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 1. Home
 2. Health Information
 3. Endocrine Diseases
 4. Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)

Related Topics
Endocrine Diseases
 * Acromegaly
 * Adrenal Insufficiency & Addison's Disease
   * Definition & Facts
   * Symptoms & Causes
   * Diagnosis
   * Treatment
   * Eating, Diet, & Nutrition
   * Clinical Trials
 * Cushing's Syndrome
 * Graves’ Disease
 * Hashimoto's Disease
 * Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)
 * Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid)
 * Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
 * Thyroid Disease & Pregnancy
 * Primary Hyperparathyroidism
 * Prolactinoma
 * National Hormone and Pituitary Program (NHPP): Information for People Treated
   with Pituitary Human Growth Hormone
   * Human Growth Hormone and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Resource List
   * Health Alert: Adrenal Crisis Causes Death in Some People Who Were Treated
     with hGH


HYPERTHYROIDISM (OVERACTIVE THYROID)

On this page:

 * What is hyperthyroidism?
 * How common is hyperthyroidism?
 * Who is more likely to develop hyperthyroidism?
 * Is hyperthyroidism during pregnancy a problem?
 * What are the complications of hyperthyroidism?
 * What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
 * What causes hyperthyroidism?
 * How do doctors diagnose hyperthyroidism?
 * How do doctors treat hyperthyroidism?
 * How does eating, diet, and nutrition affect hyperthyroidism?
 * Clinical Trials for Hyperthyroidism


WHAT IS HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Hyperthyroidism, also called overactive thyroid, is when the thyroid gland makes
more thyroid hormones than your body needs. The thyroid is a small,
butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Thyroid hormones control the
way the body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body, even
the way your heart beats. With too much thyroid hormone, many of your body’s
functions speed up.

The thyroid is a small gland in your neck that makes thyroid hormones.


HOW COMMON IS HYPERTHYROIDISM?

About 1 out of 100 Americans ages 12 years and older have hyperthyroidism.1


WHO IS MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Hyperthyroidism is more common in women and people older than 60.2 You are more
likely to have hyperthyroidism if you

 * have a family history of thyroid disease
 * have other health problems, including
   * pernicious anemia NIH external link, a condition caused by a vitamin B12
     deficiency
   * type 1 or type 2 diabetes
   * primary adrenal insufficiency, a disorder of hormones
 * eat large amounts of food containing iodine NIH external link, such as kelp
 * use medicines that contain iodine
 * use nicotine products3
 * were pregnant within the past 6 months


IS HYPERTHYROIDISM DURING PREGNANCY A PROBLEM?

Mild hyperthyroidism during pregnancy is usually not a problem. But severe
hyperthyroidism during pregnancy, when untreated, can affect both the mother and
the baby. If you have hyperthyroidism and plan to get pregnant or become
pregnant, work with your doctor to get the disease under control.

Be sure your hyperthyroidism is under control before becoming pregnant.


WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Untreated, hyperthyroidism can cause serious health problems, including

 * an irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure,
   and other heart-related problems
 * an eye disease called Graves’ ophthalmopathy
 * thinning bones, osteoporosis NIH external link, and muscle problems
 * menstrual cycle and fertility issues


WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can vary from person to person and may include4

 * weight loss despite an increased appetite
 * rapid or irregular heartbeat
 * nervousness, irritability, trouble sleeping, fatigue
 * shaky hands, muscle weakness
 * sweating or trouble tolerating heat
 * frequent bowel movements 
 * an enlargement in the neck, called a goiter

In older adults, hyperthyroidism is sometimes mistaken for depression NIH
external link or dementia NIH external link. Older adults may have different
symptoms, such as loss of appetite or withdrawal from people, than younger
adults with hyperthyroidism. You may want to ask your doctor about
hyperthyroidism if you or your loved one shows these symptoms.


WHAT CAUSES HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Hyperthyroidism has several causes, including

 * Graves’ disease
 * overactive thyroid nodules
 * inflammation of the thyroid gland, called thyroiditis
 * too much iodine NIH external link
 * too much thyroid hormone medicine
 * a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland


GRAVES’ DISEASE

Graves’ disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, is an autoimmune
disorder. With this disease, your immune system attacks the thyroid and causes
it to make too much thyroid hormone.


OVERACTIVE THYROID NODULES

Overactive thyroid nodules, or lumps in your thyroid, are common and usually not
cancerous. However, one or more nodules may become overactive and produce too
much thyroid hormone. Overactive nodules are found most often in older adults.


