Hyperthyroidism Symptoms & Treatment

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms: Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone – more than the body needs. One of the thyroid hormones’ functions is to control the pace of our body processes, which is widely known as metabolism. This disease is more likely to happen in women than in men. Reports show that women are likely to have hyperthyroidism 10 times more than men. Hyperthyroidism is the medical term used to define the signs and symptoms of the over production of thyroid hormones. One is considered healthy if their thyroid glands produce just enough thyroid hormones that the body needs.

When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormones, metabolism increases. A person can experience feelings of warmness or hotness and can lose weight even when eating normally. Patients who suffer from hyperthyroidism normally experiences fatigue but have trouble sleeping. Some people experience trembling of the hands and palpitations. More often, some become irritable and really upset.

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms often vary. One may not notice the symptoms unless they become more severe. This basically means that one can go on living not feeling any of the symptoms until they get really sick. Some get sick for weeks and months and still don’t realize that they are experiencing the side effects of hyperthyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms

Most people don’t feel any Hyperthyroidism symptoms. Others can just lose weight and feel depressed for no reason at all. Below are the common symptoms one feels when suffering with hyperthyroidism:

a) Staring Gaze

b) Heat Intolerance

c) Palpitations

d) Inability to Sleep

e) Diarrhea

f) Fast Heart Rate

g) Muscle Weakness

h) Fatigue

i) Weight Loss

j) Trembling Hands

k) Hair Loss

l) Warm Moist Skin

m) Light or Absent Menstrual Periods

n) Nervousness or Irritability

o) Agitation

p) Decreased Libido

Hyperthyroidism Treatment

Hyperthyroidism is treatable. But treatment for each patient differs. It is more of a case to case basis. An individual may endure and be cured with a certain treatment but that treatment may not be suitable for another patient who is suffering from hyperthyroidism.

The ultimate goal in treating hyperthyroidism is to stop the thyroid gland from producing too much thyroid hormones. Doctors prescribe anti-thyroid medications to block the production of thyroid hormones. One of the rare side effects of treating someone with hyperthyroidism is the increase of one’s white blood cells. It is very unlikely for one to have a fever when being treated with hyperthyroidism. IF this happens, one should call their doctor immediately.

Other prescriptions include radio-active iodine. The disadvantage of being treated with radio-active iodine is that this kills a lot of cells, causing thyroid hormone levels to become low, and eventually leads to hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism means one’s thyroid gland fails to produce and secrete enough thyroid hormones for the body.

Interesting Questions about Thyroid:

How is Hypothyroidism Treated?

The standard treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid hormone pills. The pills provide the body with the right amount of thyroid hormone when the gland is not able to produce enough by itself. While the symptoms of hypothyroidism are usually corrected within a few months, most patients need to take the pills for the rest of their lives.

The preferred thyroid hormone for treatment is levothyroxine (T₄). You should use only the brand-name that your doctor prescribes, since generic brands may not be as reliable. Name brand levothyroxine pills include Levothroid®, Synthroid®, Levoxyl®, and Eltroxin®.

Patients sometimes take more pills than they should, trying to speed up the treatment or lose weight. However, this can lead to hyperthyroidism, a disease in which there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood, and to long-term complications, such as osteoporosis. You should take the pills as your doctor prescribes.

At different times in your life, you may need to take different amounts of thyroid hormones. Therefore, you should see your doctor once a year to make sure everything is all right.

® Levothroid is a registered trademark of Forest Pharmaceuticals.
® Synthroid is a registered trademark of Knoll Pharmaceuticals.
® Levoxyl is a registered trademark of Jones Medical Industries.
® Eltroxin is a registered trademark of Roberts Pharmaceuticals.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism?

