Hyperthyroidism: your thyroid in overdrive

Hyperthyroidism is a set of conditions that result in overactivity of the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck below the Adam’s apple. This is the opposite of hypothyroidism (or thyroid underfunction), which is far more common. Hormones produced by the thyroid affect many important body functions including lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, growth, the cardiovascular system and the reproductive system.

60 to 80% of hyperthyroidism cases result from Grave’s disease, an auto-immune condition that tends to run in families, occurs more often in women and frequently peaks between 20 and 40 years of age[i].

When might it be hyperthyroidism?

Of course, suspicion of any health condition should prompt a visit your doctor. Unfortunately, signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be difficult to identify and often mimic other conditions.

Younger people tend to have elevated anxiety, hyperactivity, and tremors, while older people might have shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, unexplained weight loss and fatigue[ii].

Other symptoms include heat intolerance, difficulty sleeping, increased appetite (without gaining weight), increased perspiration, diarrhea, heart palpitations and an enlarged thyroid, which might appear as a swelling at the base of the neck. Grave’s disease specifically is often accompanied by bulging eyes.

Some types of blood pressure medication can mask the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, which means it might go undetected for some time.

If hyperthyroidism is suspected, lab tests are typically done to test for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroid hormones and thyroid anti-bodies. If the results are inconclusive, scintigraphy might be recommended, which is a procedure where a very small amount of a radioactive chemical (radionuclide) is injected into a vein or swallowed, which enables a series of scans of the thyroid to be interpreted by the doctor.

Some symptoms of hyperthyroidism can be viewed as “positive”, especially weight loss and hyperactivity, so there can be a temptation to not do anything about it. However, if left untreated, hyperthyroidism can eventually result in blood clots, stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis and menstrual cycle and fertility problems. It can also rarely result in a “thyroid storm”, where blood pressure and body temperature spiral upward to life-threatening levels. And untreated Grave’s eye disease can lead to double vision, light sensitivity, and eye pain.

So ignoring hyperthyroidism is not a good idea!

Medical treatment of hyperthyroidism

Once diagnosed, conventional treatment of hyperthyroidism might involve temporary or ongoing use of prescription drugs intended to reduce hormone overproduction. However, these medications can sometimes cause allergic reactions or liver injury[iii].

Radioactive iodine therapy, administered as a single oral dose, is frequently recommended, resulting in the gradual destruction of part of the thyroid over several months or years and a corresponding reduction in the production of thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism (or thyroid underfunction) is often a long-term consequence this procedure, which has a different type of drug treatment. (See article on Hypothyroidism).

Very occasionally, a thyroidectomy might be recommended, which is surgical removal of the thyroid gland.

An integrative approach to hyperthyroidism

Alongside conventional and functional medicine options, homeopathic remedies, which are federally recognized in the US, can be helpful.

We will first have a long conversation that includes a detailed analysis of all your symptoms, as well as a review of any assessments from your doctor or naturopath resulting from blood tests and other diagnostic tests.

Addressing hyperthyroidism typically involves a stepwise approach beginning with a single “constitutional” remedy that addresses your overall symptom picture. From there, we might add low-potency remedies that target the endocrine system, the immune system and thyroid and liver function specifically.

While improvement can be seen through gradual resolution of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, re-testing for thyroid hormones and antibodies through your functional medicine doctor or naturopath also confirms progress.

Call me for a free 15-minute consultation or schedule one on the online scheduler to learn more about how I can help you with your hyperthyroid symptoms.

[i] Medscape (2022) “Hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis and thyroid storm” https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/767130-overview

[ii] De Leo, S, S Lee L Braverman (2016) “Hyperthyroidism” Lancet 388(10047): 906-918:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5014602/

[iii] Kahaly, G (2020) “Management of Graves disease, thyroidal and extrathyroidal disease: an update” Journal of Clinical endocrinology and metabolism 105(12): 3704-20 https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/105/12/3704/5905591