Hyperthyroidism Part 4

How common is hyperthyroidism?

About 1.2 percent of people in the United States have hyperthyroidism.That’s a little more than 1 person out of 100.
Thyroid gland disorders are fairly common in India with prevalence rates ranging from 11 per cent to 13 per cent, one of the highest globally. The country at present harbors 42 million individuals who suffer from one or more forms of thyroid disorders.

Who is more likely to develop hyperthyroidism?

Women are 2 to 10 times more likely than men to develop hyperthyroidism. You are more likely to have hyperthyroidism if you

·         have a family history of thyroid disease

·         have other health problems, including

o pernicious anemia , a condition caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency

o type 1 diabetes

o primary adrenal insufficiency, a hormonal disorder

·         eat large amounts of food containing iodine , such as kelp, or use medicines that contain iodine, such as amiodarone , a heart medicine

·         are older than age 60, especially if you are a woman

·         were pregnant within the past 6 months

Is hyperthyroidism during pregnancy a problem?

Thyroid hormone levels that are just a little high are usually not a problem in pregnancy. However, more severe hyperthyroidism that isn’t treated can affect both the mother and the baby. If you have hyperthyroidism, be sure your disease is under control before becoming pregnant. Learn more about causes, diagnosis, and treatment of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy.

What are my hyperthyroidism treatment options?

You may receive medicines, radioiodine therapy, or thyroid surgery to treat your hyperthyroidism. The aim of treatment is to bring thyroid hormone levels back to normal to prevent long-term health problems and to relieve uncomfortable symptoms. No single treatment works for everyone.

Treatment depends on the cause of 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, and whether you have access to an experienced thyroid surgeon.

Medicines

Beta blockers. 

Beta blockers do not stop thyroid hormone production, but can reduce symptoms until other treatments take effect. Beta blockers act quickly to relieve many of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as tremors, rapid heartbeat, and nervousness. Most people feel better within hours of taking beta blockers.

Anti-thyroid medicines. 

Anti-thyroid therapy is the simplest way to treat hyperthyroidism. Anti-thyroid medicines cause the thyroid to make less thyroid hormone. These medicines usually don’t provide a permanent cure. Health care providers most often use the anti-thyroid medicine methimazole. Health care providers more often treat pregnant women with propylthiouracil during the first 3 months of pregnancy, however, because methimazole can harm the fetus, although this happens rarely.

Once treatment with anti-thyroid medicine begins, your thyroid hormone levels may not move into the normal range for several weeks or months. The total average treatment time is about 1 to 2 years, but treatment can continue for many years. Anti-thyroid medicines are not used to treat hyperthyroidism caused by thyroiditis.

Anti-thyroid medicines can cause side effects in some people, 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

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

·         fatigue

·         weakness

·         dull pain in your abdomen

·         loss of appetite

·         skin rash or itching

·         easy bruising

·         yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, called jaundice

·         constant sore throat

·         fever

Doctors usually treat pregnant and breastfeeding women with antithyroid medicine, since this treatment may be safer for the baby than other treatments.

What should I avoid eating if I have hyperthyroidism?

People with Graves’ disease or other type of autoimmune thyroid disorder may be sensitive to harmful side effects from iodine. Eating foods that have large amounts of iodine—such as 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 you should limit or avoid, and let them know if you take iodine supplements. Also, share information about any cough syrups or multivitamins that you take because they may contain iodine.