Just as the name suggests, hyper thyroid condition refers to a situation where the thyroid glands are overactive. The result is the production of excessive thyroid hormones. An excessive supply of thyroid hormones in turn causes another condition known as thyrotoxicosis. The name is interchangeably used by physicians with another term, hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones are responsible for triggering cell metabolism. They are therefore vital for the body but can be toxic when produced in excessive quantities. The hormones are produced by the thyroid glands with iodine from the blood.
Causes of the condition
Thyrotoxicosis is caused by excessive supply of thyroid hormones to the blood. The following are the causes of the condition.
- Excessive thyroid hormone supplements
- Abnormally high secretion of thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH) by the pituitary
- Grave’s disease
- Thyroiditis
- Excessive iodine in the diet
Symptoms of the disease
Patients with a mild form of the disease don’t usually show any symptoms. The symptoms become more pronounced as the disease gets to its later stages. Symptoms are usually absent if the patient is above the age of 70. The symptoms are mostly caused by excessive metabolic activity in the body.
- Intolerance to high temperature
- Excessive sweating
- An increase in bowel movements
- Nervousness and agitation (irritability)
- Rapid heart rate
- Weight loss
- Loss of concentration
- Fatigue
- Irregular menstrual flow
Acute thyrotoxicosis in older patients can cause irregular heartbeats and heart failure. When the severe condition goes untreated, it could cause lead to fever, hypertension, and heart failure – a condition referred to as “thyroid storm.” It may also cause mental conditions such as delirium and confusion.
Diagnosis
The most common symptoms that doctors rely on to identify hyper thyroid condition are: excessive sweating, trembling, smooth velvety skin, rapid heart rate, and enlarged thyroid gland.
The condition also causes puffiness around the eyes and the impression that the patient is staring due to an elevation of the upper eyelid. The symptoms are very visible if the condition is severe but there is usually little to no symptoms for older people. A blood test is the only way to know for sure if a patient is suffering from the disease. Thyroid hormones can be measured directly from the blood. This is a reliable way to test for the condition but the best way is to test for the levels of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
In a situation where excessive amount of thyroid hormone is being produced, the pituitary gland responds by producing less TSH. There is therefore a reduced amount of the hormone in patients suffering from hyperthyroidism.
Treatment
There are several ways to treat the hyper thyroid condition. Doctors can treat the symptoms of the disease, use radioactive iodine, or prescribe anti-thyroid drugs.
When a decision to treat the symptoms is made, doctors prescribe medication to deal with the individual symptoms. These medications counteract thyroid hormones in the body without affecting the rate of production of the hormone.
Anti-thyroid drugs act on the thyroid glands blocking production of thyroid hormones. These drugs may occasionally affect white blood cell production.
Radioactive iodine destroys overactive thyroid cells. It is safe to take since only the thyroid glands absorb iodine.
