Also called: Overactive thyroid Show
Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, happens when your thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. It makes hormones that control the way the body uses energy. These hormones affect nearly every organ in your body and control many of your body's most important functions. For example, they affect your breathing, heart rate, weight, digestion, and moods. If not treated, hyperthyroidism can cause serious problems with your heart, bones, muscles, menstrual cycle, and fertility. But there are treatments that can help. What causes hyperthyroidism?Hyperthyroidism has several causes. They include:
Who is at risk for hyperthyroidism?You are at higher risk for hyperthyroidism if you:
What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can vary from person to person and may include:
Adults over age 60 may have different symptoms than younger adults. For example, they may lose their appetite or withdraw from other people. Sometimes this can be mistaken for depression or dementia. What other problems can hyperthyroidism cause?If hyperthyroidism isn't treated, it can cause some serious health problems, including:
How is hyperthyroidism diagnosed?Your health care provider may use many tools to make a diagnosis:
What are the treatments for hyperthyroidism?The treatments for hyperthyroidism include medicines, radioiodine therapy, and thyroid surgery:
If you have hyperthyroidism, it's important not to get too much iodine. Talk to your health care provider about which foods, supplements, and medicines you need to avoid. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Start Here
Why is hyperthyroidism called Graves disease?Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that leads to a generalized overactivity of the entire thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. It is named after Robert Graves, an Irish physician, who described this form of hyperthyroidism about 150 years ago.
What is Graves disease also known as?Diffuse thyrotoxic goiter; Hyperthyroidism - Graves; Thyrotoxicosis - Graves; Exophthalmos - Graves; Ophthalmopathy - Graves; Exophthalmia - Graves; Exorbitism - Graves. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
Can you have hyperthyroidism without Graves disease?Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, but they're not the same thing. While all patients with Graves' disease have hyperthyroidism, patients with hyperthyroidism may not necessarily have Graves' disease (or non-Graves' hyperthyroidism).
What is the difference between overactive thyroid and Graves disease?About 3 in every 4 people with an overactive thyroid gland have a condition called Graves' disease. Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid which causes it to become overactive.
|