Hyperthyroidism – SP Medifort Hospital

Hyperthyroidism Treatment

Hyperthyroidism Treatment In Trivandrum

Hyperthyroidism, also known as overactive thyroid, is a condition in which your thyroid gland makes and releases more thyroid hormone than your body needs. This extra hormone speeds up many body processes and can affect your metabolism, heart, energy level, and overall health.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism:

Tremors or shaking hands.
Muscle weakness and fatigue
Feeling nervous, anxious, or irritable.
Increased sweating and intolerance to heat.
Unexplained weight loss.
Increased bowel movements or diarrhea.
Trouble sleeping (insomnia).
Fast or irregular heartbeat (palpitations).
Changes in the menstrual cycle in women.
Fine, brittle, or thinning hair.
Feeling unusually warm or hot.
An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter) is seen as a swelling at the base of the neck.

What causes hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland releases too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream. Conditions that can lead to hyperthyroidism include:

Graves’ disease : This is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid, causing it to make too much hormone. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.
Thyroiditis (inflammation): Inflammation of the thyroid can cause stored hormone to leak out into the bloodstream, leading to temporary hyperthyroidism. This can occur after viral infections or after pregnancy.
Thyroid nodules : These are small lumps or growths on the thyroid gland that can become overactive and produce excess thyroid hormone, often called toxic multinodular goiter.
Too much thyroid hormone medication : Taking more thyroid hormone than needed (for example, when treating an underactive thyroid) can cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Excess iodine intake : Too much iodine from food, supplements, or certain medicines can trigger the thyroid to make increased amounts of hormone.
Pituitary gland tumor (TSH-producing adenoma) : A rare non-cancerous growth in the pituitary gland that makes too much thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which then stimulates the thyroid to make more hormones.
Rare tumors : Very rarely, other tumors (for example, in the ovary called struma ovarii) can produce thyroid hormones and lead to hyperthyroidism

Diagnosis of Hyperthyroidism

Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism usually involves several steps:

Medical history and physical exam : Your doctor asks about symptoms and checks for signs like an enlarged thyroid, fast heartbeat, tremors, warm skin, or eye changes. This helps decide which tests are needed.
Blood tests : These are the main way to diagnose hyperthyroidism. They measure thyroid hormones and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). In typical hyperthyroidism, TSH is low, and thyroid hormones (T3 or T4) are high. Blood tests may also include thyroid antibodies to check for autoimmune causes like Graves’ disease.
Imaging tests : If blood tests confirm hyperthyroidism, your doctor may order images like a radioactive iodine uptake scan (shows how the thyroid absorbs iodine) or a thyroid ultrasound (checks for nodules). These help find the cause of the overactivity.

Hyperthyroidism risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of developing hyperthyroidism include:

Age : The risk increases with age, especially after age 60.
Smoking : Smoking is linked to a higher likelihood of Graves’ disease and thyroid eye changes, making hyperthyroidism more likely in smokers.
Being female : Women are much more likely than men to get hyperthyroidism.
Family history of thyroid disease : Having close relatives with thyroid disorders, especially Graves’ disease, raises your chance of developing hyperthyroidism, likely due to shared genetic factors.
Pregnancy and recent childbirth : Pregnancy can trigger inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis) or other immune changes that may lead to hyperthyroidism, especially in the months after delivery.
Other autoimmune or chronic diseases : Having autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia, or primary adrenal insufficiency increases risk because autoimmune activity that affects one part of the body can also involve the thyroid.
Excess iodine exposure : Too much iodine from diet, supplements, or certain medications can overstimulate the thyroid and contribute to the overproduction of thyroid hormones

Treatment options available for hyperthyroidism

There are several treatment options for hyperthyroidism. Depending on the cause and your health, your healthcare provider will help you choose the best plan. Common treatments include:

Antithyroid Medications: These medicines help slow down the thyroid gland so it makes less hormone. Examples include methimazole and propylthiouracil (PTU). They are often used first to control the condition and may be taken for many months. Some people may go into long-term remission after treatment.

Surgery (Thyroidectomy) : In some cases, a surgeon removes part or all of the thyroid gland. This quickly stops the thyroid from making too much hormone but usually leads to hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), so you’ll need lifelong thyroid hormone replacement. It is chosen when other treatments are not suitable or in specific cases like large goiters or pregnancy.

Radioactive Iodine Therapy: You take a small dose of radioactive iodine by mouth. The thyroid absorbs it, and this gradually destroys overactive thyroid cells. It often cures hyperthyroidism, but many people then need to take thyroid hormone replacement medicine for life because the thyroid stops working.

Beta-Blocker Medications (Symptom Relief): Beta-blockers do not lower thyroid hormone levels, but they help control symptoms like fast heartbeat, shakiness, and anxiety while other treatments take effect. Examples include propranolol and metoprolol.