Hyperthyroidism

Introduction: Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism refers to excess secretion of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. It is also called "thyrotoxicosis". One common type of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease, which is an autoimmune disease.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

• Insomnia
• Tiredness
• Irritability
• Nervousness
• Unexplained weight loss

See full list of 36 symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Hyperthyroidism:

• Thyroid: Home Testing:
  • Home Thyroid Function Tests
  • Home TSH Tests
  • Home Adrenal Function Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Hyperthyroidism

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Hyperthyroidism

• Thyroid hormone blood tests
• X-ray scan - to detect any tumors
• CAT scan - to detect any tumors
• MRI scan - to detect any tumors

Read more about tests for Hyperthyroidism

Wrongly Diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism?

• Misdiagnosis of Hyperthyroidism
• Failure to diagnose Hyperthyroidism
• Underlying causes of Hyperthyroidism (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Hyperthyroidism

Misdiagnosis and Hyperthyroidism

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Thyroid disorders greatly under-diagnosed: One study found that about 10% of people had undiagnosed thyroid disorders, mostly hyperthyroidism, but also hypothyroidism. The symptoms of thyroid disorders are...read more »

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Hyperthyroidism

Causes of Hyperthyroidism

• Autoimmune thyroid disease
• Graves disease
• Thyroid tumor
• Thyroid nodule
• Pituitary tumor

See full list of 7 causes of Hyperthyroidism

More information about causes of Hyperthyroidism:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Hyperthyroidism (1 listings)
• Drug interactions causing Hyperthyroidism (1 listings)
• Underlying causes of Hyperthyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism as a complication caused by other conditions
• Hyperthyroidism as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Hyperthyroidism

Treatments for Hyperthyroidism

• Medications
  • Methimazole
  • Carbimazole
  • Propylthiouricil
• Radioactive iodine (radioiodine) treatment

See full list of 12 treatments for Hyperthyroidism

Videos for Hyperthyroidism

Patient Surveys for Hyperthyroidism

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Hyperthyroidism
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Reseach about Hyperthyroidism

Visit our research pages for current research about Hyperthyroidism treatments.

Clinical Trials for Hyperthyroidism

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Hyperthyroidism include:

• Evaluation of Patients With Thyroid Disorders - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Treatment of Subclinical Hyperthyroidism - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Does Radioiodine Treatment Prevent Atrial Fibrillation and Bone Loss in Endogenous Subclinical Hyperthyroidism? - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Phase II Randomized Controlled Study of Sequential Orbital Radiotherapy for Graves' Ophthalmopathy - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• rhTSH, Thyroid Size, and Radioiodine Therapy in Benign Goiter - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Recombinant human thyrotropin (Thyrogen)

See full list of 14 Clinical Trials for Hyperthyroidism

Prevention of Hyperthyroidism

Prevention information for Hyperthyroidism has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Hyperthyroidism.

• Vitamin B6 - possibly used for prevention of Vitamin B6 deficiency

Read more about prevention of Hyperthyroidism

Statistics for Hyperthyroidism

• Medical statistics for Hyperthyroidism
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Hyperthyroidism
• Death and Mortality statistics for Hyperthyroidism
• Society statistics for Hyperthyroidism

Types of Hyperthyroidism

• Graves disease - an autoimmune disease
• Postpartum thyroiditis - occuring in about 5-7% of mothers after birth.
• Thyrotoxicosis factitia

Read more about Types of Hyperthyroidism

Stories from Users Related to Hyperthyroidism

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Hyperthyroidism, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone and makes the body use more energy than it should. Symptoms may include nervousness, irritability, shaky hands, increased perspiration, warm skin, thinning hair, weight loss, decreased menstruation, eye changes, and weak leg muscles. Grave's disease is the most common form of hyperthyroidism. It is an autoimmune condition in which the body produces antibodies that overstimulate the thyroid gland, so that it produces too much thyroid hormone. (Source: excerpt from Thyroid Disease: NWHIC)

Definitions of Hyperthyroidism:

The clinical syndrome that reflects the response of the peripheral tissues to an excess of thyroid hormone. - (Source - Diseases Database)

An overactive thyroid gland; pathologically excessive production of thyroid hormones or the condition resulting from excessive production of thyroid hormones - (Source - WordNet 2.1)