The Facts About Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a condition that can lead to serious complications if untreated. Knowing the facts about hyperthyroidism and the symptoms to look out for is an important step toward being able to identify and treat the condition early.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces and secretes excessive levels of thyroid hormone, a condition referred to as an "overactive thyroid." As a result, the body's metabolism speeds up, which can result in symptoms affecting your weight, vision, heart, bones, skin and more.

Treatments for hyperthyroidism vary and depend on the underlying cause of the condition.

Hyperthyroidism is a relatively rare disease. An estimated 1 in 100 Americans ages 12 and older have hyperthyroidism, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Statistics indicate women and individuals older than 60 are affected by the condition more often than other populations.

Fortunately, hyperthyroidism is treatable. In fact, a thyroidectomy was first performed to treat the disease in 1880. Following years of research, antithyroid drugs and radioiodine treatment were developed in the 1940s to mitigate the effects of hyperthyroidism.

With the advancement of medical research, there are more treatments available today to treat the disease. Thionamide drugs—the most common of which are carbimazole and propylthiouracil—are often used to treat an overactive thyroid. The most widely used treatment in the United States is radioactive iodine ablation, a therapy in which radioactive iodine is directed to ablate or destroy residual healthy thyroid tissue remaining after a thyroidectomy.

The thyroid is a small gland shaped like a butterfly located at the front of the neck beneath the skin. Though relatively small in size, the thyroid is an important part of the endocrine system and plays a big role in helping the body function. The thyroid is responsible for releasing hormones that control the body's metabolic rate, or how quickly the body is able to transform food into energy.

Every cell in the body needs energy to function, so the entire body can be affected by thyroid problems.

The thyroid produces two major hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones control and affect many important bodily functions, such as metabolic rate, the ability to control body temperature, heart rate and protein production.

Hyperthyroidism symptoms can be triggered by consuming too much iodine because the thyroid uses iodine to produce thyroid hormones, therefore, consuming too much iodine can lead to a spike in thyroid hormone production. Cough syrups and other medications, including heart medicine, sometimes contain iodine.

More commonly, however, hyperthyroidism is caused by underlying medical conditions, including:

• Graves' disease. Also known as Basedow's disease, this is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the immune system attacks the thyroid, which leads it to produce an excessive amount of thyroid hormone. This is most commonly the cause of hyperthyroidism.
• Overactive thyroid nodules. Known as Plummer disease, toxic multinodular goiter and toxic adenoma, this type of hyperthyroidism leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormone by a thyroid adenoma. A thyroid adenoma is a portion of the gland that is separated by a wall from the rest of the thyroid. In some cases, the adenoma can develop noncancerous lumps that result in thyroid enlargement.
• Thyroiditis. This condition occurs when the thyroid becomes inflamed as a result of an autoimmune disorder or for some other unknown cause. Thyroid hormone stored within the thyroid can begin to leak from the gland and into the bloodstream as a result of thyroid inflammation. When this happens, symptoms of hyperthyroidism manifest.

If you have a family history of Graves' disease or any other thyroid disease, or a personal history of chronic illness—particularly primary adrenal insufficiency or pernicious anemia—then you are at greater risk for developing hyperthyroidism.

People who have had a recent pregnancy are at greater risk for thyroiditis, which has the potential to develop into hyperthyroidism over time.

Though there is not yet a single known cause of hyperthyroidism, medical experts believe there may be a genetic component involved. Some recent research published in 2021 found 78 novel genes possibly associated with hyperthyroidism.

If thyroid problems run in your family, then you are at greater risk for developing thyroid disease, such as hyperthyroidism. Talk to your doctor about your risk level so you can be proactive in monitoring and caring for your thyroid health.

Hyperthyroidism can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms often mirror the symptoms of other, more common health problems. According to Mayo Clinic, hyperthyroidism symptoms such as irregular heartbeat, weight loss, depression, fatigue and weakness can be mistaken as part of aging or misdiagnosed as another condition, particularly in older adults.

Here are the most common symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism:

• Abnormal menstrual cycles
• Anxiety, nervousness and irritability
• Arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat
• Brittle hair
• Changes in digestion
• Erectile dysfunction (ED)
• Eye discomfort or pressure, or the appearance of bulging eyes
• Fatigue and weakness
• Fertility issues
• Hand tremors
• Heart palpitations
• High blood pressure
• Increase in hunger
• Increased heat sensitivity
• Premature ejaculation
• Swollen neck as a result of an enlarged thyroid gland
• Tachycardia, or fast heartbeat
• Thinning of the skin
• Trouble sleeping
• Unintentional weight loss
• Unusual sweating

If you are unintentionally losing weight, experiencing rapid or irregular heartbeats, or have any other hyperthyroidism symptoms, talk to your doctor.

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about anything out of the ordinary, even if it seems minor, as hyperthyroidism can often cause symptoms that mirror other health issues.

Hyperthyroidism can rarely be diagnosed based solely on symptoms as many signs of the condition can be caused by other more common and less serious health issues.

To properly diagnose hyperthyroidism, personal and family medical history must be assessed, a physical exam needs to be performed, and several different thyroid blood tests and imaging tests should be conducted to confirm that the condition is present. At that point, the investigation begins to discover the underlying cause.

Hyperthyroidism is treated by bringing thyroid hormone levels down to normal to prevent health complications and mitigate symptoms.

The most common treatments for hyperthyroidism include medication, radioiodine therapy or thyroid surgery.

Thionamides—in particular, carbimazole and propylthiouracil—are medications that are prescribed to treat an overactive thyroid. The most widely used treatment in the U.S. is radioactive iodine ablation, a therapy used to destroy residual healthy thyroid tissue remaining after a thyroidectomy.

The treatment you receive depends largely on your age, personal preference, whether you are pregnant or have any other medical conditions, as well as the cause and severity of the condition.

There's no surefire way to prevent hyperthyroidism because many of the known causes— such as being a woman, being age 60 or older, being pregnant, having a family history of thyroid disease and having a personal history of chronic illness—are risk factors that cannot be controlled.

One risk factor that may be in your control is limiting the amount of iodine in your diet. You can do this by avoiding the following:

• Dairy products, including butter, cheese, ice cream, milk and yogurt
• Iodized salt
• Seafood, including fish, sushi, shellfish, kelp and seaweed
• Vitamins or supplements that contain iodine

While lowering your intake of iodine cannot prevent hyperthyroidism, it may reduce your risk for the condition.

If you are pregnant or have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, getting regular blood tests to monitor your thyroid hormone levels is important to keep an eye on your thyroid health.

Clinical trials are essential to the continued advancement of medical research. These trials are often used as tools to investigate potential cures, treatments and prevention methods for diseases and conditions such as hyperthyroidism.

Before becoming a participant in any clinical trial, it's important to first find out as much as you can about the particular study and to make the decision after consultation with your doctor and loved ones. A list of active and recruiting clinical trials can be found in this database at the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Education about hyperthyroidism is the best route for anyone with the condition. Here are some online resources worth checking out:

• Listen to Your Eyes: Thyroid Eye Disease
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Endocrine Society
• American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
• American Thyroid Association

What are two symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism can cause a wide array of symptoms. The two most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are unintentional weight loss and a fast or irregular heartbeat.

What does hyperthyroidism do to a person?

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland produces and secretes excessive levels of thyroid hormone. As a result, the body's metabolism speeds up, which can result in symptoms affecting weight, vision, heart, bones, skin and more.

What is the main cause of hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism can be caused by underlying medical conditions, most commonly Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid, which leads to the overproduction of thyroid hormone.