Hyperthyroidism is a set of conditions that result in over activity of the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck below the Adam’s apple. This is the opposite of hypothyroidism (or thyroid under function), which is far more common. Hormones produced by the thyroid affect many important body functions including lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, growth, the cardiovascular system and the reproductive system.
50% to 80% of hyperthyroidism cases result from Grave’s disease, an auto-immune condition that tends to run in families, occurs more often in women and frequently peaks between 20 and 40 years of age.
When might it be hyperthyroidism?
Of course, suspicion of any health condition should prompt a visit your doctor. Unfortunately, signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be difficult to identify and often mimic other conditions.
Younger people tend to have elevated anxiety, hyperactivity, and tremors, while older people might have shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.
Other symptoms include heat intolerance, difficulty sleeping, increased appetite (without gaining weight), increased perspiration, diarrhea, heart palpitations and an enlarged thyroid, which might appear as a swelling at the base of the neck. Grave’s disease specifically is often accompanied by bulging eyes.
Some types of blood pressure medication can mask the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which means it might go undetected for some time.
If hyperthyroidism is suspected, lab tests are typically done to test for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormones and thyroid anti-bodies. If the results are inconclusive, scintigraphy might be recommended, which is a procedure where a very small amount of a radioactive chemical (radionuclide) is injected into a vein or swallowed, which enables a series of scans of the thyroid to be interpreted by the doctor.
Some symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be viewed as “positive”, especially weight loss and hyperactivity, so there can be a temptation to not do anything about it. However, if left untreated, hyperthyroidism can eventually result in blood clots, stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis and menstrual cycle and fertility problems. It can also rarely result in a “thyroid storm”, where blood pressure and body temperature spiral upward to life-threatening levels. And untreated Grave’s eye disease can lead to double vision, light sensitivity, and eye pain.
So ignoring hyperthyroidism is not a good idea!
Medical treatment of hyperthyroidism
Once diagnosed, conventional treatment of hyperthyroidism might involve temporary or ongoing use of prescription drugs intended to reduce hormone overproduction. However, these medications can sometimes cause allergic reactions or liver injury.
Radioactive iodine therapy, administered as a single oral dose, is frequently recommended, resulting in the gradual destruction of part of the thyroid over several months or years and a corresponding reduction in the production of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism (or thyroid under function) is often a long-term consequence this procedure, which has a different type of drug treatment.
Very occasionally, a thyroidectomy might be recommended, which is surgical removal of the thyroid gland.
An integrative method to hyperthyroidism
Alongside conventional and functional medicine options, homeopathic remedies, which are federally recognized across the globe, can be helpful.
We will first have a long conversation that includes a detailed analysis of all your symptoms, as well as a review of any assessments from your doctor or naturopath resulting from blood tests and other diagnostic tests.
Addressing hyperthyroidism typically involves a step wise approach beginning with a single “constitutional” remedy that addresses your overall symptom picture. From there, we might add low-potency remedies that target the endocrine system, the immune system and thyroid and liver function specifically.
While improvement can be seen through gradual resolution of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, re-testing for thyroid hormones and antibodies through your functional medicine consultant also confirms progress.
If you are suffering with this issue then please book an appointment for consultation.
