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The thyroid [THAHY-roid] is a gland located in your neck, just above the collarbone and just below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid gland makes hormones that affect:
Hyperthyroidism [hahy-per-THAHY-roi-diz-uhm] is when your thyroid is too active and makes more thyroid hormones than your body needs. When this happens, your heart may beat faster than normal (or be irregular), and you may burn calories very quickly, which may cause you to lose weight very quickly. Too much thyroid hormone can also make you feel nervous or irritable, and it may make you sweat a lot.
Hyperthyroidism has symptoms that are similar to other conditions. If you notice any of the following symptoms, it is important to go see your doctor so you can rule out other conditions, and also begin treatment. Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
Older adults that develop hyperthyroidism tend to have very few, if any symptoms.
Hyperthyroidism has several causes. Common causes include:
To help diagnose hyperthyroidism, your doctor will likely give you a physical exam. During the physical exam, your doctor will test your reflexes, look for any tremors in your fingers, look for changes in your eyes, examine your skin, and examine your thyroid gland.
During the exam, your doctor may also ask you questions to help understand more about your symptoms and the changes in the body:
Your doctor may also request blood tests to help diagnose a thyroid problem. If your blood test indicates that you may have hyperthyroidism, your doctor may call for a second test to confirm the diagnosis. Second tests may include:
Many different treatments are helpful in cases of hyperthyroidism. Your doctor will help you develop a treatment plan that is tailored to you, and will help you keep your condition under control. Some of the treatments your doctor may recommend include:
Some at-home treatments that you can discuss with your doctor include:
There is no way to prevent hyperthyroidism. However, treatment can help manage the condition. You can reduce your chances of developing some thyroid problems by: