Live Life Team
Thyrotoxicosis is also known as hyperthyroidism, this condition occurs when there is excess of thyroid hormone in the body. It is highly common in women than in men.
What is the role of the thyroid gland
This gland is found only in neck. This gland produces hormones that get released in the blood stream for controlling body’s metabolism and growth. They are called as triiodothyronine and thyroxine. These affect certain processes like turning food into energy, heart rate and temperature of body. Usually the level of triiodothyronine and thyroxine are properly controlled in the blood so that at a stable rate these processes happen. In case of hyperthyroidism, large amount of thyroxine is produced by thyroid gland resulting in rapid energy consumption of the body and accelerating the metabolism. Symptoms mentioned below are caused:
- sudden weight gain or loss
- an increased appetite
- hyperactivity
- Overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can be caused due to several reasons. But the most likely is the grave’s disease wherein the immune system targets gland of thyroid causing it to produce excess thyroid hormone.
Hyperthyroidism can be classed as either:
overt – causes symptoms, or
subclinical – levels of thyroid hormone within normal limits.
Heart dysrthythmia and osteoporosis are caused if hyperthyroidism is not controlled.
This also can be fatal if untreated. This can be treated by medication to reduce the production of hormones from thyroid gland, radiotherapy or surgery.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms of Hyperthyroidism. However it is not possible, for one person to develop all the symptoms. There are many physical signs by which you can notice hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism
Mentioned below are symptoms of hyperthyroidism :
- loss of interest in sex
- infertility
- very infrequent, , or periods stopping altogether or light periods
- sudden weight gain or loss
- increased appetite
- sensitivity to heat and excess sweating
- diarrhoea or streatorrhoea
- needing to pass stools or urine frequently
- muscle weakness
- fatigue
- difficulty sleeping
- difficulty breathing,
- mood swings, irritability, and nervousness
- hyperactivity,
Hyperthyroidism can worsen diabetic symptoms like tiredness and extreme thirst.
Signs of hyperthyroidism
Below mentioned are physical symptoms of Hyperthyroidism:
- twitching in your face and limbs
- patchy hair loss
- itchy skin with raised itchy swellings
- loosening of your nails in their nail beds,
- redness on the palms of your hands
- warm, moist skin
- a tremor
- a rapid resting heart rate
- uncoordinated rhythm between your heartbeat and pulse
- a swelling in your neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre),
- Thyroid storm
In few cases where hyperthyroidism often goes undiagnosed or uncontrolled causing severe reactions called as thyroid storm. This often occurs through a stroke, trauma, injury and infection. Pregnant women can also be affected by this.
Thyroid storm symptoms include:
- hallucinations
- severe agitation and confusion
- jaundice
- dehydration
- fever (a temperature higher than 38.5 C, or 101 F)
- a very rapid heartbeat (over 140 beats a minute),
- Thyroid storm needs immediate attention if untreated can lead to coma.
