Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which there is excess production of hormones by the thyroid gland. This gland is located in the neck and is responsible for production of hormones like T3 and T4. These hormones are extremely important for optimum functioning of your body. The most important function that these hormones control is the metabolism of your body. Abnormalities in the functioning of the thyroid gland affect various factors in your body like your moods, energy levels, appetite, weight, stamina and physical energy levels.  So whenever a person experiences changes like weight loss or weight gain, changes in appetite, changes in activity levels, stamina, increased fatigue, or swelling all over the body, they could be showing symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

It is important to understand that normal levels of thyroid hormones are essential for normal functioning of the body. So in case you suffer from hyperthyroidism it means that your thyroid is producing excess of its hormones and the symptoms caused can vary from nervousness, irritability to weight loss and altered bowel habits as well. In short your metabolic rate is higher than a person having normal levels of thyroid hormones.

There are many causes of hyperthyroidism; the leading cause is Graves disease (which we’ll discuss at length in another article). Other causes are increased amounts of iodine in the body, increased intake of thyroid hormones, certain benign growths of the thyroid or pituitary, and thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid due to viral infections).

People suffering from hyperthyroidism commonly complain of:

• Unexplained weight loss or losing weight in spite of eating well and having a good or an increased appetite
• Goiter which means enlargement of the thyroid gland which may be in the form of a uniform increase in the thyroid size or few nodules within the gland
• An increase in appetite
• Sudden onset of palpitations and a rapid heart rate
• Increased perspiration
• Extreme intolerance to heat
• A short attention span and difficulty in concentration
• Alteration in memory
• Nervousness
• Tremors of the upper limbs
• Restlessness
• Fatigue
• Frequent bowel movements
• Irregular menses in women

Some others may complain of symptoms like:

• Cold and clammy skin
• Diarrhea
• Loss of hair
• Itching all over the body
• Protruding eyeballs (exophthalmus)
• Rapid and irregular heart beats
• Flushing of the skin
• Insomnia and various sleep abnormalities
• Nausea and vomiting
• High blood pressure
• Amenorrhea (absence of periods) in women
• Weakness

Doctors usually consider these symptoms warning signs for hyperthyroidism; they also look for enlargement of the thyroid gland and nodules in the gland. Other primary diagnostic warning signs include tremors, hyperactive reflexes, high pulse rate and high systolic blood pressure. Blood tests such as TSH, T3 and T4 levels are then used to confirm a diagnosis.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition characterized by overactivity of your thyroid gland – which leads to an excess production of the hormones secreted by the thyroid – hormones known as T3 and T4. The thyroid is an important endocrine organ which controls the metabolism of your body and any impairment in the levels of T3 and T4 is associated with significant changes in your metabolism, weight, moods, activity and stamina.

There are several causes for hyperthyroidism; the most common is a condition called Graves Disease, an autoimmune disease which leads to an overactive thyroid gland. Other causes of hyperthyroidism can be an increase in the amount of iodine in your body, an excess intake of thyroid hormones, thyroiditis (an inflammation of the thyroid gland due to infections, most commonly viral) and benign growths in the thyroid and pituitary.

There are various methods available for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Often, these fall into the category of “treating the symptoms and not the disease.”

For example: if you’re suffering from hyperthyroidism, most commonly you will experience rapid heart rate, or palpitations and tremors.  They are caused by the effect of excess thyroid hormones on your cardiac and nervous systems respectively; to treat them, your doctor will put you on a category of medications called beta–blockers such as Inderal or Propanolol, to slow down your heart rate and reduce the frequency and intensity of your palpitations. These medications are quite safe and can be used in most patients suffering from hyperthyroidism. Beta blockers block the effect of the thyroid hormones but do not have any direct effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland. That means they do not cure hyperthyroidism, but are a very important component of the treatment.

If  you are suffering from hyperthyroidism due to thyroiditis – which in many cases is a transitory condition – you may only need to be put on a short course of beta blockers.

