Overactive Thyroid Signs

What Is Overactive Thyroid?

Overactive thyroid is a commonly used term that means the same thing as high thyroid. The medical name for this thyroid problem is hyperthyroidism.

What causes overactive thyroid? The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, which control respiration, digestion and a number of other important functions in the human body. But sometimes, the thyroid "over produces" these hormones. This is what causes overactive thyroid.

There are several different types of overactive thyroid. They include the following.

Graves disease results from abnormal stimulation of the thyroid gland which can result in a goiter (a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is often large enough to appear as a swelling in the front of the neck). See Graves' disease.

There's also a related form of Graves' disease that affects the eyes, causing a puffiness that some people describe as "bulging eyes." One of the most famous people with this condition was English actor Marty Feldman, who appeared in dozens of movies. His best known credits include Young Frankenstein and Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother.

This form of hyperthyroidism can eventually result in severe eye pain or eye muscle weakness. It may also affect the shins and the tops of the feet by causing raised, thickened skin in those areas.

Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid, causing the gland to released higher than usual amounts of hormones. In certain circumstances, the thyroid will become damaged, leading to low hormone production of hypothyroidism. See thyroiditis.

Pituitary adenoma is a tumor of the pituitary gland which leads to over stimulation of the thyroid.

Drug-induced hyperthyroidism sometimes occurs when a patient is taking a heart medication called amiodarone.

Toxic multinodular goiter is an irregularity that occurs when part of the thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones all by itself. This condition differs from Graves disease because there are often no eye complications and there are also fewer signs of high thyroid activity.

Overactive thyroid signs Overactive thyroid signs and symptoms vary somewhat depending on age.

Typical overactive thyroid signs and symptoms among adults include:

• Puffiness around the eyes, which appear to be getting bigger. 
• Difficulty concentrating and a slippage of intellectual ability
• Excessive sweating
• Feeling excessively hot in normal or cold temperatures
• Frequent bowel movements
• Hand tremors
• Insomnia
• Joint pains
• Losing weight despite normal or increased appetite
• Menstrual period becomes scant, or ceases altogether
• Nervousness and excitability.

Overactive thyroid signs and symptoms in children are similar to symptoms shown by adults, but are particularly characterized by a decline in school performance and behavior problems.

The elderly are likely to have any of all of these signs and symptoms of overactive thyroid. Those who have heart disease will also experience increased angina or chest pain and shortness of breath, along with muscle weakness, especially in the shoulders and thighs.

Treating overactive thyroid A number of medications are commonly used for treating overactive thyroid, including:

• beta blockers, which inhibit the body's responses to hyperthyroidism,
• Propylthiouracil, which is an antithyroid drug that blocks thyroid hormone synthesis, Methimazole or Tapazole, which also acts to block hormone synthesis,
• Iodide, which is also known as Lugol’s solution or strong iodine. Iodide reduces the amount of thyroid hormone that's released from the over- functioning thyroid gland.

Surgery is an another option for treating overactive thyroid. It involves removing much of the thyroid tissue but leaving enough in place to continue thyroid hormone production.

Treating overactive thyroid with surgery is considered to be effective and relatively safe when done by an experienced surgeon. There are, however, some risks:

• damage to nerves that control the vocal cords,
• damage to the parathyroid glands, which lie just behind the thyroid gland, and
• bleeding causing breathing problems.

See thyroid gland removal.

Overactive thyroid may also occur if the "new" thyroid cannot produce enough hormones.

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