Ten Signs of Hyperthyroidism That You Should Be Wary Of

In India, studies indicate that approximately 10-12% of the population experiences thyroid disorders, with hyperthyroidism being a significant portion of these cases. That’s close to 100 million people. In one country.

Hyperthyroidism, also known as an overactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid produces and releases high levels of thyroid hormones. These hormones speed up different bodily functions, resulting in symptoms like unwanted weight loss, rapid heart rate, anxiety, and more.

What happens as a result of hyperthyroidism? Your metabolism speeds up, which, in turn, could impact several aspects of your health. This is a major condition, which can throw your whole well-being off balance.

Hyperthyroidism is not just a disease in itself; it is also a Pandora’s box of diseases. Prolonged exposure to hyperthyroidism results in heart diseases, diabetes, Osteoporosis and many more. So, why don’t we talk about hyperthyroidism? I mean, we should! And it’s about time we did!

Tremors

What do you expect when your body is operating in fast-forward mode? Even signals that travel across the nerves are sped up, which can result in noticeable tremors. Tremors in hyperthyroidism happen because of the overproduction of thyroid hormones.

Too many thyroid hormones overstimulate the nervous system, resulting in involuntary shakes or tremors, especially in the hands. Typically fine, these can worsen with physical activity or stress and impact daily tasks like writing and holding objects.

Issues with Concentrating

What do you think? Just as too little thyroid hormone can result in foggy thinking, too much of it can make concentration difficult as well. Difficulty concentrating happens because the brain is overstimulated by excessive thyroid hormones.

An overactive thyroid can lead to a rapid metabolism, resulting in mental fog, distractibility and issues with focusing on tasks. Hyperthyroidism throws neurotransmitter balance out of whack, making it harder to think clearly or maintain attention.

You might also experience memory problems or have issues processing information, which interferes with daily activities and work performance.

Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) and/or heart palpitations

This is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism, which happens because of the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Too many thyroid hormones accelerate the body’s functions, including metabolism and cardiac function.

This results in the heart beating faster, often over 100 beats per minute, even while resting. Cardiac palpitations or the sensation of a pounding or irregular heartbeat can also happen.

Such symptoms might make people feel anxious or out of breath - and could also increase the risk of heart-related issues like arrhythmias.

Issues with sleeping

Ask anyone suffering from hyperthyroidism, and they’ll tell you insomnia is at the top of their problems. Difficulty sleeping is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism.

The overproduction of thyroid hormones increases metabolism, stimulating the nervous system, which makes it tougher for people to relax and fall asleep. People suffering from hyperthyroidism often experience restlessness, anxiety and increased energy levels- which can ruin your sleep pattern.

They might have issues with sleeping through the night or might wake up frequently. Insomnia can result in fatigue and a whole bunch of other symptoms.

Irregular periods

A thyroid issue, whether underactive or overactive, often throws a spanner in the works of menstruation. With hyperthyroidism, a woman’s cycle might be shorter and lighter than normal.

Irregular periods are a fairly common symptom of hyperthyroidism. Excess thyroid hormones can disrupt the balance of reproductive hormones, leading to changes in the menstrual cycle.

Women having hyperthyroidism can experience shorter cycles, missed periods or lighter periods. In certain cases, menstrual flow might be heavier or more frequent. Because of the hormonal imbalance, the body’s ability to regulate the menstrual cycle is affected.

Diarrhoea

An overactive thyroid speeds up bodily systems, including digestion. You might notice more frequent bowel movements or even diarrhea. Diarrhea is a well-known symptom of hyperthyroidism, which happens because of the overproduction of thyroid hormones.

Such excess hormones speed up metabolism, including the digestive system, which can result in more frequent and looser bowel movements. The accelerated digestion results in food passing through the intestines too quickly, causing diarrhea.

People suffering from hyperthyroidism might also experience urgency, abdominal discomfort and bloating.

