Chapter 1
What is hyper-thyroidism?
Your thyroid is located in your neck, underneath your Adam’s apple. Its main purpose is to produce the hormone thyroxine, which helps stabilize your metabolism, heart and muscle function, brain development and bone strength. If your body produces too much of the thyroxine hormone, the functions of your body can speed up and cause several health conditions including but not limited to:
- Rapid and unexpected weight loss
- Irregular heartbeat, which in turn could cause blood clots, stroke and heart failure
- Grave's ophthalmopathy, which can cause double vision, pain and sensitivity to light
- Osteoporosis
- Fertility issues in women or pregnancy complications
Hyperthyroidism is a benign, or noncancerous, condition.
Causes of hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can be caused by a variety of factors including:
- Certain autoimmune diseases. Certain autoimmune diseases, including Graves’ disease, which forces your immune system to attack and enlarge the thyroid.
- Having too much iodine. Iodine is necessary to help your body produce thyroid hormone. When you ingest too much iodine, it can cause the thyroid to overproduce hormones.
- Thyroiditis. When the thyroid is inflamed, it can cause the thyroid gland to swell and grow, as well as leak additional thyroxine hormone out of your thyroid glands.
- Thyroid nodules. These growths or masses on your thyroid can cause the thyroid to become overactive
- Pregnancy. During pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, which can cause the thyroid to grow in size and become overactive.
- Overuse of thyroid medication. If you are currently taking medication for hypothyroidism, or an underproduction of thyroid hormones, and take too much of it, you can actually cause hyperthyroidism.
Risk factors for hyperthyroidism
While anyone can be diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, the following factors may increase your risk if you:
- Have Grave’s disease
- Are over the age of 60
- Are female
- Have a family history of thyroid disease
- Have had a thyroid surgery or personal history of thyroid disease
- Have pernicious anemia (where the body is unable to make enough red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12)
- Ingest a lot of iodine through medications or foods
- Have been pregnant within the last 6 months
- Are a smoker
- Have type 1 or 2 diabetes
Having a risk factor for hyperthyroidism doesn’t mean that you will get it, but it makes you more likely than someone without the risk factor. Talk to your doctor about your individual risk factors.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Depending on the root cause of hyperthyroidism, symptoms may include:
- Sudden and/or unexplained weight loss
- Increased appetite
- Irregular and/or fast heartbeat
- Excessive sweating, anxiety, or nervousness
- A general feeling of weakness or fatigue
- Oversensitivity to hot temperatures
- Changes in bowel function including diarrhea or increased bowel movements
- Shaking or tremors
- Sleep difficulties
- Sudden mood swings
- Vision changes or eyes bulging
- Changes in the menstrual cycle (periods)
- Swelling in the neck due to a goiter
- Skin texture that feels thin, warm and/or moist
- Brittle hair that falls out easily
The above symptoms can be related to a variety of medical conditions. It is important to talk to your doctor to determine the root cause of your symptoms.
Head & Neck Surgical Cancer Specialists of SW Florida
Surgical Oncology
4571 Colonial Blvd., Suite 210
Fort Myers, FL 33966
Tel: 239-790-3480
Our provider
Scott Larson, MD, Otolaryngologist at Head & Neck Surgical Cancer Specialists of SW Florida, specializes in the surgical management of benign and malignant tumors of the skin, salivary glands, nose/sinuses, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, thyroid and parathyroid glands. He is experienced in thyroid surgery.
