![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Thyroid_system.svg/langsimple-640px-Thyroid_system.svg.png&w=640&q=50)
Hyperthyroidism
thyroid gland disease that involves an overproduction of thyroid hormone / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Hyperthyroxinemia or Hypothyroidism.
"Overactive thyroid" redirects here. For other uses, see Overactive thyroid (disambiguation).
Hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis is a medical condition. It is caused by a thyroid gland that is too active.[1]
Quick Facts Other names, Medical specialty ...
Hyperthyroidism | |
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Other names | Overactive thyroid, hyperthyreosis |
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Triiodothyronine (T3, pictured) and thyroxine (T4) are both forms of thyroid hormone. | |
Medical specialty | Endocrinology |
Symptoms | Irritability, muscle weakness, sleeping problems, fast heartbeat, heat intolerance, diarrhea, enlargement of the thyroid, weight loss[2] |
Complications | Thyroid storm[3] |
Usual onset | 20–50 years old[3] |
Causes | Graves' disease, multinodular goiter, toxic adenoma, inflammation of the thyroid, eating too much iodine, too much synthetic thyroid hormone[2][3] |
Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms and confirmed by blood tests[2] |
Treatment | Radioiodine therapy, medications, thyroid surgery[2] |
Medication | Beta blockers, methimazole[2] |
Frequency | 1.2% (US)[4] |
Deaths | Rare directly, unless thyroid storm occurs; associated with increased mortality if untreated (1.23 HR)[5] |
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![Diagram explaining the relationship between the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Thyroid_system.svg/640px-Thyroid_system.svg.png)
The thyroid gland makes hormones. It is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe (trachea).[1] It produces hormones that affect things such as heart rate and body temperature,[1] and metabolism. An example of one of these hormones is thyroxine.
Hyperthyroidism can affect anyone, but it's about 10 times more common in women than men, and typically happens between 20 and 40 years of age.