Overactive Thyroid - Hyperthyroidism

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck.

It makes hormones that control the way your body uses energy. 

Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid means your thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormones.

 

Symptoms include

  • Feeling nervousness and irritability
  • Hyperactivity  
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Tremors
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Diarrhoea
  • Feeling hot and sweaty
  • Hair loss
  • Palpitations
  • Muscle weakness
  • Abnormal menstrual periods
  • Loss of interest in sex
  • Fertility problems.

Diagnosis

A blood test, called thyroid function test, measuring your hormone levels is the only accurate way to find out

whether there's a problem.

Treatment:

Antithyroid medicine and radioactive iodine are the ones doctors use most often.

In a small number of cases, surgery may be done to remove all or some of the thyroid gland.

 

More resources:

 

Thyroid UK:  The clinical names for an overactive thyroid gland are:

hyperthyroidism (excess of thyroid) and thyrotoxicosis (poisoning by the thyroid)....

Click here to read more

 

 

Patient.Info: Hyperthyroidism means a raised level of thyroid hormone.

There are various causes. Graves' disease is the most common cause.......

Click here to read more

 

NHS UK: Overactive thyroid (also known as hyperthyroidism) is a relatively common

hormonal condition that occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the body.......

Click here to read more

 

Mayo Clinic: Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is a condition in which your thyroid gland

produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. Hyperthyroidism can accelerate

your body's metabolism significantly.....

Click here to read more.

 

 

Back to blog