Hyperthyroidism is a disorder in which your thyroid gland makes and releases more thyroid hormone than your body

needs. Your doctor may say you have an "overactive thyroid," or refer to the condition as "overactive thyroid
disease."
Your thyroid gland is located in the front of your neck. Hormones released by the thyroid affect nearly every
part of your body from your brain to your skin and muscles. They play a crucial role in controlling how your
body uses energy, a process called metabolism. This includes how your heart beats and even how you burn
calories.
Recommended Related to Thyroid Disorders
Understanding Thyroid Problems -- the Basics
Through the hormones it produces, the thyroid gland influences almost all of the metabolic processes in your body. Thyroid disorders can
range from a small, harmless goiter (enlarged gland) that needs no treatment to life-threatening cancer. The most common thyroid
problems involve abnormal production of thyroid hormones. Too much thyroid hormone results in a condition known as hyperthyroidism.
Insufficient hormone production leads to hypothyroidism. Although the effects can be unpleasant or...
Read the Understanding Thyroid Problems -- the Basics article > >
Women are five to 10 times more likely to develop hyperthyroidism than men.
Causes of Hyperthyroidism
The causes of hyperthyroidism include:
Graves' disease. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune condition called Graves' disease.
The body's immune system creates an antibody that causes the gland to make an excessive amount of thyroid
hormone. Graves' disease runs in families, and usually affects younger women.
Thyroiditis. Thyroiditis is inflammation of the thyroid. A virus or problem with the immune system causes the gland to
swell, leaking thyroid hormone into the bloodstream. There are several types of thyroiditis.
Subacute: A sudden, painful form of thyroiditis of unknown cause. The thyroid usually heals on its own after a few
months. The thyroid can become underactive for a while before it returns to normal.
Postpartum: This type of thyroiditis affects women after pregnancy. One out of every five to 10 women develop
hyperthyroidism after having a baby. It usually lasts a month or two, followed by several months of underactive
thyroid (hypothyroidism). In most women, the thyroid returns to normal.
Silent: This type is similar to postpartum thyroiditis but is not related to pregnancy. The thyroid produces too much
hormone but patients do not develop a painful thyroid gland. Some people may develop hypothyroidism afterwards.
Thyroid nodule. One or more lumps, or nodules, can grow in the thyroid gland, gradually increasing the gland's
activity and the amount of thyroid hormone in yourblood.
If one nodule causes hyperthyroidism, it is called a single toxic nodule.
If several nodules cause the thyroid to become overactive, the condition is called toxic multinodular goiter.
Excess iodine. You may also develop hyperthyroidism if you eat, drink, or are otherwise exposed to substances that
contain a high amount of iodine. Iodine is used by the body to make thyroid hormone. Kelp or
seaweed supplements and themedication amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), once used to treat irregular
heartbeats, are examples that contain a lot of iodine.
Thyroid medications. Taking too much thyroid hormone medication can wreak havoc on your thyroid gland and
cause hyperthyroidism. If you have been prescribed thyroid replacement hormone (for hypothyroidism), never take an
extra dose, even if you missed one, without first talking to your doctor.
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be vague and can often mimic other illnesses and conditions. If you have a very
mild form of hyperthyroidism, you may not notice any symptoms. Symptoms are often particularly subtle in the
elderly. However, an overactive thyroid often leads to discomfort or even disability that disrupts your everyday
activities or routines.
Thyroid enlargement, called a goiter, occurs in most people with hyperthyroidism. You may see or feel a lump in the
front of your neck. Sometimes only your doctor will be able to detect a goiter.
Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
Anxiety, nervousness, and irritability
Frequent, loose bowel movements
Difficulty sleeping
Double vision
Eyes that bulge out, or "protrude" (in patients with Graves' disease)
Hair changes, including brittle hair, thinning hair, and hair loss from scalp
Irregular heart beat (arrhythmia), especially in older adults
Menstrual cycle changes, including lighter bleeding and less frequent periods
Muscle weakness, especially in the thighs and upper arms
Rapid fingernail growth
Rapid heartbeat, usually over 100 beats per minute
Shaky hands
Sweating
Thinning skin
Weight loss despite increased appetite
Make an appointment with your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms. It is important to note that
these symptoms can be due to other medical conditions and disorders ranging from anxiety to a tumor of the adrenal
gland.
How Is Hyperthyroidism Diagnosed?
Blood tests can confirm a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism. Blood tests include those for thyroid-stimulating hormone
(TSH). This is a hormone released by the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid to make thyroid hormone. Other
blood tests include measures of thyroid hormone levels (typically elevated) and thyroid-stimulating antibody (called
thyroid-stimulating immunoglobin test) to check for Graves' disease. If your test results are abnormal, your doctor
may also order the following tests:
Thyroid ultrasound, or thyroid scan, to check for nodules or inflammation.
Radioactive iodine uptake test to see your thyroids absorption of iodine.
Thyroid scan to see where iodine is in the thyroid.

How Is Hyperthyroidism Treated?
There are several different ways to treat hyperthyroidism. Before choosing the one that's best for you, your doctor will
consider your age, overall heath, severity of your symptoms, and specific cause of your overactive thyroid.
Treatment options include:
Anti-thyroid drugs. These medications, including propylthiouracil (PTU) andmethimazole (Tapazole), help prevent
the thyroid gland from making new hormone. This doesn't permanently damage the thyroid but some people may
have serious side effects.
