Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism( thyrotoxicosis) is a syndrome caused by hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, as a result of which there is an increase in the level of thyroid hormones( thyroxine, triiodothyronine).According to statistics, women suffer from this disease more often than men.

In most cases, this disease occurs due to the presence in a person of any thyroid gland diseases( nodal / multinodular goiter, diffuse toxic struma, acute thyroiditis).Excessive consumption of thyroid hormones can also cause hyperthyroidism. In exceptional cases, the cause of the disease can be diseases of other organs( ovarian teratomas, pituitary tumors)

Symptoms of

Regardless of the cause of hyperthyroidism, all processes occurring in the human body are accelerated. The main symptoms of the disease include:

- frequent headaches

- Increased total body temperature

- Increased blood pressure

- accelerate the heart rate( may develop arrhythmias)

- Due to sweating skin become wet

- Occurs weakness and fatigue, There is nervousness

- Small tremor of the hands is observed

- Hyperpigmentation and eyelid edema

- Bulge of the eyeball( exophthalmos)

- Despite increased appetite, Comes weight loss

- Propensity to diarrhea

- Sleep disorders

Respiratory system, under the influence of this disease also begins to malfunction( decreases the vital capacity of the lungs, there is shortness of breath).Patients often show profuse urination. In men, the potency decreases and the mammary gland increases, and the menstrual cycle is often impaired in women.

These symptoms, characteristic of hyperthyroidism, in the elderly may be absent( masked hyperthyroidism).Patients experience drowsiness, weakness, they become inhibited, and may develop depressive conditions. However, heart disorders in older people are much more common than in young people.

diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is set based on a visual inspection and received blood test results, through which you can determine how much in fact the thyroid hormone produces thyroid

Treatment Today, there are three methods of treatment of hyperthyroidism: conservative treatment, surgery and treatment with radioactive iodine. The choice of a particular type of treatment depends on the cause that caused the development of this disease, on the patient's age, the amount of thyroid hormone produced and some other factors. Sometimes there is a need to combine methods of treatment.

The basis of the conservative treatment is the use of antithyroid drugs that reduce the excess production of hormones by the thyroid gland.

The surgical method for the treatment of hyperthyroidism is used for the growth of a specific section of the gland, or for a single node, and involves the removal of part of the thyroid gland by surgery.

Treatment with radioactive iodine consists in the administration of an aqueous solution or capsule containing radioactive iodine( the drug is taken only once).After getting into the patient's body, this medicine along with blood quickly reaches only those cells of the thyroid gland, which developed the highest activity. After this, for several weeks the medicine damages the cells, which contribute to the accumulation of the drug. Thanks to this technique, the size of the gland decreases and the production of hormones decreases.

Radioactive iodine can not be used: in pregnancy( or want to get pregnant for six months after the end of treatment), breast-feeding the baby, as well as under the age of 20 years.