Hyperthyroidism (patient information)

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What is hyperthyroidism?

How do I know if I have hyperthyroidism and what are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism vary from person to person. Usual sings include the following:

Goiter
Increased appetite, but weight loss
Palpitation
Hypertension
Increased sensitivity to heat and perspiration
Nervousness, anxiety or irritability, difficulty sleeping
Hand tremors
Fatigue
Muscle weakness
Changes in menstrual patterns (usually lighter flow, less frequent periods) in women

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Who is at risk for hyperthyroidism?

Graves’ disease
Thyroid nodules
Thyroiditis
Too much of iodine ingestion
Overmedicating with synthetic thyroid hormone

How to know you have hyperthyroidism?

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test: This is a very sensitive and useful test and usually used as the first test to identify the disorder. The TSH test is based on the feedback between TSH and thyroid hormone. Patients with hyperthyroidism may show a lower reading than normal people.
T3 and T4 test: This test may show the levels of T3 and T4 in your blood. In patients with hyperthyroidism, the levels of one or both of these hormones in your blood will be higher than normal.
Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) test: This test may help diagnose Grave's disease, which has this kind of antibody.
Radioactive iodine uptake test: This test can detect the iodine uptake function of your thyroid gland and help diagnose the cause of hyperthyroidism. For example, low levels of iodine uptake might be a sign of thyroiditis, whereas high levels could indicate Graves’ disease.
Thyroid scan: This test may also help diagnose the cause of hyperthyroidism by providing images of nodules and other possible thyroid irregularities.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Medications:
Radioactive iodine: This kind of treatment may destroy thyroid gland and stop the excess production of hormones. During this peroid, the patient takes radioactive iodine by mouth. Common side effect is permanent hypothyroidism, which needs thyroid supplements.
Surgery: Thyroidectomy is another type of treatment opinion. The possible side effect after surgery is hypothyroidism. Patients need to take thyroid hormone supplement to restore normal hormone levels.