low cholesterol can be a sign of an increase in metabolic rate which means your body burns cholesterol quickly.

T4, free T4, T3

This test measures the levels of hormones (T4 and T3) in your blood.

Thyroid stimulation test for hormones

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce hormones.

When thyroid hormone levels are normal or high, the TSH result will be lower. Even so, a very low TSH result can be an early sign of hyperthyroid disease.

Triglyceride test

Your triglyceride level is the one you may be tested for to determine whether you have hyperthyroidism or not.

Similar to low cholesterol, low triglycerides can also be a sign of an increase in metabolic rate.

Thyroid gland scan and removal

Through this test, your doctor will see if your thyroid is overworked. This test will specifically determine whether only one area or the entire thyroid gland is the cause of the overactive activity.

In this test, you'll have a radioactive isotope injected into a vein on the inside of your elbow or hand.

You will then lie down with your head tilted back, while a special camera will show you an image of your thyroid gland on a computer screen.

Ultrasound

The ultrasound will determine the size of the entire thyroid gland as well as the weight in it. The doctor will also use an ultrasound test to determine whether the mass is solid or cystic.

CT or MRI scan

A CT or MRI test will show if there is a tumor in the pituitary gland (pituitary gland) that is causing hyperthyroidism.

Treatment at the doctor

What are the medications or medical treatments to treat hyperthyroidism?

There are several ways to treat hyperthyroidism. It all depends on your age, physical condition, underlying causes of hyperthyroidism, preferences, to how severe the disorder you are experiencing.

Medications that doctors may use for hypertoid are:

Radioactive iodine

Your thyroid gland will absorb radioactive iodine, which in turn shrinks the gland.

Symptoms usually subside within a few months. The excess radioactive iodine will disappear from the body within a few weeks.

This medication can slow thyroid activity enough to become inactive (hypothyroid), and you may take medication every day to get rid of thyroxine in your body.

Anti-thyroid medication

This treatment works by gradually reducing hyperthyroid symptoms by preventing your thyroid gland from producing excess hormones.

These medications include methimazole (Tapazole) and propylithiouracil. Symptoms will start to respond after a few weeks or months of treatment, but this treatment will usually continue for a year or more.

In some patients, this treatment can remove hyperthyroidism permanently, although some have experienced relapses.

Propylthiouracil is generally taken if you cannot tolerate methimazole because it can cause liver damage.

Some people who are allergic to this medicine will experience skin rash, hives, fever or joint pain. It can also make you more susceptible to infection.

Beta blockers

This medication is usually used to treat high blood pressure and does not affect thyroid levels. However, this medication can reduce symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as tremors, rapid heartbeat, and palpitations.

For this reason, your doctor may prescribe this medication to help you feel better while waiting for your thyroid levels to approach normal.

These drugs are not usually recommended for patients with asthma. The side effects of this drug are fatigue and sexual dysfunction.

Thyroid surgery (thyroidectomy)

If you are pregnant or are not taking anti-thyroid drugs, and are unwilling or unable to take radioactive iodine therapy, you may choose thyroid surgery to treat your problem. Thyroid surgery is an option found in only a few cases.

In thyroid surgery, the doctor will remove a large portion of your thyroid gland. The risk of this surgery is damage to the vocal cords and parathyroid glands.

The parathyroid glands are four small glands located at the back of the thyroid gland that control the level of calcium in your blood.

Home remedies

Eating certain foods will not cure hyperthyroidism, but some nutrients and minerals can play an important role in reducing symptoms.

Lifestyle or simple steps that can be taken is compiling a diet plan.

Diet can have an effect on thyroid hormone production and function. Medical News Today put together some foods that are recommended for people with hyperthyroidism, including:

Low iodine foods

If you are planning to take radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism, your doctor may recommend that you go on a low-iodine diet, such as the following foods and drinks:

• Uniodized salt
• Egg whites
• Fresh or frozen vegetables
• Black tea and coffee
• Herbs and spices
• Vegetable oil
• Sugar, jam, jelly and honey
• Unsalted peanuts
• Soda and lemonade
• Beer
• Medium servings beef, chicken, turkey and goat
• Fruits and fruit juices

Vegetables

Some vegetables contain components that reduce the production of thyroid hormones and can reduce the absorption of iodine by the thyroid. These effects may be beneficial for people with hyperthyroidism.

Even so, you also shouldn't eat too much of the following foods:

• Cabbage
• Mustard greens, radish roots
• Kale
• Bok choy
• Cauliflower
• Broccoli

Foods containing selenium

Selenium is a micronutrient needed by the body for hormone metabolism. Research suggests that selenium can improve symptoms of autoimmune thyroid disease, such as thyroid eye disease.

These foods include tuna, shrimp, beef, chicken, rice, oatmeal, spinach and eggs.

Food contains iron

Iron is an essential nutrient for the body, including for thyroid health. Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen to other cells in the body.

You can maintain adequate iron intake by eating the following foods:

• Raisins
• Shellfish and fish
• Nuts
• Chocolate
• Chicken, beef and pork
• Spinach
• Tofu

Food contains calcium and vitamin D.

Hyperthyroidism that lasts a long time is associated with decreased bone mineral density which can lead to osteoporosis. That is why you are advised to consume foods and drinks rich in calcium and vitamin D, such as milk, cheese and yogurt.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.