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Diseases of the thyroid: hyperthyroidism

LTC Nursing Assistant Trainer, January 5, 2005

Last week we covered hypothyroidism-or reduced activity of the thyroid gland. This week, we'll continue our lesson on diseases of the thyroid with hyperthyroidism. Thyroid diseases are, for the most part, treatable. Untreated disease, however, can produce serious results in other parts of the body.

Hyperthyroidism is the production of too much thyroid hormone. Signs and symptoms develop slowly and a substantial amount of time may pass before a person knows he or she has the disease.

Hyperthyroidism is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Rapid, forceful heartbeat
• Muscular weakness
• Goiter (enlarged thyroid)
• Weight loss despite increased food intake
• Restlessness, anxiety, sleeplessness
• Fine, brittle hair
• Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
• Perspiration and heat intolerance
• Tremors
• Warm, moist skin
• Eye problems-blurred or double vision, protruding eyeballs

Graves' disease
Graves' disease is the most common thyroid disease that results in hyperthyroidism. People with Graves' disease often have protruding eyeballs and enlarged thyroids glands (visible on the throat).

This disease is more common in women than in men, and most often occurs in people between the ages 20 and 40. It is thought to be hereditary and often presents itself after physical or emotional stress, such as an infection or the death of a loved one.

Hyperthyroidism is more difficult to treat than hypothyroidism. The first level of treatment is anti-thyroid drugs to suppress the secretion of the hormone. Sometimes radioactive iodine therapy is used to permanently stop thyroid production, or part of the gland is surgically removed. Because it is difficult to destroy the exact amount of thyroid hormone needed, the person usually develops hypothyroidism and needs to take a synthetic thyroid for the rest of his or her life.

Although thyroid problems are relatively common, especially in older people, there are effective treatments for most thyroid disorders. Research is still being conducted on the causes of these diseases.

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