From the Guidelines
Hyperthyroidism symptoms include weight loss, rapid or irregular heartbeat, nervousness, anxiety, irritability, tremors, sweating, heat sensitivity, fatigue, muscle weakness, and difficulty sleeping, which can lead to serious complications if left untreated. These symptoms occur because excess thyroid hormones speed up the body's metabolism, causing many bodily functions to accelerate 1. The severity varies widely between individuals, with some experiencing mild symptoms while others have more severe manifestations. According to the USPSTF recommendation statement, thyroid dysfunction is defined as a spectrum of disorders related to the thyroid gland, and symptomatic "overt" hyperthyroidism is reserved for cases with clearly associated clinical signs and symptoms that cannot be better explained by another condition 1.
Some patients may experience bulging eyes (exophthalmos), particularly with Graves' disease, and older adults might show fewer symptoms, sometimes just experiencing increased heart rate, heat intolerance, or fatigue 1. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention promptly as untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to serious complications including heart problems, bone loss, and a dangerous condition called thyroid storm. Diagnosis typically involves blood tests measuring thyroid hormone levels, and treatment options include anti-thyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, or surgery depending on the cause and severity. In patients with thyrotoxicosis or symptomatic hyperthyroidism, beta-blockers such as propranolol may be used to treat increased heart rate and tremor 1.
Key symptoms to look out for include:
- Weight loss despite increased appetite
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Nervousness, anxiety, irritability
- Tremors in the hands and fingers
- Sweating, heat sensitivity
- Fatigue, muscle weakness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Thinning skin, fine or brittle hair
- Menstrual pattern changes in women
- Bulging eyes (exophthalmos) in some cases. It is essential to seek medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms, as early detection and treatment can prevent longer-term morbidity and mortality from fractures, cancer, or cardiovascular disease 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
- Nervousness, heat intolerance, weight loss, and fatigue are common symptoms of hyperthyroidism 2
- Anxiety, insomnia, palpitations, unintentional weight loss, diarrhea, and heat intolerance are also symptoms of thyrotoxicosis 3
- Patients with Graves disease may have a diffusely enlarged thyroid gland, stare, or exophthalmos on examination 3
- Patients with toxic nodules may have symptoms from local compression of structures in the neck by the thyroid gland, such as dysphagia, orthopnea, or voice changes 3
Long-term Consequences of Unmanaged Hyperthyroidism
- Increased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular events, atrial fibrillation, sexual dysfunction, and osteoporosis 2
- Untreated hyperthyroidism can cause cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, osteoporosis, and adverse pregnancy outcomes 3
- Thyroid storm is a life-threatening complication of unmanaged or inadequately managed hyperthyroidism that warrants urgent treatment in a hospital setting 2
Treatment Options for Hyperthyroidism
- Antithyroid drugs (eg, propylthiouracil, methimazole) or definitive therapies (eg, radioactive iodine ablation, thyroidectomy) can be used to manage overt and subclinical hyperthyroidism 2
- Treatment options for overt hyperthyroidism from autonomous thyroid nodules or Graves disease include antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine ablation, and surgery 3
- Methimazole combined with propranolol may significantly improve the heart rate, bone metabolism and associated hormone levels in patients with hyperthyroidism, without significantly increasing the risk of adverse reactions 4