Hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism is a disease caused by too high thyroid hormone levels in the body. This condition of excess thyroid hormone can cause symptoms of palpitations, shaking hands, and drastic weight loss.
The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and is responsible for producing thyroid hormones. This hormone functions to control metabolic processes, such as converting food into energy, regulating body temperature, and regulating heart rate.
The work of the thyroid gland is also influenced by a gland in the brain called the pituitary gland or pituitary gland. The pituitary gland will produce a hormone called TSH which regulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone.
When thyroid hormone levels in the body are too high, the metabolic process will accelerate and trigger various symptoms. Treatment needs to be done immediately to prevent worsening of symptoms hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism is present.
Signs and Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms caused by hyperthyroidism occur due to the body's metabolism going faster. These symptoms can be felt slowly or suddenly. Symptoms that appear include:
- Heart beat
- Tremors or shaking in the hands
- Easily feeling hot and sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- Nervous
- Easy to get angry
- Drastic weight loss
- Hard to sleep
- Concentration decreased
- Diarrhea
- Blurred vision
- Hair loss
- Menstrual disorders in women
In addition to the symptoms that can be felt by sufferers, there are some physical signs that can be found in people with hyperthyroidism. These signs include:
- Enlargement of the thyroid gland or goiter
- Eyeballs look very prominent
- Skin rashes or hives appear
- Red palms
- Increased blood pressure
In addition, there are types of hyperthyroidism that do not cause symptoms. This disorder is called subclinical hyperthyroidism. This condition is characterized by an increase in TSH without thyroid hormone. Half of sufferers will return to normal without special treatment.
When to go to the doctor
Immediately consult a doctor if you experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Diagnostic steps need to be done to find out the cause and get treatment.
Consult your doctor regularly if you are or have recently been on treatment for hyperthyroidism. The doctor will monitor the progress of the disease and the body's response to treatment.
Hyperthyroidism can cause dangerous complications for the sufferer, namely thyroid crisis or hyperthyroidism thyroid storm. Immediately go to the emergency room if symptoms of hyperthyroidism appear accompanied by fever, diarrhea, and decreased consciousness, both during and after treatment for hyperthyroidism.
Reason Hyperthyroidism
Disorders that can cause hyperthyroidism range from autoimmune diseases to drug side effects. The following are various causes of diseases and conditions that can cause hyperthyroidism:
- Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease or the body's own immune system attacks normal cells.
- Inflammation of the thyroid gland or thyroiditis.
- A lump, such as a toxic nodular thyroid, or a benign tumor in the thyroid gland or pituitary gland (pituitary gland).
- Thyroid cancer.
- Tumors in the testes or ovaries.
- Take drugs with high iodine content, such as amiodarone.
- Use of contrast fluid with iodine content in the scan test.
- Too much consumption of foods that contain high iodine, such as seafood, dairy products, and eggs.
In addition to some of the causes above, there are other factors that can increase a person's risk of developing hyperthyroidism. These risk factors include:
- Female gender.
- Have a family member with Graves' disease.
- Suffering from a chronic disease, such as type 1 diabetes, anemia, or adrenal gland disorders.
Hyperthyroidism in pregnancy
Hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism can also occur during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body produces a natural hormone known as HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). Levels of this hormone will increase, especially at the age of 12 weeks of pregnancy.
High levels of HCG hormone in the body can stimulate the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormone, thus triggering the appearance of symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is also prone to occur in multiple pregnancies and in cases of gestational wine.
Dhyperthyroidism diagnosis
In diagnosing hyperthyroidism, the doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced by the patient and perform a physical examination to detect signs of hyperthyroidism, as previously described.
If your doctor has seen signs of hyperthyroidism, a blood test will be done to measure the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormone in the blood. Blood tests are also done to measure high levels of cholesterol and sugar in the blood, which can be a sign of metabolic disorders due to hyperthyroidism.
The doctor will also perform further tests to detect the cause of hyperthyroidism. Some of the types of follow-up examinations carried out are:
- Thyroid ultrasound, to check the condition of the thyroid gland and detect any lumps or tumors in the gland.
- Thyroid scan (nuclear thyroid), to scan the condition of the thyroid gland with a special camera by previously injecting a radioactive substance into a vein.
- Radioactive iodine test, same as thyroid scan namely to scan the thyroid gland with the patient previously asked to swallow a radioactive substance containing low doses of iodine.
Hyperthyroidism Treatment
Treatment of hyperthyroidism aims to restore normal levels of thyroid hormone, as well as treat the cause. The type of treatment given is also based on the severity of symptoms, as well as the age and overall condition of the patient. Here are some ways to treat and treat hyperthyroidism:
Drugs
Giving drugs aims to inhibit or stop the function of the thyroid gland in producing excess hormones in the body. The type of drug used is methimazole, carbimazole and propylthiouracil. Doctors will also give drugs that can lower the heart rate to reduce the symptoms of palpitations.
The doctor will reduce the dose of the drug if the thyroid hormone levels in the body have returned to normal, usually 1-2 months after starting taking the drug. Discuss with the endocrinologist about the duration of drug use.
Radioactive iodine therapy
Radioactive iodine therapy aims to shrink the thyroid gland, thereby reducing the amount of thyroid hormone produced. Patients will be given fluids or capsules containing low doses of radioactive substances and iodine, which will then be absorbed by the thyroid gland. Radioactive iodine therapy lasts for several weeks or months.
Although the dose given is low, there are several things that patients need to pay attention to after undergoing this hyperthyroid treatment, including:
- Avoid contact with children and pregnant women for several days or weeks to prevent the spread of radiation.
- It is not recommended to get pregnant for at least six months after treatment.
Operation
Surgical removal of the thyroid gland or thyroidectomy is performed in the following conditions:
- Drugs and radioactive iodine therapy are not effective in treating hyperthyroidism.
- Swelling that occurs in the thyroid gland is quite severe.
- The patient's condition does not allow for treatment with drugs or radioactive iodine therapy, for example being pregnant or breastfeeding.
- The patient has severe visual impairment.
Thyroidectomy procedure can be total or partial, depending on the patient's condition. However, most thyroidectomies are performed by removing the entire thyroid gland to prevent the risk of hyperthyroidism from recurring or reoccurring.
Patients who undergo surgical removal of the thyroid gland and radioiodine therapy may develop hypothyroidism. This condition can be overcome by taking drugs containing thyroid hormone. However, the consumption of this drug may need to be done for life.
Complications of Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism can cause complications if not treated immediately. Some of the complications that can occur are:
- Thyroid crisis or thyroid storm
- Osteoporosis
- Heart rhythm disturbances (atrial fibrillation)
Dangers of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy
Handling of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy needs to be done immediately to prevent complications that can harm pregnant women and their babies. Some complications of hyperthyroidism in pregnancy that can occur:
- Preeclampsia
- Premature birth
- Miscarriage
- Babies with low birth weight
Hyperthyroidism Prevention
The best way to prevent hyperthyroidism is to avoid conditions that can increase your risk of developing the disease. For example, if you suffer from type 1 diabetes which is at risk of causing hyperthyroidism, you need to have regular health checks.
In addition to preventing hyperthyroidism from appearing, preventing the symptoms from getting worse is also important. There are several healthy lifestyles that can be done to control the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, namely:
- Eat a balanced diet
- Exercise regularly
- Manage stress well
- Do not smoke