THYROIDITIS

Thyroiditis is inflammation of your thyroid gland. Some types of thyroiditis can
cause thyroid hormone to leak out of your thyroid gland into your bloodstream.
As a result, you may develop symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

The types of thyroiditis that can cause hyperthyroidism include

 * subacute thyroiditis, which involves a painfully inflamed and enlarged
   thyroid.
 * postpartum thyroiditis, which can develop after a woman gives birth.
 * painless thyroiditis, which is similar to postpartum thyroiditis, but occurs
   in the absence of pregnancy. Your thyroid may be enlarged. Experts think
   painless thyroiditis is probably an autoimmune condition.

Thyroiditis can also cause symptoms of hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid.
In some cases, after your thyroid is overactive for a period of time, it may
become underactive.


TOO MUCH IODINE

Your thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. How much iodine you consume
affects how much thyroid hormone your thyroid makes. In some people, consuming
large amounts of iodine may cause the thyroid to make too much thyroid hormone.

Some cough syrups and medicines, including some heart medicines, may contain a
lot of iodine. Seaweed and seaweed-based supplements also contain a lot of
iodine.


TOO MUCH THYROID HORMONE MEDICINE

Some people who take thyroid hormone medicine for hypothyroidism may take too
much. If you take thyroid hormone medicine, see your doctor at least once a year
to have your thyroid hormone levels checked. You may need to adjust your dose if
your doctor finds your thyroid hormone level is too high.

Some other medicines may also interact with thyroid hormone medicine and raise
hormone levels. If you take thyroid hormone medicine, ask your doctor about
interactions when starting new medicines.


NONCANCEROUS TUMOR

In some rare cases, a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland, located at the
base of the brain, can cause hyperthyroidism.


HOW DO DOCTORS DIAGNOSE HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Your doctor will take a medical history and perform a physical exam. A
hyperthyroidism diagnosis can’t be based on symptoms alone because many of its
symptoms are the same as those of other diseases. That’s why your doctor may use
several thyroid blood tests and imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis and find
its cause.

Because hyperthyroidism can cause fertility problems, women who have trouble
getting pregnant often get tested for thyroid problems.

A blood test might confirm a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism.


HOW DO DOCTORS TREAT HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Your doctor will treat your hyperthyroidism to bring your thyroid hormone levels
back to normal. Treating the disease will prevent long-term health problems, and
it will relieve uncomfortable symptoms. No single treatment works for everyone.

Your treatment depends on what’s causing your hyperthyroidism and how severe it
is. When recommending a treatment, your doctor will consider

 * your age
 * possible allergies to or side effects of the medicines
 * other conditions, such as pregnancy or heart disease
 * whether you have access to an experienced thyroid surgeon


TREATMENT OPTIONS

Hyperthyroidism is usually treated with medicines, radioiodine therapy, or
thyroid surgery.

Expand All


MEDICINES



Beta-blockers NIH external link. Beta-blockers are drugs that block the action
of substances, such as adrenaline, on nerve cells. They cause blood vessels to
relax and widen.

 * Pros
   * They can reduce symptoms—such as tremors, rapid heartbeat, and
     nervousness—until other treatments start working.
   * They can make you feel better within hours.
 * Cons
   * They don’t stop thyroid hormone production.

Antithyroid medicines. Antithyroid therapy is the simplest way to treat
hyperthyroidism. Methimazole is used most often. Propylthiouracil is often used
for women during the first 3 months of pregnancy because methimazole can, on
rare occasions, harm the fetus.

 * Pros
   * They cause the thyroid to make less thyroid hormone.
   * Some patients’ symptoms from Graves’ disease may go away temporarily after
     taking antithyroid drugs.
 * Cons
   * Antithyroid medicines can cause side effects, including
     * allergic reactions, such as rashes and itching
     * a decrease in the number of white blood cells in your body, which can
       lower resistance to infection
     * liver failure, in rare cases
   * Antithyroid medicines
     * don’t provide a permanent cure, but they may allow symptoms to go away
       temporarily in the case of Graves’ disease
     * may take several weeks or months for thyroid hormone levels to move into
       the normal range
     * take about 1–2 years of total average treatment time, but can continue
       for many years
     * are not used to treat hyperthyroidism caused by thyroiditis

Seek care right away

Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms

 * fatigue or weakness
 * dull pain in your abdomen
 * loss of appetite
 * skin rash, itching, or easy bruising
 * yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, called jaundice
 * constant sore throat
 * fever, chills, or constant sore throat

Antithyroid therapy is the easiest way to treat hyperthyroidism.


RADIOIODINE THERAPY



Radioiodine therapy is a common and effective treatment. You can take
radioactive iodine-131 by mouth as a capsule or liquid.

 * Pros
   * Radioiodine therapy slowly destroys the cells of the thyroid gland that
     produce thyroid hormone.
   * Radioiodine therapy does not affect other body tissues.
 * Cons
   * You might need more than one treatment to bring thyroid hormone levels into
     the normal range, but beta-blockers can control symptoms between
     treatments.
   * Radioiodine therapy isn’t used for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
     It can harm the fetus’ thyroid and can be passed from mother to child in
     breast milk.

