Overwork of the thyroid gland is called hyperthyroidism. In such a patient, the hormones T3 and T4 have increased in the blood.

What are the Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism?

The thyroid gland is like the body's gas pedal; if you press too much on the gas, many metabolic activities in the body accelerate; weight loss occurs because the metabolism accelerates, sleep rhythm is disrupted, excessive mobility, inability to stay in place, palpitations and excessive sweating occur because the heart works fast, and the intestines need to go to the toilet frequently because they work fast. Psychiatric problems may also occur.

How is Hyperthyroidism Diagnosed?

It is sufficient to see that T3 and T4 are high in the blood in order to diagnose hyperthyroidism.

How Does Hyperthyroidism Work?

A three-step treatment approach is applied. Some drugs suppress thyroid hormone secretion in the first step. Often, the patient is given these drugs first and is followed up. Second-line treatment is started when the drug is not enough, very high doses of the drug are needed or there are side effects due to the drug. This is radioactive iodine treatment. By looking at the size of the thyroid gland and the amount of hormones it secretes, a calculation is made, and patients are given the appropriate dose of radioactive iodine to drink. The effect of radioactive iodine will appear within a few months. This treatment often solves the problem, but it is not much preferred in children and young patients. In these patients, the option of removing all or most of the thyroid tissue by surgery should be applied.

This content was prepared by Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Editorial Board.

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