Hyperthyroidism is a disease that develops due to the overactivity of the thyroid gland and occurs when too much thyroid hormone (TSH ) is secreted into the bloodstream. It can happen to anyone, but it is about 10 times more common in women than men and typically begins between the ages of 20 and 40. In blood tests, T3 and T4 levels are high and TSH levels are low.

Hyperthyroidism 

The thyroid glands, located at the back of the neck, secrete hormones that govern the functioning of metabolism and organs. Therefore, they have very important functions for the body. Hormones are secreted less or excessively due to the enlargement of these glands or their inability to perform their functions adequately. This causes problems in the entire functioning of the body.

In the case of hyperthyroidism, excessive secretion of thyroid hormones causes the body's metabolism to work fast and become overactive. This leads to symptoms such as rapid weight loss, profuse sweating, and heart palpitations.

If TSH hormone is low but T3 and T4 hormones are high in blood tests performed on people who apply to a doctor with these symptoms, the person is diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. In the treatment of hyperthyroidism, drugs that suppress excessive hormone secretion, radioactive iodine therapy, also known as atom therapy, and, if necessary, surgery to remove the glands can be applied.


Hyperthyroidism Reasons

Graves' Disease

A quarter of cases of hyperthyroidism are caused by an immune system disease called Graves' disease. In Graves' disease, the body reacts on its own, and therefore the thyroid gland overworks and secretes excessively excessive hormones, the metabolism is accelerated, the pulse rises, and the patient becomes unable to gain weight. This condition is gradually turning into a serious life-threatening condition.


Symptoms

They include irritability, heart palpitations, weight loss, high blood pressure, swollen thyroid gland and protrusion of the eyes, sensitivity to light, double vision, red eyes and swollen eyelids. The cause of Graves' disease is unknown, but it is mostly seen in young or middle-aged women and is inherited. Smoking also increases the risk of disease.

Toxic Nodular Goiter (multinodular goiter)

Hyperthyroidism caused by toxic nodular goiter is a condition in which one or more thyroid nodules become overactive. Toxic nodular goiter symptoms, also called toxic goiter, do not include bulging eyes or skin problems as in Graves' disease. The cause of toxic nodular goiter is unknown.

Some Medicines

Drugs such as interferons, which are cancer drugs, amiodarone, which is given for heart rhythm disorders and containing iodine, and lithium, which is used in bipolar disorder, cause the thyroid hormone to be secreted more or less and cause complaints about it. Complaints are temporary and disappear with the discontinuation of the drugs, but you should definitely not stop using the drug without consulting your doctor. This type of thyroiditis can cause pain in the thyroid gland and sometimes painkillers can be used.


Thyroiditis (Thyroid Inflammation)

Thyroiditis causes a transient hyperthyroidism, followed by hypothyroidism, as in Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Also, if a person takes too many thyroid hormone tablets, hyperthyroidism will occur. Rarely, a benign pituitary tumor can overproduce thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which causes hyperthyroidism.


Other Reasons;

The high amount of the hormone called hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) in the body causes an excess of thyroid hormone. This situation occurs in the first months of pregnancy, in multiple pregnancies and in molar pregnancy (grape pregnancy) when tissue remains in the uterus.


Pituitary Adenoma  

A non-cancerous (benign) tumor of the pituitary gland (a gland at the base of the brain that can affect the level of hormones produced by the thyroid)


thyroiditis

Inflammation of the thyroid, can cause the production of extra thyroid hormones


Thyroid Cancer

Rarely, a cancerous thyroid tumor can affect the production of thyroid hormones.


Symptoms

Common symptoms of an overactive thyroid include:

Palpitation

Hypertension

Sweating

Irritability

Unrest

warm and moist skin

intolerance to heat

Weight loss (Slimming despite good appetite)

shaking hands

Hair thinning, breakage and shedding

thinning of the skin

persistent diarrhea

Eye signs (enlarged eyes)

Sensitivity to bright light

Insomnia

Menstrual irregularity, lack of menstruation

Goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland)

Diagnostic Methods

The diagnosis can be made according to the level of thyroid hormones in the blood. Imaging methods are also used to confirm the diagnosis.


Blood test

Low levels of TSH-thyroid stimulating hormone secreted from the pituitary gland and high levels of T3 and T4 secreted from the thyroid gland indicate the presence of hyperthyroidism. Briefly, if TSH is low and T3 and T4 values ​​are high in the blood test, the person has hyperthyroidism.


Thyroid Ultrasound

The structure, size, and changes of the thyroid can be seen in detail.


Thyroid Scintigraphy

It is done to investigate the presence of nodules in the thyroid gland. Very little radioactive substance is swallowed by the patient in pill form and this substance is retained by the thyroid gland. The patient lies under the imaging device and a detailed image of the thyroid gland is taken in the imaging.