The thyroid gland, an endocrine organ located in the front and center of the neck, plays an important role in secreting calcitonin, which lowers blood calcium levels, as well as thyroid hormone that maintains body temperature and balances body metabolism. If there is a problem with the thyroid gland, the risk of various related diseases such as thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, and thyroid nodules increases. Hyperthyroidism refers to excessive production of thyroid hormones such as thyroxine and thyliodothyronine, which are secreted by the thyroid gland, and an increase in the blood, resulting in excessive physiological action of the thyroid gland.
Hyperthyroidism can be divided into primary and secondary depending on the cause. Primary hyperthyroidism is said to be caused by autoimmune diseases such as Graves’ disease, multinodular goiter, ovarian goiter, and metastatic functional thyroid cancer. In addition, secondary hyperthyroidism is known to occur when there is an adenoma of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, or a villous tumor. In addition, such hyperthyroidism can appear at any age, but it is particularly common in women between the ages of 20 and 50, and the incidence is reported to be three to four times higher in women than in men. Now, let’s check in more detail about the main symptoms of hyperthyroidism, as well as various information related to treatment and management.
Main symptoms of hyperthyroidism
When the thyroid gland is overactive, several symptoms appear. The consumption of stamina increases, and fatigue easily occurs even with a small amount of activity. In addition, there is an increase in appetite, which causes symptoms of continuous weight loss even though the intake of food is high. In addition, nervous system symptoms such as irritability, shortness of breath, sweating, and hand tremor due to sympathetic hyperactivity may appear, as well as cardiovascular symptoms such as strong heartbeat, pulse, and shortness of breath. In addition, insomnia, digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation, and skin symptoms such as itching due to increased metabolism may appear. In addition, various symptoms such as swelling of the neck where the thyroid gland is located, abnormal menstrual cycle, decreased bone density, glare, a foreign body feeling like dust or sand in the eyes, and double vision may appear.
If such hyperthyroidism is left untreated in a timely manner, it can lead to thyrotoxicosis and various symptoms such as high fever, sweating, severe tachycardia, and low blood pressure. In addition, if these symptoms worsen, it can lead to complications such as osteoporosis and heart disease such as heart failure. In addition, vision loss due to pressure on the optic nerve, including protrusion of the eye, may occur, and emotional problems such as lethargy, fatigue, anxiety, and nervousness increase the risk of depression. Therefore, it is important to receive appropriate examination and treatment when various symptoms suspected of occurrence appear, and implementation of management habits to improve symptoms is as important as treatment.
Hyperthyroidism treatment and management
1. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment
In order to diagnose hyperthyroidism, various tests such as blood tests to check the concentration of thyroid hormones such as T3 and T4, thyroid ultrasonography, and thyroid scan tests are performed. And depending on the diagnosis result, drug treatment based on various antithyroid drugs such as methimazole, carbimazole, and propylthiouracil, and radioactive iodine treatment for suppression of thyroid hormone and removal of thyroid follicle cells can be performed. Radioactive iodine treatment is generally performed in cases of severe thyroid symptoms, recurrence after surgery, or side effects to antithyroid drugs, and is not performed in pregnant and lactating women. And if the symptoms do not improve in this way or if the pressure is severe due to the enlarged thyroid gland, surgical treatment to remove the thyroid gland can be performed.
2. Avoid excessive drinking
If you drink too much alcohol when your hyperthyroidism is not fully controlled, you will sweat a lot, your heart will beat faster, and your tremors may worsen. . Smoking is also known to be a major risk factor for adverse effects on the thyroid gland, so it is important to quit smoking. In particular, if you have eye-related symptoms, it is recommended to avoid them as they can make the symptoms worse.
3. Adequate nutrition
Because hyperthyroidism consumes a lot of essential nutrients due to systemic metabolism, it is important to consume enough calories to maintain an appropriate body weight. Protein-rich foods such as beef, chicken, pork, fish, eggs, beans and tofu, as well as various foods such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, mushrooms, strawberries, tomatoes, milk, yogurt, and cheese are recommended for symptom improvement. It is one of the foods that can be consumed, so it is important to eat it regularly. It is also important to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration due to excessive sweating and diarrhea.
Iodine is also a component that is closely related to the secretion of thyroid hormones. It is known that the intake of seaweeds such as seaweed, seaweed, and kelp rich in iodine do not have a significant effect on the course of treatment. . In addition, moderate-intensity exercise and stress-relieving habits suitable for one’s body are important management habits to improve the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, so it is important to continue it.