Radioactive iodine (RAI) taken by mouth. Overactive thyroid cells quickly absorb this iodine and soon die. This
prevents the release of thyroid hormone. Any remaining radioactive iodine disappears from the body within a few
days. It may take a few months for the therapy to relieve hyperthyroidism symptoms, and a second dose may be
needed. People who have this treatment will develop an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), and will need thyroid
hormone supplements for the rest of their life. This therapy cannot be done during pregnancy.
Surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid, called a thyroidectomy. Most people who have this procedure eventually
develop an underactive thyroid and will need to take thyroid hormone-replacement medication for the rest of their life.
Beta-blockers to slow down your heart rate. These medicines do not lower your thyroid hormone levels, but help
relieve symptoms related to a rapid heart rate.
After treatment, you will need regular blood tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. Your doctor may need to
adjust your medication dose from time to time.
Complications of Hyperthyroidism
It is important to maintain regular, lifelong visits with your doctor if you have hyperthyroidism. Untreated or improperly
treated, an overactive thyroid can lead to severe, even life-threatening problems.
Complications linked to hyperthyroidism include:
Irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation).
Congestive heart failure.
Miscarriage.
Osteoporosis and bone fractures (hyperthyroidism causes your bones to losecalcium faster than usual).
Thyrotoxic crisis is a sudden worsening of hyperthyroidism symptoms that can be deadly if not treated right away.
Seek immediate medical help if you or someone you know has hyperthyroidism and develops the following
symptoms:
Agitation or signs of delirium
Confusion
Decreased awareness
Fever
Restlessness
Very fast pulse
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Understanding Thyroid Problems -- the Basics
What Are Thyroid Problems?
Through the hormones it produces, the thyroidgland influences
almost all of the metabolic processes in your body. Thyroid
disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter (enlarged
gland) that needs no treatment to life-threatening cancer. The
most common thyroid problems involve abnormal production of
thyroid hormones. Too much thyroid hormone results in a
condition known as hyperthyroidism. Insufficient hormone
production leads to hypothyroidism.
Although the effects can be unpleasant or uncomfortable, most
thyroid problems can be managed well if properly diagnosed and
treated.
What Causes Thyroid Problems?
All types of hyperthyroidism are due to an overproduction of
thyroid hormones, but the condition can occur in several ways:
Graves' disease : The production of too much thyroid hormone.
Toxic adenomas: Nodules develop in the thyroid gland and begin to secrete thyroid hormones, upsetting the body's
chemical balance; some goiters may contain several of these nodules.
Subacute thyroiditis: inflammation of the thyroid causes the gland to "leak" excess hormones, resulting in temporary
hyperthyroidism that generally lasts a few weeks but may persist for months.
Pituitary gland malfunctions or cancerous growths in the thyroid gland: Although rare, hyperthyroidism can also
develop from these causes.
Hypothyroidism, by contrast, stems from an underproduction of thyroid hormones. Since your body's energy
production requires certain amounts of thyroid hormones, a drop in hormone production leads to lower energy levels.
Causes of hypothyroidism include:
Hashimoto's thyroiditis: In this autoimmune disorder, the body attacks thyroid tissue. The tissue eventually dies and
stops producing hormones.
Removal of the thyroid gland: The thyroid may be surgically removed or chemically destroyed as treatment for
hyperthyroidism.
Exposure to excessive amounts of iodide: Cold and sinus medicines, theheart medicine amiodarone, or certain
contrast dyes given before some X-rays may expose you to too much iodine. You may be at greater risk for
developing hypothyroidism, especially if you have had thyroid problems in the past.
Lithium: This drug has also been linked as a cause of hypothyroidism.
Untreated for long periods of time, hypothyroidism can bring on a myxedema coma, a rare but potentially fatal
condition that requires immediate hormone injections.
Hypothyroidism poses a special danger to newborns and infants. A lack of thyroid hormones in the system at an
early age can lead to the development of cretinism (mental retardation) and dwarfism (stunted growth). Most infants
now have their thyroid levels checked routinely soon after birth. If they are hypothyroid, treatment begins immediately.
In infants, as in adults, hypothyroidism can be due to these causes:
A pituitary disorder
A defective thyroid
Lack of the gland entirely
A hypothyroid infant is unusually inactive and quiet, has a poor appetite and sleeps for excessively long periods of
time.
Cancer of the thyroid gland is quite rare and occurs in less than 10% of thyroid nodules. You might have one or
more thyroid nodules for several years before they are determined to be cancerous. People who have
received radiation treatment to the head and neck earlier in life, possibly as a remedy for acne, tend to have a higher-
than-normal propensity for thyroid cancer.
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Thyroid Hormone Production and Function - Topic Overview
The thyroid gland uses iodine from food to make two thyroidhormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). It
also stores these thyroid hormones and releases them as they are needed. Thehypothalamus and the pituitary gland,
which are located in the brain, help control the thyroid gland. The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing
hormone (TRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). When the
hypothalamus and pituitary are working normally, they sense when:
Thyroid hormone levels are low, so they secrete more TRH and TSH, which stimulates the thyroid to make more
hormones.
Thyroid hormone levels are too high, so they secrete less TRH and TSH, which reduces hormone production by the
thyroid.
Disease or tumors of the pituitary gland can affect this process.
See a picture of thyroid hormone production .
Thyroid hormones affect every cell and all the organs of the body. They:
Regulate the rate at which calories are burned, affecting weight loss or weight gain.
Can slow down or speed up the heartbeat.
Can raise or lower body temperature.
Influence the rate at which food moves through the digestive tract.
Control the way muscles contract.
Control the rate at which dying cells are replaced.
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