What Is Hyperactive Thyroid Syndrome?

Hyperactive thyroid syndrome is a condition in which the thyroid gland is overactive, creating an abundance of thyroid hormone, which controls the body's metabolism. Hyperactive thyroid syndrome speeds up every function in the body, causing unexplained weight loss and light or less frequent menstrual periods for women, two conditions which, on the surface, might seem desirable for today's woman; other symptoms, however, can make life difficult.

Symptoms

According to the American Thyroid Association, symptoms of hyperactive thyroid syndrome can include anxiety, nervousness, irritability, increased heart beat, increased perspiration, hand tremors, fine or brittle hair, thinning of the skin, difficulty sleeping and muscular weakness, most often in the upper arms and thighs. However, patients with mildly hyperactive thyroid syndrome may not notice any symptoms.

Causes

Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperactive thyroid syndrome; it occurs when antibodies in the blood stimulate the thyroid, causing it to grow and secrete too much thyroid hormone. This type of hyperactive thyroid syndrome usually carries a genetic component. Other causes can include excessive intake of iodine or thyroid hormones, thyroiditis or abnormal secretion of TSH.

Diagnosis

Doctors might suspect that a patient has hyperactive thyroid syndrome if the patient sweats excessively and has smooth, velvety skin, tremors, a rapid heart rate, fine hair or an enlarged thyroid gland. Other indications are puffiness around the eyes and unusually fast reflexes. The only way to determine if a patient has hyperactive thyroid syndrome is through a blood test confirmation.

Treatments

There are several ways to treat someone with hyperactive thyroid syndrome. The doctor will take into account the patients age, severity and type of hyperactive thyroid syndrome and other health issues, and might choose to prescribe oral medications to treat the symptoms. There are anti-thyroid drugs that block the thyroid gland from making new thyroid hormone as well. Radioactive iodine is also used to damage the thyroid cells, reducing the amount of thyroid hormone that is produced. Finally, surgery to remove most of the thyroid is the last option.

Outlook

For mild cases of hyperactive thyroid syndrome, treating the symptoms can alleviate most of the problems; both the radioactive iodine treatment and thyroid surgery can result in hypothyroidism, which occurs when the body doesn't produce enough of the thyroid hormone. In these cases, the patient will need to start thyroid replacement therapy by taking a pill daily.