How Avi Medical helps you with hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism, which is much rarer than hypothyroidism, typically affects women over 35 and is, in principle, one of the most treatable organ diseases. However, the abnormality requires special behaviour, which those affected should be aware of. Fortunately, we at Avi Medical are at your side for all medical measures in the fight against hyperthyroidism at all our locations.

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What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is an abnormality of the thyroid gland in which the organ below the larynx produces too many of its own hormones (especially T3, T4 and calcitonin). 

This hormone trio fulfils a variety of tasks in healthy people. For example, it increases heart rate and cardiac output, lowers calcium levels and also increases oxygen consumption and body temperature, which speeds up metabolism.

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At what point is it hyperthyroidism?

So-called manifest hyperthyroidism is diagnosed by an imbalance of three hormones. Specifically: a low TSH value and increased amounts of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. 

The TSH produced in the brain is considered a so-called "stimulation hormone" that reaches the thyroid gland via the bloodstream and stimulates it to release T3 and T4. 

However, if the organ produces too many of these two hormones, the body reduces the release of TSH in order to lower T3 and T4. 

This balancing endogenous process occasionally actually leads to the normalisation of T3 and T4 - but does not change the low TSH value. In this case, manifest hyperthyroidism becomes latent hyperthyroidism. 

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What are the triggers of hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is often a symptom of another underlying disease. Typical triggers include:

• Graves' disease (a mostly genetic autoimmune disease in which the body's own antibodies bind to receptors in the thyroid gland to which TSH normally binds. In this way, thyroid hormone production is additionally stimulated).
• A benign tumour of the thyroid gland (through this, cells of the thyroid gland produce hormones on their own, independent of TSH stimulation).
• a malignant tumour
• Passager: Inflammations, such as thyroiditis de Quervain or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (in these conditions, thyroid tissue is destroyed, temporarily releasing thyroid hormones).

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More rarely, hyperthyroidism is also caused by medication. For example, by: 

• Too high a dose of L-thyroxine (hormone replacement for hypothyroidism).
• Iodine (e.g. in iodine-containing contrast medium for CT or X-ray).
• Amiodarone (iodine-containing drug for atrial fibrillation)

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What are the possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

Thyroid hormones act in a wide range of organs, which is why the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are varied. Among the most important are: 

• A goitre in the thyroid gland (triggered by excessive blood flow to the organ when hormone production is increased).
• Tachycardic (high-frequency) arrhythmias 
• A feeling of "tightness in the chest".
• Hypertension 
• Sweating 
• increased reflexes 
• Trembling 
• Hair loss 
• Sleep disturbances as well as restlessness and fatigue 
• Weight loss (due to increased basal metabolic rate and heat production)
• Muscle and bone pain 
• In addition, in the presence of Graves' disease: "Mersenburg triad" consisting of goitre, accelerated heartbeat and protruding eyeballs. 

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Treatment of hyperthyroidism at Avi Medical

For our experienced doctors, the first step in treating your hyperthyroidism is to determine your TSH, T3 and T4 levels. 

If these correspond to hyperthyroidism, the second step is to determine its exact cause (for example, the presence of a disease such as Graves' disease) and to perform a thyroid ultrasound to confirm it. 

This is followed by drug therapy for the hyperfunction. Possible preparations are: 

• Thyrostatic drugs (reduce hormone production)
• Beta-blockers (reduce blood pressure, heartbeat, tremors and the production of T3)

In the event that hyperthyroidism persists, referral to radiologists or endocrinologists follows, who offer two types of treatment options. These are: 

• the implementation of radioiodine therapy (this destroys the overactive thyroid tissue)
• the removal of the thyroid gland 
  
  

For us at Avi Medical, a holistic treatment of your hyperthyroidism also includes regular check-ups and education .

In this way, you avoid further complications such as the development of a thyrotoxic crisis, which occurs in hyperthyroidism that has not been treated or has been treated in adequately. This complements the symptoms of hyperthyroidism with disorientation, fever, somnolence and even coma and renal insufficiency.

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