1. Hyperthyroidism is a disease of what?
Hyperthyroidism, the full name of hyperthyroidism, refers to the disease caused by the increase of thyroid hormone produced by thyroid gland and the excessive thyroid hormone in blood.
2. What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism include hyperappetite, increased defecation, emaciation, palpitations, shaking hands, insomnia and irritability.
Some people can also show symptoms of goiter, exophthalmos and periodic paralysis.
However, some patients with hyperthyroidism, especially the elderly, often have atypical symptoms.
3. What are the causes of hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is divided into 3 common types according to its pathogenesis:
- Graves disease accounts for 80% and is an autoimmune disease. Nodular toxic goiter accounts for 10%, thyroid cells in nodules are not normally regulated and produce excessive thyroid hormones. Thyroid autonomic high-function adenoma accounts for 5%, a benign tumor that can secrete a large amount of thyroid hormone autonomously.
Other rarer types include iodine hyperthyroidism, pituitary hyperthyroidism, chorionic gonadotropin-related hyperthyroidism, etc.
4. What is the matter with hyperthyroidism [exophthalmia]?
Some patients with hyperthyroidism, especially Graves’ disease, may have [exophthalmos] symptoms, which are manifested as enlarged eye fissure, exophthalmos, intense, less blinking, scleral redness and swelling, eyelid redness and swelling, limited eye movement, vision decline, etc. in serious cases.
- Mild exophthalmos may be caused by elevated thyroid hormone, which can be understood as [hyperthyroidism patients have mental head and foot, so their eyes are wide open], which is called [simple exophthalmos]; Moderate and severe exophthalmos are complicated with Graves’ disease, which is called [Graves’ ophthalmopathy]. At this time, [exophthalmos] and hyperthyroidism may not occur at the same time, nor may they be relieved at the same time.
5. If hyperthyroidism is cured, will [exophthalmos] be cured?
Simple exophthalmos can be relieved after thyroid function is controlled within the normal range. However, [exophthalmos] caused by Graves ophthalmopathy often cannot be relieved and require additional treatment, such as hormone therapy, radiotherapy, and even surgical treatment.
6. How if hyperthyroidism is not treated?
The most serious condition of hyperthyroidism without treatment is thyroid crisis.
It is manifested as the rapid aggravation and deterioration of all hyperthyroidism symptoms, such as high fever, sweating, tachycardia, dysphoria, anxiety, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Severe patients may have heart failure, shock and coma.
Hyperthyroidism crisis is a very dangerous situation with a fatality rate of over 20%.
7. How should hyperthyroidism be treated?
The treatment of hyperthyroidism includes anti-thyroidism treatment and symptomatic treatment.
- Anti-nail therapy includes drug therapy, radioactive iodine 131 therapy, surgical therapy, etc. Symptomatic treatment includes reducing heart rate, correcting ion disorders, protecting liver function, etc.
8. How to choose the three treatment schemes?
(1) Drug therapy may be considered under the following circumstances:
- For young patients, patients with mild hyperthyroidism, mild goiter and normal liver function and white blood cell count, priority drug therapy can be given. For patients with serious illness but who are more resistant to radioactive iodine or surgical treatment, drug treatment can also be tried first.
(2) The following situations should be treated surgically:
- Nodular goiter cannot exclude malignant changes. Severe goiter, compression trachea; Retrosternal goiter.
(3) The following situations should be treated with radioactive iodine 131:
- Antimicrobial allergy; Granulocytopenia or liver damage; Hyperthyroidism recurs repeatedly and the drug treatment effect is very poor.
9. Can I still eat iodine-containing food?
Patients with hyperthyroidism had better choose [iodine-free diet].
- Do not use iodine-rich foods, drugs and cosmetics, such as kelp, laver, kelp and other iodine-rich seafood, iodine-rich amiodarone, iodine and other drugs, iodine-containing facial cleanser, facial mask and other daily necessities; Do not eat iodized salt; In life, we should keep a healthy lifestyle of quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, and adhere to exercise, regular work and rest, and balanced diet.
10. Can you still be pregnant if you have hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism has negative effects on pregnancy and may lead to abortion, premature delivery, etc.
It is suggested that pregnancy should be considered after hyperthyroidism is controlled, at least until thyroid function is within the normal range, and anti-thyroid drugs are stopped or applied at the minimum dose.