Hyperthyroidism Treatment Q&A

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothyroidism, it is an overactive thyroid, which occurs when the thyroid gland starts to produce too much of the hormone thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism accelerates the body’s metabolism, which can cause unintentional weight loss and rapid, or irregular heartbeat.

There are several different treatment options available for hyperthyroidism, generally, your doctor will prescribe anti-thyroid medications as well as radioactive iodine, these will slow down the thyroid hormone production within the body. Another alternative involves surgery, a surgeon will remove all or part of the thyroid gland to treat hyperthyroidism.

There are a few different causes of hyperthyroidism:

• Graves’ disease

Graves’ disease is one of the more common causes of hyperthyroidism, this condition is an autoimmune disorder which is when the immune system begins to attack the thyroid and causes it to increase its production of the thyroid hormone.

• Overactive thyroid nodules

Overactive thyroid nodules are when there are lumps within the thyroid, this is also quite common, and normally not cancerous. If one or more nodules become overactive, this is when it can begin to overproduce the thyroid hormone.

• Thyroiditis is when the thyroid gland is inflamed

This inflammation of the thyroid gland can cause some types to leak out into the thyroid gland and straight into the bloodstream. Due to this, you may begin to develop signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism. These types of thyroiditis can cause hyperthyroidism, which may include:

• Subacute thyroiditis causes painfully inflamed and enlarged thyroid
• Postpartum thyroiditis, which usually develops after a woman gives birth
• Painless thyroiditis is similar to postpartum thyroiditis; however, it occurs without pregnancy and enlarges the thyroid painlessly.

Thyroiditis can also cause symptoms of hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid.

• Overproduction of iodine

The thyroid uses iodine to create the thyroid hormone. Depending on how much iodine the body consumes can affect how much of the hormone the thyroid keeps creating. Large consumption amounts of iodine can cause the thyroid to end up overproducing thyroid hormones.

• Too much thyroid hormone medicine

If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and you over-consume the allotted amount for your condition, you may take too much, which can cause hyperthyroidism to occur.    

• Noncancerous tumor in the pituitary gland     

While this is quite rare, noncancerous tumors of the pituitary gland, which are located at the base of the brain, can end up causing hyperthyroidism.     

Hyperthyroidism usually mimics other health concerns, which often makes it quite difficult for doctors to diagnose. Hyperthyroidism can also showcase a wide variety of signs and symptoms, some of which include:

• Unintentional weight loss (regardless of your appetite and food intake, which may increase or stay the same)
• Rapid heartbeat (more than 100 heartbeats per minute)
• Irregular heartbeat
• Pounding of the heart
• Increased appetite
• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Trembling of the fingers and hands
• Sweating
• Changes in your menstrual patterns
• Increased intolerance to heat
• Changes in your bowel movements, particularly more frequent bowel movements
• Enlarged thyroid gland which can appear like it is swelling at the base of the neck
• Extreme exhaustion
• Muscle weakness
• Thinning of the skin
• Brittle, fine hair

As we age, we are more likely to show no signs or symptoms of hyperthyroidism or very subtle signs and symptoms, these signs, and symptoms may include increased heart rate, heat sensitivity, and a tendency to become quite exhausted during everyday activities.

It is important to visit your doctor if you start to notice the following occurring:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Increased unexplained weight loss
• Unusual sweating
• welling at the base of the neck
• And any other signs or symptoms previously described of hyperthyroidism

It is important to write down everything you are experiencing and go into great detail about each change you have observed, this is to ensure that the doctor can correctly identify the condition you are suffering from, as many of the same signs and symptoms that hyperthyroidism showcases, is also associated with a variety of other conditions.

If hyperthyroidism is left untreated, over time it can become severe and lead to an irregular heartbeat, which can cause major issues like blood clots, stroke, and heart failure. If you are showing any symptoms of hyperthyroidism, Contact us today. Our experienced professionals can help. Call us for more information or to request an appointment today! We are conveniently located at 701 FM 685, Ste 125 Pflugerville, TX 78660. We Serve Patients from Pflugerville TX, Austin TX, Round Rock TX, Hutto TX, Georgetown TX, Cedar Park TX, Taylor TX, and Manor TX.