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Hyperthyroidism

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Thyrotoxicosis; Overactive thyroid

Symptoms:

• Weight loss
• Increased appetite
• Nervousness
• Restlessness
• Heat intolerance
• Increased sweating
• Fatigue
• Frequent bowel movements
• Menstrual irregularities in women
• Goiter (visibly enlarged thyroid) may be present

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Weakness
• Sleeping difficulty
• Clammy skin
• Skin blushing or flushing
• Bounding pulse
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of menstruation
• Itching - overall
• Heartbeat sensations
• Hand tremor
• Hair loss
• Diarrhea
• Breast development in men
• High blood pressure
• Protruding eyes (exophthalmos)

Signs and tests:

Physical examination may reveal thyroid enlargement or goiter. Vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure) show increased heart rate . Systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading) may be high.

Laboratory tests that evaluate thyroid function:

• Serum TSH is usually low
• T3 and free T4 are usually high

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Vitamin B-12
• TSI
• Triglycerides
• RT3U
• Radioactive iodine uptake
• Glucose test
• Cholesterol test
• Antithyroglobulin antibody

References:

AACE Thyroid Task Force. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Medical Guidelines for Clinical Practice for the Evaluation and Treatment Of Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism. Endocr Pract . 2002;8 (6).

• Review Date: 8/8/2006
• Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network

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