Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

The thyroid gland is located towards the front of the neck. The two lobes of the gland lie along the trachea, joined by a narrow tissue called isthmus. The function of this gland is to convert the iodine content in food into thyroid hormones, such as triiodothyronine or T3 and thyroxine or T4. Thyroid cells cannot be replaced in function. They perform the important task of combining iodine and tyrosine to create T3 and T4. These hormones control the conversion of calories into energy. Thus, the gland regulates the metabolism of every cell in the human body.

The pituitary gland located at the base of the brain controls the function of the thyroid gland. When thyroid hormones drop low in quantity, the pituitary gland produces a stimulant, referred to as TSH. The control exerted by the pituitary gland regulates the function of the thyroid gland. The hormones created by the thyroid are very essential at cellular level. The slightest imbalance results in over stimulation of the metabolism and hypersensitivity of the sympathetic nervous system. The causes for such an imbalance include toxic multinodular goiter, Graves' disease, inflammation of the thyroid, consumption of thyroid hormone in excess via tablets and toxic thyroid adenoma.

Signs and Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism:

• Major weight loss, accompanied by a paradoxical increase in appetite
• Anxiety and hyperactivity
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Depression
• Excessive sweating
• Palpitation and shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Osteoporosis
• Periodic paralysis
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Eyelid retraction

Early diagnosis of the condition is critical to the treatment. Diagnosis involves a study of the patient's medical history, a thorough physical examination, blood tests to confirm the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone and measure antibodies, such as anti-TSH receptors and anti-thyroid peroxidase. Treatment of hyperthyroidism includes temporary use of thyrostatics medication, surgery and/or radioisotope therapy.

Levothyroxine supplementation also helps a great deal. Drugs such as carbimazole, methimazole and propylthiouracil inhibit iodination via thyroperoxidase, creating tetraiodothyronine or T4. Many of the hyperthyroidism symptoms are treated with beta blockers like Propranolol and Metoprolol. Radioisotope therapy that is least invasive is also a widely considered option. Surgery is opted for in the case of patients who are intolerant to the oral medication. The reasons could be iodine allergy or a hesitation to adopt the radioiodine intervention. In the latter, radioactive iodine-131 is administered either in the pill or liquid form.

Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid generates excessive thyroxine hormone that needs to be contained in time. The signs and symptoms should be subjected to clinical analysis to check the accelerated metabolism in time. There are a number of resources online, as well as offline, that make dedicated research possible 24x7. They enlist the causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis and preventive measures for a better understanding of the condition and support. It is important to identify the preventive measures and treatment options in time.

This condition, if neglected, results in a number of heart diseases. Atrial fibrillation and heart failure are just some of the complications that set in with this thyroid problem. Besides this, untreated hyperthyroidism leads to brittle bones and a number of eye problems, like sensitivity to light and/or double vision. When thyrotoxic crisis sets in, the intensification of other symptoms leads to a fever and delirium.