Signs and symptoms of Hyperthyroidism may include:

fast heart rate (100-120 beats per minute or higher)
slightly elevated blood pressure
nervousness or irritability
increased perspiration
muscle weakness (especially in the shoulders, hips, and thighs)
trembling hands
weight loss, in spite of a good appetite
hair loss
fingernails partially separated from finger-tips (onycholysis)
swollen fingertips (achropachy or clubbing)
retracted (pulled back) upper eyelids
skin changes
increased frequency of bowel movements
goiter (an abnormal swelling in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland)
in women, decreased menstrual flow and less frequent menstrual flow
in men, slight swelling of the breasts
in Graves’ disease: thick or swollen skin over the shin bones (pretibial myxedema); eyes that seem to be popping out of their socket (exophthalmos).

Most of these conditions will return to normal after the hyperthyroidism is treated. Certain others may be treated separately.

What are the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism?

Possible effects of hypothyroidism are:

slow heart rate (less than 70 beats per minute)
elevated blood pressure
feeling slow or tired
feeling cold
drowsy during the day, even after sleeping all night
poor memory
difficulty concentrating
muscle cramps, numb arms and legs
weight gain
puffy face, especially under the eyes
husky voice
thinning hair
dry, coarse, flaky, yellowish skin
in children, short height
constipation
heavy menstrual flow
milky discharge from the breasts
infertility
goiter (an abnormal swelling in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland).

Have more questions? Need more answers? Check our Full Thyroid FAQ

Hyperthyroidism Diet

The good thing about having hyperthyroidism is that it can still be cured and prevented through a proper diet. One needs to eat foods that will not trigger the activity in the thyroid gland. The best diet would be one that includes vegetables, meat, whole grains and fruits. When we cook our food, some nutrients are being removed – that’s why it is advisable to eat raw fruits and vegetables. The fresh and raw fruits and vegetables still have their nutrients intact. Do away with the cooked and processed ones. Visit your doctor so you may also be prescribed with any multi-vitamins you may need.

One should avoid caffeinated drinks. This is very dangerous for the thyroid gland. Avoiding this will help lessen the activity of the thyroid gland. It is highly recommended by doctors and endocrinologists to avoid foods that have high iodine content. It is very important to follow the hyperthyroidism diet to cure your thyroid problem. This is not a simple health problem. It may lead to a more severe and complicated disease. Following the hyperthyroidism diet is the first step to curing one’s thyroid problem.

Hyperthyroidism and Pregnancy

When one is pregnant, they think that symptoms such as feeling warm, nervousness, insomnia, fatigue and weight loss are normal. To be safe, it is best to see a doctor for more information and for one to be treated in cases that these symptoms are not all because of the pregnancy. It is very important that hyperthyroidism be controlled in pregnant women. This entails a higher risk of a miscarriage or birth defects without therapy. As a precaution, if one is planning to have a baby, it is best to have one’s self checked first before getting pregnant. Treating hyperthyroidism while one is pregnant is hard. To ensure one’s and baby’s safety, see a doctor. This prevents any future complications with the pregnancy.

