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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
1:14 Causes of Hyperthyroidism
1:59 Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
2:34 Diagnosis and treatment of Hyperthyroidism
3:29 Treatment of Hyperthyroidism



Hyperthyroidism is the condition that occurs due to excessive production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland.[3] Thyrotoxicosis is the condition that occurs due to excessive thyroid hormone of any cause and therefore includes hyperthyroidism.[3] Some, however, use the terms interchangeably.[4] Signs and symptoms vary between people and may include irritability, muscle weakness, sleeping problems, a fast heartbeat, heat intolerance, diarrhea, enlargement of the thyroid, hand tremor, and weight loss.[1] Symptoms are typically less severe in the elderly and during pregnancy.[1] An uncommon complication is thyroid storm in which an event such as an infection results in worsening symptoms such as confusion and a high temperature and often results in death.[2] The opposite is hypothyroidism, when the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone.[5]

Graves' disease is the cause of about 50% to 80% of the cases of hyperthyroidism in the United States.[1][6] Other causes include multinodular goiter, toxic adenoma, inflammation of the thyroid, eating too much iodine, and too much synthetic thyroid hormone.[1][2] A less common cause is a pituitary adenoma.[1] The diagnosis may be suspected based on signs and symptoms and then confirmed with blood tests.[1] Typically blood tests show a low thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and raised T3 or T4.[1] Radioiodine uptake by the thyroid, thyroid scan, and TSI antibodies may help determine the cause.[1]

Treatment depends partly on the cause and severity of disease.[1] There are three main treatment options: radioiodine therapy, medications, and thyroid surgery.[1] Radioiodine therapy involves taking iodine131 by mouth which is then concentrated in and destroys the thyroid over weeks to months.[1] The resulting hypothyroidism is treated with synthetic thyroid hormone.[1] Medications such as beta blockers may control the symptoms, and antithyroid medications such as methimazole may temporarily help people while other treatments are having an effect.[1] Surgery to remove the thyroid is another option.[1] This may be used in those with very large thyroids or when cancer is a concern.[1] In the United States hyperthyroidism affects about 1.2% of the population.[3] It occurs between two and ten times more often in women.[1] Onset is commonly between 20 and 50 years of age.[2] Overall the disease is more common in those over the age of 60 years.[1]