Hyperthyroidism

Thyroid Nodules

Symptoms   

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid produces too much hormone.  This can cause a host of symptoms:

• accelerated heart rate
• palpitations
• high blood pressure
• rapid weight loss
• extreme anxiety and nervousness
• difficulty concentrating
• tremors
• diarhea
• tiredness
• difficulty sleeping
• double vision
• eyes bulging
• panic attacks

    This is a serious condition so if you feel you may be effected by hyperthyroidism, please contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Causes

    Hyperthyroidism can be caused by an autoimmune condition called Grave's disease.  In this case the immune system gets its wires crossed and begins attacking the thyroid.  Autoantibodies, your bodies response to this attack, latch on to the thyroid in an attempt to deflect the attack causing the thyroid to overproduce thyroid hormone.  Another autoimmune disease, Hashimoto's, is characterized by a short period of overactivity followed by underactivity.  Other causes of hyperthyroidism are:

• Goiter or nodules that stimulate the thyroid to produce an inappropriate amount of thyroid hormone.
• Thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid that can sometimes be initiated postpartum.
• Too much thyroid medication can create hyperthyroidism.

How do you find out if you are hyperthyroid?

   If your doctor is concerned that you may by hyperthyroid he will first have your TSH levels tested.  A normal range for Canada and the United States is between 0.3 and 3.3.  If you are lower than 0.3 your doctor will probably diagnose you as being hyperthyroid.  He will then have your T4 and T3 levels tested to see if there is autoimmune involvement.

Treatment

    Treatment options for hyperthyroidism vary in their effectiveness depending on why you are hyperthyroid. You may be prescribed a beta blocking drug that blocks the action of circulating thyroid hormone, slows your heart rate and reduces nervousness.  Or if the disease is mild you may be prescribed a short course of antithyroid medication.  They inhibit your bodies ability to use iodine needed for the production of thyroid hormone.

    Some patients with non responsive hyperthyroidism are treated with radioactive iodine (RAI).  The iodine concentrates in the thyroid reversing the hyperthyroidism by shutting the gland down.

Final Note

    The most important thing to remember if you have any of the above symptoms, is to get to your health care practitioner for an accurate diagnosis.  Untreated hyperthyroidism can be life threatening.