Overactive thyroid symptoms

An overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, is where the thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormones. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe (trachea). It produces hormones that affect things such as your heart rate and body temperature. Having too much of these hormones can cause unpleasant and potentially serious problems that may need treatment. An overactive thyroid can affect anyone, but it's about 10 times more common in women than men, and typically happens between 20 and 40 years of age. Symptoms of an overactive thyroid An overactive thyroid can cause a wide range of symptoms, including: • nervousness, anxiety and irritability • mood swings • • persistent tiredness and weakness • sensitivity to heat • swelling in your neck from an • an irregular and/or unusually fast heart rate • twitching or • When to see a GP See a GP if you have symptoms of an overactive thyroid. They'll ask about your symptoms and if they think you might have a thyroid problem, they can arrange for a If the blood test shows that you have an overactive thyroid, you may be referred for further tests to identify the cause. Treatments for an overactive thyroid An overactive thyroid is usually treatable. The main treatments are: • medicine that stops your thyroid producing too much of the thyroid hormones • radioiodine treatment – where a type of • surgery to remove some or all of your thyroid, so that it no l...

What Your Thyroid Does Two major hormones that affect how your body works are made in your Your Another important hormone your Hyperthyroidism, also known as overactive thyroid, can speed up your Hyperthyroidism Signs and Symptoms Common signs include: • Nervousness, anxiety, or crankiness • Mood swings • Fatigue or weakness • Sensitivity to heat • A swollen • • Fast or • Having more • Shaking in your hands and fingers (tremor) • • Thinning • Fine, brittle • Changes in your menstrual cycle If you’re an older adult, you’re more likely to have subtle symptoms like a faster Certain medicines can mask the signs of hyperthyroidism. If you take When you first get hyperthyroidism, you may feel energetic. This is because your Usually, hyperthyroidism develops slowly. If you’re young when you get it, the symptoms might come on suddenly. Hyperthyroidism Causes Several conditions can cause hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease. This immune system disorder is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism (70% of cases). Normally, the antibodies in your • After • When you get a virus or another problem with your • If you take too much thyroid You can also get hyperthyroidism if you get lots of iodine in your diet (like in a medication or supplement) or from taking too much thyroid hormone medication. Thyroid Eye Disease About 30% of people with Graves’ disease get a condition called thyroid eye disease. It involves your vision and • Bulging • A gritty feeling, pain, or pressure in your • Redness...

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland is overproducing thyroid hormones. This can cause symptoms that may include weight loss and increased appetite. Several health conditions can lead to hyperthyroidism, most commonly The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck. It produces thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which are two primary hormones that control how your cells use energy. Your thyroid gland regulates your metabolism through the release of these hormones. When your A variety of conditions can cause hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease, an Graves’ disease occurs more often in women than in men. A Tell your doctor if any relatives have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, so they can get an accurate picture of your risk factors. Aside from Graves’ disease, • Excess iodine. This mineral is a key ingredient in T4 and T3, and • Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid). Thyroiditis • Benign thyroid nodules. • Toxic thyroid nodules (toxic adenoma). Some thyroid nodules are malignant, or cancerous. Whether a nodule is benign or malignant is • Tumors of the ovaries or testes. • Large amounts of T4 in the blood. High levels of T4 can result from taking certain dietary supplements, or too much of the thyroid hormone medication, levothyroxine. Thyrotoxicosis and hyperthyroidism don’t mean the same thing, even though they’re sometimes used interchangeably. Hyperthyroidism (and its many forms) are actually all under the umbrella of...