| Many people do not know what hyperactive thyroid is | | | | It is believed to be an autoimmune illness, it occurs |
| all about. Well over 20 million Americans suffer from | | | | when an organism fails to recognize its own |
| this condition and millions more around the world, | | | | constituent parts as self,the results is an immune |
| unfortunately half this number do not even know that | | | | response against its own cells and tissues. It mostly |
| they have this disease. So then what is hyperactive | | | | affects the thyroid, making it to grow to twice its |
| thyroid you may ask? It is the medical term used to | | | | normal size or more. It is more of a hereditary disease |
| describe a condition where your thyroid gland | | | | that affects older women more than men. |
| produces excessive hormones: thyroxine(T4) or | | | | 4. Abnormal secretion of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone |
| triiodothyronine (T3) and sometimes both. These | | | | (TSH): |
| hormones normally regulates how your metabolism | | | | Though this condition is actually very rare, it's one of |
| works, it becomes a disease if it is produced in | | | | the causes of hyperactive thyroid. It occurs when a |
| excess. | | | | tumor in the pituitary gland produces an abnormally high |
| There are many causes of this condition in humans, | | | | secretion of TSH. This leads to excessive signaling to |
| some of the common causes of are: | | | | the thyroid gland to produce hormones. |
| 1. Excessive iodine intake: | | | | 5. Excessive intake of thyroid hormones: |
| Thyroid hormones is produced by the thyroid glands | | | | Of course, inadvertently taking too much thyroid |
| using iodine. However, excess iodine intake( from | | | | hormone through medication can cause an excess of |
| foods such as sea food, bread and salt) may cause | | | | circulating free hormones. This is quite common as |
| you gland to over produce hormone. | | | | many people abuse the drug in an attempt to achieve |
| 2. Thyroiditis: | | | | their weight loss goals. Overdose of this hormones |
| This is simply the inflammation of the gland as a result | | | | usually go undetected due to the lack of follow-up of |
| of a viral illness (sub acute thyroiditis). This condition | | | | patients taking their medicine. |
| can be associated with a sore throat and fever and | | | | What are the common symptoms of Hyperactive |
| may be painful when trying to swallow. The | | | | thyroid? The symptoms are suggested by different |
| inflammation makes the thyroid gland "loose," so that | | | | signs, however, patients with mild disease usually |
| the amount of thyroid hormone entering the blood is | | | | experience no symptoms. Generally, the symptoms |
| increased. | | | | become more obvious as the degree of hyperactive |
| 3. Graves' Disease: | | | | thyroid increases. |