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HYPERTHYROIDISM

INTRODUCTION:

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck and controlled by the pituitary gland. Thyroid hormones play a vital role in the human body; hence, if the range of thyroid hormones fluctuates, it will cause many diseases like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, the level of thyroid increases in the blood, which is a clinical syndrome characterized by a high metabolic state due to the high serum thyroid in the blood. Hyperthyroidism, also known as overactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland generates an excessive amount of specific hormones. Diarrhoea, trouble breathing, and exhaustion are all symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Excess thyroid causes numerous other problems with proper bodily function, such as goiter or enlargement of the thyroid gland. Another problem associated with elevated thyroid levels in the blood.

Causes:

  • Graves’ disease is an autoimmune ailment in which your immune system assaults your thyroid, causing it to produce an excessive amount of hormone. This is the most typical reason.
  • Thyroid nodules are growths on the thyroid. They are usually not cancerous. However, they can become overactive and produce an excessive amount of thyroid hormone. Thyroid nodules are more common in the elderly.
  • Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland. It causes your thyroid gland’s stored thyroid hormone to flow out.
  • Iodine in excess. Some medicines, cough syrups, seaweed, and seaweed-based supplements include iodine. If you take too many of these, your thyroid will produce too much thyroid hormone.
  • There is too much thyroid medication: This can occur if persons who take thyroid hormone medication for hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) are exposed to it.

Risk factors

 There are some risk factors that increase the chances of hyperthyroidism. If a person doesn’t have a family history of hyperthyroidism but comes in with the risk factor, they will surely face the cruse of hyperthyroidism.

You are at higher risk for hyperthyroidism if you:

Are you a woman?
Are you older than 60?
Have you been pregnant or had a baby within the past 6 months?
Have you had thyroid surgery or a thyroid problem, such as goitre?
Have a family history of thyroid disease.
Have pernicious anaemia, in which the body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells because it does not have enough vitamin B12.
Have type 1 diabetes or primary adrenal insufficiency, a hormonal disorder.

Symptoms:

 Symptoms are the dash broad, which helps you identify which kind of disease you are suffering from: hyperthyroidism. Sudden weight loss is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism. This happens due to the high metabolic rate, which increases the metabolism in the body, and people usually seem weak and lethargic. The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can vary from person to person and may include:

  • Nervousness or irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Trouble tolerating heat
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Tremor, usually in your hands
  • Rapid and irregular heartbeat
  • Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
  • Weight loss
  • Mood swings
  • Goiter is an enlarged thyroid that can cause swelling in your neck. It can sometimes cause difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Treatment

  • Medicines, radioiodine therapy, and thyroid surgery are all options for treating hyperthyroidism.
  • Antithyroid medications, which induce your thyroid to produce less thyroid hormone, are among the treatments for hyperthyroidism. You will most likely need to take the medications for 1 to 2 years. In some circumstances, you may need to take the medications for a long time. This is the most basic treatment, yet it is not always effective.
  • Beta blocker medications can help with symptoms like tremors, rapid heartbeat, and nervousness.
  • Radioiodine therapy is a frequent and successful hyperthyroidism treatment. It entails ingesting radioactive iodine as a capsule or liquid. This gradually damages thyroid gland cells that make thyroid hormone. It has no effect on other body tissues. Almost everyone who receives radioactive iodine treatment gets hypothyroidism later in life. This is due to the destruction of thyroid hormone-producing cells. However, hypothyroidism is less difficult to cure and produces fewer long-term health issues than hyperthyroidism.
  • In rare circumstances, surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland is performed. It could be a viable choice for persons with big goiters or pregnant women who are unable to take antithyroid medications. If you have had your entire thyroid removed, you will need to take thyroid medications for the rest of your life.

Conclusion:

In hyperthyroidism disorder, the level of thyroid hormone exceeds the normal range, which becomes a hindrance to many functions of the body. High metabolism is one of the causes of hyperthyroidism, and due to this, people suffering from hyperthyroidism are weak. Sudden weight changes are alarming. Have you ever thought about why you are feeling lethargic without any reason? The reason may be a thyroid disorder. Thyroids maintain many functions in our body that aim to give us a healthy life. Hyperthyroidism might disturb your life and make you sick. High metabolism is the cause of hyperthyroidism. Hormonal changes make people stuck in many diseases, and one of them is hyperthyroidism. Thyroid stimulating hormone is the investigation test to check the level of the thyroid in the blood, so certain interventions should be taken to reduce the level of thyroid in the blood.

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