Hyperthyroidism happens when excessive thyroid hormone leads to a state in which the body’s metabolic rate is increased. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as heart palpitations, sweating, heat intolerance, muscle weakness, weight loss, protruding eyes, and diarrhea occurs in many people with this disease. The most common form of hyperthyroidism is Graves disease. It usually occurs when an abnormal antibody stimulates the thyroid to secrete excessive amounts of thyroid hormone.

Other sources of too much thyroid hormone are toxic goiters and toxic nodules. Toxic goiters are enlargements of the thyroid gland which are associated with an excessive production of the thyroid hormone. Toxic nodules are one or more discrete lumps which develop in part of the thyroid gland and manufacture excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. Toxic nodules are almost never cancerous. The other two types of hyperthyroidism are: silent (or painless) and DeQuervain’s thyroiditis (a form of autoimmune disease), which occurs when part of the thyroid gland turns inflamed and destroyed, causing the release of large amounts of stored thyroid hormone.

Occasionally exposure to excess iodine may also result in hyperthyroidism. Women are more likely than men to develop all forms of thyroid disorders. To evaluate hyperthyroidism, doctors usually order blood tests, which measure the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood. Abnormal high levels of this hormone will always indicate hyperthyroidism.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism depends on the condition of each individual. Some disorders such as thyroid nodules and goiter require no treatment.

This entry was filed under Diseases and Conditions.

Tags: excessive production, thyroid disorders, thyroid gland