If you are suffering from Graves Disease, you may be put on anti-thyroid medications, which act directly on your thyroid gland and decrease the amount of hormones produced. The most commonly used anti thyroid drugs are Propylthriouracil (PTU) and Methimazole, both of which effectively reduce the amount of hormones produced by the thyroid gland. This treatment is most often used for milder cases and in patients under 50.

A slightly more radical method used to treat hyperthyroidism is radioactive iodine. It is often the treatment of choice for patients who have Graves Disease, are over the age of 50, or have thyroid nodules. Radioactive idodine is administered orally; once it is in your body the iodine is absorbed by thyroid cells,  which are damaged by the iodine and cease to function, stopping the excessive production of hormones. (Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body which possess the ability to absorb iodine, so the other cells in your body remain free from significant damage.) Most patients require only a single dose of radioactive iodine. There is one major problem with the use of radioactive iodine to treat hyperthyroidism:  most thyroid cells are eventually killed with this treatment, so there isn’t much gland left to produce the minimal amount of thyroid hormone required for your body. This may lead to a condition known as hypothyroidism (That’s “hypo,” with an “o” – not “hyper” with an “er”) which refers to a decrease in the amount of circulating thyroid hormones in your body. That’s why most patients who receive iodine treatment also require a small dose of T4 thyroid hormone (Levothyroxine) regularly. Your doctor will monitor you regularly, to be sure you receive this treatment if necessary.

In some cases, doctors will suggest a permanent cure for hyperthyroidism: surgical removal of the entire thyroid gland (or a part of it).  Chances are, however, your doctor will not find this necessary.

Graves Disease is a disorder caused by an abnormal response of your immune system. It affects the thyroid gland, which is an endocrine gland in your neck. It produces hormones like T3 and T4 which control your body’s metabolism; any changes in the levels of these hormones may cause significant changes in your weight, moods, stamina and activity levels. Graves’s disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism -a condition in which there is an increased production of T3 and T4 hormones by the thyroid gland.

Graves Disease is commonly seen among women above the age of 20 years; however it can affect people of all age groups and may occur in men as well.

If you are suffering from Graves Disease you may complain of a number of varied symptoms such as weight loss,  palpitations (rapid heartbeat or irregular heartbeats), nervousness, restlessness, goiter (which means swelling of the thyroid gland), anxiety, intolerance to heat, increased perspiration, mood changes and short attention span, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, muscle weakness, tremors, shortness of breath on exertion, menstrual irregularities in females, frequent passage of stools, breast enlargement in men, fatigue, eye irritation, or double vision.

During an examination, your doctor will be able to detect any enlargement of the thyroid gland (as well as an increased heart rate, another key symptom he or she will look for right away). The doctor will also suggest a few important blood tests like T3, T4, TSH, antimicrosomal antibodies, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and anti-thyroid receptor antibodies.

The main goal in treating Graves Disease is to reduce production of thyroid hormones, and bring levels of those hormones back to normal. The doctor may put you on a class of medications called beta blockers like Propanolol. They don’t act directly on the thyroid gland, so they don’t cure Graves Disease; however, they help to stabilize the effects of excess thyroid hormones, protecting your cardiovascular system from the harmful effects of those hormones and greatly reducing the frequency and intensity of your palpitations, anxiety, increased perspiration and nervousness.

In order to decrease the amount of thyroid hormones produced from your thyroid gland, you may also be put on certain antithyroid medications like methimazole and Propylthiouracil (PTU). These medications act directly on your thyroid and decrease the amount of hormones produced. It may be necessary to take these medications for a long period of time, from a few months to even a few years. Some people don’t tolerate antithyroid meds very well (or they may be contra-indicated); in that case, you may require radioactive iodine treatment or even surgical intervention. Radioactive iodine is absorbed by the thyroid cells; following absorption these cells are damaged and permanently destroyed. As the number of thyroid cells decrease, so does the level of hormone output. Most patients suffering from Graves Disease respond well to a single dose of radioactive iodine. Surgical intervention involves removal of either a part of, or the entire,thyroid gland; it is the most extreme, but sometimes the only efffective, treatment for Graves Disease.