Hair loss or brittle hair

Brittle hair is a fairly common symptom of hyperthyroidism. When thyroid hormones are overproduced, they can spoil the normal growth cycle of hair, resulting in thinning, breakage, and weakness.

Hair might become dry, fragile and more prone to splitting or falling out. This happens because excess thyroid hormones impact the hair follicles, making them weak and causing them to shed hair prematurely.

Sensitivity to heat

Because of the “all systems go” mode of hyperthyroidism, the body temperature can increase. While everyone else is comfortable or even feeling cold, you might feel hot or excessively sweaty.

When it comes to hyperthyroidism, sensitivity to heat is quite common. The overproduction of thyroid hormones accelerates the body’s metabolism, causing an increase in body temperature.

This results in excessive sweating, discomfort in warm environments and an overall increased sensitivity to heat.

People suffering from hyperthyroidism might feel hot or overheated even in cooler climes - they might sweat too much without moving an inch.

Nervousness and anxiety

With all systems constantly in “go mode”, you might feel that your body may spin out of control. Nervous is an understatement. You feel anxious and jittery about the whole zoo.

Nervousness and anxiety are quite common when it comes to hyperthyroidism because of the excess thyroid hormones overstimulating the nervous system. When thyroid levels become too high, anxiety, restlessness and irritability can creep in.

The body becomes stress-sensitive, so you feel on edge or easily agitated. The heightened metabolism and increased heart rate because of hyperthyroidism can result in such feelings, making it harder to relax or calm down.

Swelling and enlargement of your neck (goiter)

Swelling and enlargement of the neck, also known as “goitre”, is a fairly common symptom of hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland, located at the base of the neck, might swell because of overactivity as it tries to produce more thyroid hormones.

This swelling can be seen as a lump or bulge in the cheek. In certain cases, goiter could cause discomfort or issues with swallowing or breathing if it enlarges to a certain point.

Goitres in hyperthyroidism are often linked to Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition. Treatment for hyperthyroidism, such as medication or radioactive iodine, often brings down the size of the goiter.

To sum up, hyperthyroidism is a serious condition that impacts different aspects of your health, from your metabolism to your energy levels and mental well-being.

Knowing the signs, such as tremors, issues concentrating, rapid heart rate and irregular periods, is important for early diagnosis and treatment. If left untreated, hyperthyroidism can result in severe complications, impacting your overall quality of life.

However, with proper medical treatment like medication and other therapies, you can manage the symptoms, restore hormonal balance and get back control of your body and health. If you suspect hyperthyroidism, seek medical advice for effective treatment so you can return to normalcy.

What causes hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism happens when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, often because of conditions like Grave’s disease, thyroiditis or thyroid nodules. Such conditions stimulate the thyroid to overproduce hormones, which accelerates the body’s metabolism, leading to symptoms that are linked to hyperthyroidism.

How do you diagnose hyperthyroidism?

You can diagnose hyperthyroidism through a blood test which measures thyroid hormone levels, including TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), T3 and T4. A doctor could also depend on imaging tools or a physical exam to look for a goiter (swelling of the thyroid) or other symptoms.

How do you treat hyperthyroidism?

Common treatments for hyperthyroidism include antithyroid medication like methimazole to bring down thyroid hormone production, radioactive iodine therapy to shrink the thyroid and sometimes surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland. Beta-blockers might also be prescribed to manage symptoms like anxiety and rapid heart beat.

Can hyperthyroidism result in permanent damage?

If left untreated, hyperthyroidism can result in severe complications, including cardiac problems, osteoporosis, and in some cases, thyroid storm (a life-threatening condition). Early diagnosis and treatment are important if you want to prevent permanent damage and manage the condition effectively.

Can hyperthyroidism impact body weight?

Yes, hyperthyroidism causes weight loss, even though appetite increases. This happens because the body’s metabolism accelerates, causing rapid calorie burn. However, the impact on weight can vary from person to person. Treatment to regulate thyroid hormone levels might help revert weight back to a more normal range.