Hormonal Disorders

There is no known cure for Graves’ disease. Three forms of therapy are available for the treatment of hyperthyroidism. These therapies work by decreasing the amount of thyroid hormone made by the thyroid gland; therefore, an excess amount of hormone does not get into the bloodstream. The treatments available are: Anti-thyroid drugs Radioactive iodine, also […]

Surgical treatment for hyperthyroidism involves removal of almost all of the thyroid gland. The remaining part of the gland is not able to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. This surgical procedure is known as a near total thyroidectomy. Surgical treatment is less common than in the past. There are important points to know about surgery

Graves’ disease may be associated with particular eye changes. The eye changes are called hyperthyroid eye disease and occur in about 30 percent of people with Graves’ disease. These changes are visible as protruding eyes. There is no relationship between the appearance of eye changes and the severity of the hyperthyroidism. There is increased risk

People with hyperthyroidism may experience many uncomfortable and sometimes distressing symptoms. These may include: Weight loss Heart palpitations Anxiety Irritability Before and during treatment for hyperthyroidism, make sure your doctor knows which symptoms or problem are most bothersome to you. How-To Information: If anxiety or heart palpitations are troublesome, treatment with anti-adrenergic drugs, also known

About 1 in 500 women have hyperthyroidism during pregnancy. In some, it is a preexisting condition; in others, the condition will develop during the course of the pregnancy. It can be difficult to diagnose because the pregnancy often “masks” it; that is, some of the symptoms may be attributed to the pregnancy itself rather than

Here are some frequently asked questions related to hyperthyroidism: Q: I was confused when I asked my doctor about mythyroid hormone level. She talked about T3 and T4. What do these have to do with thyroid hormone? A: There are two slightly different forms of thyroid hormone that circulate in the bloodstream. One form is abbreviated as T3, which is

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to hyperthyroidism: Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which there is overproduction of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include a rapid heartbeat, tremor of the fingers and hands, weight loss, and the inability to tolerate heat. The most common form of hyperthyroidism is

Here are definitions of medical terms related to hyperthyroidism. Adam’s apple: Part of the cartilage at the front of the neck that forms the larynx or voice box. It is more prominent visually and by touch in men than in women. Anti-adrenergic drug: Any of a number of chemical agents that act to suppress the effects of

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on hyperthyroidism. Thyroid Foundation of America (TFA)  Phone: 800-832-8321 www.tsh.org American Autoimmune Related Disease Association  http://www.aarda.org/ National Graves’ Disease Foundation (NGDF)  Phone: 828-877-5251 www.ngdf.org American Thyroid Association  www.thyroid.org Healthfinder, an Internet health information service developed in conjunction with the US Department of Health and Human Services.  www.healthfinder.gov

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which there is too little thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. The thyroid gland, which produces the thyroid hormones, is said to be “underactive,” because it does not produce enough thyroid hormone for the body to function normally. Inadequate production of thyroid hormone affects stimulation of cells and organs in the body. The

Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which there is overproduction of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland, causing the levels of thyroid hormone in the blood to be too high. People who have it are often said to have an “overactive thyroid”. The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ located in the neck below and