How to Recognize & Treat an Overactive Thyroid

For such a tiny organ, the thyroid plays a critical role in bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, brain development, mood, and bone density.

When problems arise in the thyroid, the impact is often felt throughout the body. Which is why early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid conditions are so critical.

One very common and often unrecognized thyroid issue is hyperthyroidism.

Normally, the thyroid produces thyroxine, a hormone that regulates the body’s metabolism—the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients and oxygen. When too much thyroxine is produced, it’s referred to as hyperthyroidism, or, more commonly, as an overactive thyroid. Excess thyroxine increases a person’s metabolism which essentially puts many major bodily functions in high gear—but not in a good way.

Common symptoms of an overactive thyroid include:

• Feelings of anxiety, irritability, and nervousness
• Difficulty sleeping
• A racing or uneven heartbeat
• Unexplained weight loss
• Increased appetite
• Vision changes
• Hair loss
• Sensitivity to heat
• Sweating
• Diarrhea and more frequent bowel movements
• Thinning skin
• Changes to your period
• Tremors
• Muscle weakness
• An enlarged thyroid (goiter)

Hyperthyroidism sometimes looks like other health problems, which can make it hard to diagnose. If you’re experiencing two or more of these symptoms, you should schedule a visit with your doctor to be assessed.

Diagnosing an overactive thyroid is typically done through a blood tests, imaging, or combination of both. Blood tests will reveal how high your thyroxine levels are and what is causing the thyroid to be overactive, while imaging allows your doctor to look for any issues related to the structure of your thyroid, such as inflammation, size, gland activity, or the presence of nodules. There are multiple causes of hyperthyroidism with the most common being Grave’s Disease, an autoimmune condition that stimulates the thyroid to enlarge and produce excess thyroxine. With this information, your doctor can recommend the most appropriate treatment based on the cause as well as any personal health factors. Common options include:

• Daily beta blocker pills to reduce tremors, rapid heartbeat, and anxiety
• Medication that lowers thyroxine levels
• Radioactive iodine taken as a liquid or capsule

In very rare cases, surgery to remove part or most of the thyroid gland may be recommended. Regardless of the type of treatment received, it’s important to recognize that hyperthyroidism is a lifelong condition for most patients; meaning it will need to be continuously treated and monitored for the remainder of their lives.  

While anyone at any age can develop an overactive thyroid, there are some factors that put you at greater risk of developing the condition. These include:

• Being female, especially post-menopausal
• Being over age 60
• A family history of thyroid disease
• Certain medical conditions including Type 1 diabetes and pernicious anemia
• Use of medication high in iodine
• Previous history of thyroid disease
• Have been pregnant or had a baby within the past 6 months

If you have questions or concerns about your thyroid, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider to be assessed.

Eric Seyferth, MD, is an internal medicine specialist at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center