   Almost everyone who gets radioiodine therapy later develops hypothyroidism.
   But hypothyroidism is easier to treat than hyperthyroidism by using a daily
   thyroid hormone medicine, and it causes fewer long-term health problems.

Taking radioactive iodine-131 is a common and effective treatment.


THYROID SURGERY



Surgery to remove part or most of the thyroid gland is used less often to treat
hyperthyroidism. Sometimes doctors use surgery to treat people with large
goiters or pregnant women who cannot take antithyroid medicines.

 * Pros
   * When part of the thyroid is removed, your thyroid hormone levels may return
     to normal.
 * Cons
   * Thyroid surgery requires general anesthesia NIH external link, which can
     cause a condition called thyroid storm—a sudden, severe worsening of
     symptoms. Taking antithyroid medicines before surgery can help prevent this
     problem.

When part of your thyroid is removed, you may develop hypothyroidism after
surgery and need to take thyroid hormone medicine. If your whole thyroid is
removed, you will need to take thyroid hormone medicine for life. After surgery,
your doctor will continue to check your thyroid hormone levels.

In some cases, doctors use surgery to remove part or most of the thyroid gland.

Researchers are looking into new ways to treat hyperthyroidism. An example is
radiofrequency ablation (RFA) NIH external link, a new approach to treating
thyroid nodules that cause hyperthyroidism.5,6 RFA is used mainly in cases where
medicines or surgery won’t help, and is not yet widely available.


HOW DOES EATING, DIET, AND NUTRITION AFFECT HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Your thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. If you have Graves’ disease
or another autoimmune thyroid disorder, you may be sensitive to harmful side
effects from iodine. Eating foods that have large amounts of iodine—such as
kelp, dulse, or other kinds of seaweed—may cause or worsen hyperthyroidism.
Taking iodine supplements can have the same effect. Talk with members of your
health care team about

 * what foods to limit or avoid
 * any iodine supplements you take
 * any cough syrups or multivitamins you take because they may contain iodine


CLINICAL TRIALS FOR HYPERTHYROIDISM

The NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions,
including endocrine diseases. The trials look to find new ways to prevent,
detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life.


WHAT ARE CLINICAL TRIALS FOR HYPERTHYROIDISM?

Clinical trials—and other types of clinical studies NIH external link—are part
of medical research and involve people like you. When you volunteer to take part
in a clinical study, you help doctors and researchers learn more about disease
and improve health care for people in the future.

Researchers are studying many aspects of hyperthyroidism, such as its natural
history, clinical presentation, and genetics.

Find out if clinical studies are right for you NIH external link.

Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance
of participating in clinical trials.




WHAT CLINICAL STUDIES FOR HYPERTHYROIDISM ARE LOOKING FOR PARTICIPANTS?

You can view a filtered list of clinical studies on hyperthyroidism that are
open and recruiting at www.ClinicalTrials.gov NIH external link. You can expand
or narrow the list to include clinical studies from industry, universities, and
individuals; however, the NIH does not review these studies and cannot ensure
they are safe. Always talk with your health care provider before you participate
in a clinical study.


REFERENCES

[1] De Leo S, Lee SY, Braverman LE. Hyperthyroidism. Lancet.
2016;388(10047):906–918. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00278-6

[2] Ross DS, Burch HB, Cooper DS, et al. 2016 American Thyroid Association
guidelines for diagnosis and management of hyperthyroidism and other causes of
thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid. 2016;26(10):1343–1421. doi:10.1089/thy.2016.0229

[3] Sawicka-Gutaj N, Gutaj P, Sowiński J, et al. Influence of cigarette smoking
on thyroid gland—an update. Endokrynologia Polska. 2014;65(1):54–62. doi:
10.5603/EP.2014.0008

[4] Mathew P, Rawla P. Hyperthyroidism. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls
Publishing. Updated November 21, 2020. Accessed April 29 2021.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537053 NIH external link

[5] Muhammad H, Santhanam P, Russell JO, Kuo JH. RFA and benign thyroid nodules:
review of the current literature. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology.
2021;6(1):155–165. Published January 9, 2021. doi:10.1002/lio2.517

[6] Patel KN, Yip L, Lubitz CC, et al. Executive summary of the American
Association of Endocrine Surgeons guidelines for the definitive surgical
management of thyroid disease in adults. Annals of Surgery. 2020;271(3):399–410.
doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000003735

Last Reviewed August 2021
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This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of
Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase
knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health
professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully
reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.




The NIDDK would like to thank:
Thanh D. Hoang, D.O., FACP, FACE, CAPTAIN (select), Walter Reed National
Military Medical Center








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