What is hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism, also commonly referred to as an overactive thyroid, can be described as a condition in which, a person's thyroid gland produces an excessive amount of the thyroxine hormone. Although people of all ages could suffer from hyperthyroidism, it has been seen that this condition is a lot more common in adults than it is in children; in fact, hyperthyroidism is fairly rare in children. When a person suffers from this condition, the metabolism of their body is accelerated to a significant level, which in turn, could lead to irregular or rapid heartbeats, sudden weight loss, irritability, nervousness and excessive perspiration. Fortunately, there are several ways in which the excessive amount of the hormone in the body can be controlled. There are certain anti thyroid medications as well as radioactive iodine that can slow down the production of the thyroid hormones. However if this condition is ignored, it could become quite serious.
Causes
There are several conditions that could lead to hyperthyroidism in people. Given below are some of the most common conditions, which could cause the body to produce a higher amount of thyroxine hormones:
- Grave's disease: This is one of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism in children. Grave's disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the antibodies in the immune system to over stimulate the thyroid gland. When a person suffers from this disease, the antibodies produced by the immune system attack the thyroid gland in error, because of which an excessive amount of thyroxine hormone is generated. It is also one of the leading causes of hyperthyroidism in women.
- Hyper-functioning thyroid nodules: This includes toxic adenoma, toxic multi-nodular goiter as well as Plummer's disease. An adenoma is that part of a gland, which walls itself away from the rest of the gland. A person suffers from this type of hyperthyroidism, when one or more than one adenoma in the body produces a higher than normal amount of T-4. However, not all the adenomas that are present in the body lead to a high production of T-4.
- Thyroiditis: At times, there could be an inflammation in the thyroid gland, caused by unknown factors. This inflammation generally results in the leakage of the excess thyroid gland, into the bloodstream. This is one of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy or after delivery (postpartum thyroiditis).
Symptoms and Treatment
Unfortunately, the signs of hyperthyroidism could be mistaken for other health problems, which is why this condition can be a bit challenging to diagnose. Some of the most common signs of hyperthyroidism are:
- Sudden weight loss, for no apparent reason
- An increase in appetite
- Irritability, nervousness and anxiety
- Increase in the heartbeat rate
- Tremors in the form of a fine trembling in the fingers and the hands
- Excessive perspiration
- Changes in menstrual cycles (for women)
- Higher sensitivity to heat
- Increase in bowel movements and other changes in the bowel patterns
- A swelling at the base of the neck, caused by the enlarged thyroid gland or goiter
- Weakness in the muscles and fatigue
- Problems in sleeping
However, older adults may have very subtle or virtually no signs of the disease, apart from an elevated heart rate, fatigue and intolerance towards heat. In most cases, medication which includes beta blockers is used by older people, who suffer from high blood pressure or other health conditions. These medicines are known to mask the different signs of hyperthyroidism.
When people suffer from hyperthyroidism caused by Grave's Ophthalmopathy, their eyeballs may protrude beyond their protective orbits, because of a swelling in the muscles and tissues behind the eyes. Hence, when the eyeballs are pushed forward, so far that they bulge out of their orbits. Some of the other signs of hyperthyroidism caused by Grave's Ophthalmopathy include:
- Discomfort or excessive tearing in one or both the eyes
- Double or blurry vision
- Dryness in the front surface of the eye
- Inflammation in the eye
- Protruding eyeballs
- Reduced eye movements
- Sensitivity to light
- Swelling or redness in the eye
In case any of the signs of hyperthyroidism mentioned above are seen in a person, it is best for them to consult a doctor immediately, for a proper diagnosis. At first, hyperthyroidism is diagnosed with the help of blood tests and by assessing a person's medical history. In case hyperthyroidism is indicated in any of the blood tests, then further tests that may be recommended include a radioactive uptake test and a thyroid scan.
There are several ways in which hyperthyroidism can be treated and the best approach that should be adopted for a patient depends on the physical condition, age and the severity of the disorder. However, some of the most common treatment approaches recommended by most medical health care providers include:
- Anti thyroid medication
- Beta blockers
- Radioactive iodine
- Thyroidectomy or thyroid surgery
Some of the symptoms of Grave's disease can be controlled with the help of artificial tears, lubricating gels and corticosteroids.
Natural treatment
Apart from traditional hyperthyroidism treatment, there are certain lifestyle changes that are also recommended, for managing the condition. One of the most important steps in curing the condition is following a proper hyperthyroidism diet, i.e., a diet which is high in proteins, vitamins, minerals and other healthy calories. Hence, people suffering from hyperthyroidism should consume high amounts of cereal, poultry, meat and eggs.
The consumption of certain vitamins (A, B complex and C) and minerals should be increased to at least twice a day.
Other foods that are an integral part of a hyperthyroidism diet are mango, papaya, milk and other dairy products, fish and pulses.
Cruciferous vegetables, like kale, broccoli and cauliflower have substances, which suppress the production of thyroxine. These vegetables are the most effective, when they are eaten raw.
Foods that should be strictly avoided are coffee, tea, chocolate and cola.
Hyperthyroidism and Pregnancy
In some rare instances, women could suffer from hyperthyroidism during the course of pregnancy. Studies indicate that around 1 on 500 women can suffer form hyperthyroidism and pregnancy complications caused by it. However, this condition will not cause any major problems, if it is treated and controlled in time.
All instances of hyperthyroidism should be closely monitored by a doctor.
answered by G M