What is hyperthyroidism?

I have been ill recently with lots of sweating, lose of weight and fever. After several tests, it was diagnosed I have hyperthyroidism. Please provide useful information for me. Habu N. In a simple language, in healthy people, the thyroid gland which is situated in the neck makes just the right amounts of two hormones, […]

I have been ill recently with lots of sweating, lose of weight and fever. After several tests, it was diagnosed I have hyperthyroidism. Please provide useful information for me.
Habu N.

In a simple language, in healthy people, the thyroid gland which is situated in the neck makes just the right amounts of two hormones, which have important actions throughout the body.
 These hormones regulate many aspects of our metabolism, eventually affecting how many calories we burn, how warm we feel, and how much we weigh. These hormones also have direct effects on most organs, including the heart, which beats faster and harder under the influence of thyroid hormones. Essentially, all cells in the body will respond to increases in thyroid hormone with an increase in the rate at which they conduct their business.
Hyperthyroidism is the medical term to describe the signs and symptoms associated with an over production of thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by the effects of too much thyroid hormone on tissues of the body.
Because the body’s metabolism is increased, patients often feel hotter than those around them and can slowly lose weight even though they may be eating more. The weight issue is confusing sometimes since some patients actually gain weight because of an increase in their appetite.
Patients with hyperthyroidism usually experience fatigue at the end of the day, but have trouble sleeping. Trembling of the hands and a hard or irregular heartbeat (called palpitations) may develop. These individuals may become irritable and easily upset. When hyperthyroidism is severe, patients can suffer shortness of breath, chest pain, and muscle weakness.

Common symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidism
1.    Palpitations
2.    Heat intolerance
3.    Nervousness
4.    Insomnia
5.    Breathlessness
6.    Increased bowel movements
7.    Light or absent menstrual periods
8.    Fatigue
9.    Fast heart rate
10.    Trembling hands
11.    Weight loss
12.    Muscle weakness
13.    Warm moist skin
14.    Hair loss
15.    Staring gaze

Common causes
1. The most common underlying cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease. This condition can be summarized by noting that an enlarged thyroid (enlarged thyroids are called goiters) is producing way too much thyroid hormone. Graves’ disease is classified as an autoimmune disease, a condition caused by the patient’s own immune system turning against the patient’s own thyroid gland.  
2. Inflammation of the thyroid gland, called thyroiditis, can lead to the release of excess amounts of thyroid hormones that are normally stored in the gland.
3. Hyperthyroidism can also occur in patients who take excessive doses of any of the available forms of thyroid hormone.

Treatment options
1. There are readily available and effective treatments for all common types of hyperthyroidism. Some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism (such as tremor and palpitations, which are caused by excess thyroid hormone acting on the cardiac and nervous system) can be improved within a number of hours by medications called beta-blockers.
2. Anti-thyroid Drugs; for patients with sustained forms of hyperthyroidism, such as Graves’ disease or toxic nodular goiter, anti-thyroid medications are often used. The goal with this form of drug therapy is to prevent the thyroid from producing hormones.
3. Radioactive Iodine Treatment; Radioactive iodine is the most widely-recommended permanent treatment of hyperthyroidism. This treatment takes advantage of the fact that thyroid cells are the only cells in the body which have the ability to absorb iodine. In fact, thyroid hormones are experts at doing just that. By giving a radioactive form of iodine, the thyroid cells which absorb it will be damaged or killed. Because iodine is not absorbed by any other cells in the body, there is very little radiation exposure (or side effects) for the rest of the body.
4. Surgical removal of the gland.