Thyroid FAQ & Links to Related Articles

Parathyroid	There are four parathyroid glands that are normally having the size of a single rice grain. In some normal cases, they can be as big as the size of a pea.
Hypothyroid	Also called underactive thyroid, hypothyroidism is a disorder that is characterized by abnormal level of thyroid hormones in the body, which is too low.
Thyroid Glands	The thyroid is a butterfly (pear)-shaped gland, it consists of 2 symmetrical lobes joined by a central isthmus that normally covers the 2nd & 3rd tracheal rings.
Congenital Hypothyroidism	Congenital hypothyroidism is a thyroid gland disorder that may lead to deafness or mental retardation if left undetected.
Thyroid Depression	Hypothyroidism can cause depression. Most people don?t realize that this feeling is depression caused by the thyroid gland not functioning as it should.
Papillary Thyroid Cancer	Papillary thyroid cancer is one of the thyroid cancer types. This type of thyroid cancer arises from the follicles in the thyroid gland.
Thyroid Gland Function	The thyroid gland is located immediately below the larynx on each side of and anterior to the trachea. It is one of the largest of the endocrine glands
Thyroid Hormone	These thyroid hormones are responsible in regulating the body?s metabolism, which is how much food will be broken down into useful energy for consumption.
Thyroid Levels	When the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, one may suffer from hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone	The thyroid stimulating hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. The thyroid stimulating hormone promotes the growth of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid Hormones	Thyroid hormones are chemical substances produced by the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located in the front of the neck.
Supplements for the Thyroid	Natural thyroid supplements are helpful as a remedy to thyroid disorders. Its natural ingredients assure one of its safeties in taking it.
Thyroid Symptoms in Women	The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland that is the primary responsible in regulating the body?s metabolism.
Thyroid Surgery	Thyroid surgery is used to treat people with thyroid problems such as thyroid cancer, thyroid nodules and hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid Test	Thyroid tests or thyroid function tests are done to check the thyroid function in one?s body. A doctor will be able to determine and diagnose the thyroid disorder.
Thyroid Treatment	Treatment for thyroid disorders should be done to prevent unwanted results caused by the severity of the condition. Consult a physician for more of these treatments.
Thyroidectomy	Thyroidectomy is a surgical process wherein the whole or a part of the thyroid gland is removed. This surgical process is used to treat thyroid disorders.
Underactive Thyroid	Having an underactive thyroid is a minor problem but it seeks proper attention to avoid further health problems. Consult a physician about any thyroid problem.
Low Thyroid	Low thyroid, also known as hypothyroidism, is a condition where the thyroid gland is under active.
Underactive Thyroid Diet	Following a healthy meal plan, exercise and proper medication goes hand in hand to treat hypothyroidism. Consult a physician for a more individualized plan.
Thyroid Cancer Treatment	Each thyroid cancer treatment depends on the type of thyroid cancer and the extent or stage of the thyroid cancer one is suffering from.
Parathyroid Hormone Levels	Parathyroid hormones are considered to be the most important endocrine regulator. It basically regulates the calcium and phosphorus concentration in the body.
Parathyroid Disease	Studies show that since 1925, the standard treatment for parathyroid disease is to surgically remove the parathyroid gland(s) which are overproducing parathyroid hormones.
Parathyroid Adenoma	Parathyroid adenoma is a small tumor of the parathyroid gland and is known to be the most common disorder of the gland.
Medullary Thyroid Cancer	Medullary thyroid cancer is one of the types of thyroid cancer. This type of thyroid cancer is more common in women than in men.
Overactive Thyroid	Most people don?t feel any symptoms. Others can just lose weight and just feel depressed for no reason at all.
Hypothyroidism	Suppose you go in for a routine checkup and your doctor decides to test your thyroid function. You?ve experienced no thyroid disease symptoms
Hypothyroidism Symptoms	Hypothyroidism develops for over a long period of time. It?s normally from several months to even several years.
Hypothyroidism Natural Treatment	People who are suffering from hypothyroidism are advised to get plenty of exercise and have a balanced and healthy diet. The diet must be rich in protein and iodine.
Hypothyroidism Diet	Self medicating one?s thyroid disorder with hypothyroidism diet pills without proper information of the diet pill does not address the problem.
Hyperthyroidism Symptoms & Treatment	Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland is overactive and produces too much thyroid hormones more than the body needs.
Hypothyroidism	Hypothyroidism is one of the chronic diseases in the world. Hypothyroidism is also known as underactive thyroid; hypo means under or below normal.
Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer	Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a type of thyroid cancer that is rare and aggressive. It affects the thyroid gland and most especially its function.
Thyroid Disorders	Problems arise if the thyroid gland is overactive or underactive. There are three common thyroid disorders. These are hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and the thyroid nodules.
Thyroid Hair Loss	Hair loss may happen for so many reasons but it is commonly associated to thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.
Thyroid Function Test	Thyroid Function Tests are the different tests conducted to assess and determine the cause of an individual?s thyroid problems.