HYPERTHYROIDISM

What is it?

Your thyroid gland - a gland in the front of your neck - produces a hormone called thyroxine, which tells your body how fast its metabolism should be going, or how fast to 'tick over'. If your body produces too much thyroxine, you develop hyperthyroidism and your body ticks over too fast - rather like a car with the choke permanently fully out.

What causes it?

Hyperthyroidism is usually caused by an autoimmune disease - an illness in which your body's natural defence turns on itself and attacks certain parts of the body.

Who gets it?

If you are a woman you are about eight times more likely to get hyperthyroidism than if you are a man.

What are the symptoms?

One of the main things you will probably notice if your thyroid is overactive is that you start to lose weight even though you are eating more. You may become very sensitive to heat and feel hot and sweaty. You may also get diarrhoea or at least have to open your bowels more often, and your periods may be affected. In certain kinds of hyperthyroidism, your eyes may become more wide open and staring, and may get irritated. You may also notice a lump in your neck.

When should I go to my GP?

If you find yourself losing weight for no obvious reason, you should always make an appointment with your doctor to talk about it. If you get a lot of palpitations, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

What tests will my doctor do?

Your GP will ask you some questions and examine you. He or she will probably want to take some blood tests and see you again a few days later to discuss the results. If you do have hyperthyroidism, your GP will refer you for a hospital investigation which may involve special scans on your thyroid gland.

What is the short-term treatment?

Hyperthyroidism is usually treated in the short term with tablets. You may also need to have surgery, or to swallow a special medicine called radioactive iodine, which destroys the overactive cells in your thyroid gland.

Will I need long-term treatment?

You will certainly need to have regular blood tests for a long time after diagnosis, to check your treatment is working. If you have undergone surgery or taken radioactive iodine, your thyroid may actually become underactive in the long term, which means you will have to take tablets to replace your body's natural thyroxine.

How can I stop it getting worse?

Unlike many other conditions, you cannot affect the outcome of treatment by diet, exercise or other lifestyle changes. However, you can help by taking your tablets and having blood tests regularly, and by reporting any changes in your body, such as palpitations or weight changes, to your GP.

A DOCTOR information leaflet for patients