Have you recently been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or do you suspect that this condition may be present after performing online research?
If so, it is important to understand some of the issues that can lead to this condition.
Hyperthyroidism is classified as a scenario when your thyroid gland produces an excessive amount of a hormone known as thyroxine.
Thyroxine is involved in numerous metabolic activities and as a result, some of the main symptoms include an insatiable appetite, the inability to sleep, unexplained weight loss, and feelings of irritation.
Let’s now take a look at some scenarios and risk factors that can cause the levels of thyroxine within your system to remain high.
Thyroiditis
As Healthline.com notes, thyroiditis is normally caused by an autoimmune reaction of your body (for unknown reasons) during or immediately after pregnancy.
In this scenario, your thyroid gland can become inflamed. This may lead to an increase in the production of thyroxine.
However, it should be mentioned that this condition will often resolve itself without the need for any prescription medication.
Depending upon the severity, you may or may not experience pain.
Graves’ disease
Graves’ disease is actually the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in adults.
For reasons not yet fully understood, the body undergoes an autoimmune response and begins to produce excessive levels of antibodies.
These antibodies cause the thyroid gland to produce higher amounts of thyroxine than are normally required.
It is also thought that Graves’ disease is associated with a genetic component. In other words, you are more likely to develop this condition if you already have a family history.
Overly productive thyroid nodules
The nodules within your thyroid are technically known as “adenomas”.
There can be times when these nodules begin to produce too much thyroxine. This is also referred to as Plummer’s disease on occasion.
From a very basic overview, the nodules will form additional glands that are separate from the original structures.
It is these ancillary glands which cause an increase in the production of thyroxine. Keep in mind that while this may lead to an enlarged thyroid, the glands themselves are normally non-cancerous (benign).
What about other risk factors?
Much as hypothyroidism is associated with risk factors and subsequent treatment options, hyperthyroidism and raised levels of thyroxine can be attributed to additional factors. Some of these will include:
- A genetic predisposition.
- Gender (females are more likely to encounter thyroid problems when compared to males).
- A history of chronic illnesses including anemia, adrenal insufficiency or type 1 diabetes.
The main takeaway point here is quite simple. It is always important to monitor the levels of your thyroid hormones in order to reduce the symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism if you have been diagnosed.
If you have difficulty controlling these levels, make it a point to speak with a specialist in order to determine the available treatment options. You can then be able to enjoy a normal and productive lifestyle.
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Fascinating, thank you. I didn’t know thyroid problems could go away by themselves, or that they can have so many different causes.