Why you need to take hyperthyroidism seriously
Have you been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease? If left unmanaged, an overactive thyroid can do significant damage or even be fatal. Let’s look at why it’s critical you take your hyperthyroidism seriously and get it under control.
What is hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is a health condition that occurs when the thyroid gland becomes overactive and produces more thyroid hormones than your body needs.
An excess of thyroid hormones in the body will stimulate your cells, speeding up your
body functions. This leads to a faster metabolism which is making your body work harder and faster.
Symptoms can include:
Unexplained weight loss
Increased appetite
Heart symptoms such as racing heartbeat, skipped/irregular beats and palpitations
Shortness of breath
Increased sensitivity to heat
Increased sweating
Frequent bowel movements and diarrhoea
Goitre
Fatigue (feeling wired but tired)
Muscle weakness
Trembling, tremor or shakiness
Fine brittle hair
Mood symptoms such as nervousness, anxiety and irritability
Insomnia
Potential complications of hyperthyroidism
When we look at thyroid disease, Graves’ and hyperthyroidism are considered more serious than hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s. This isn’t because one is ‘easier’ than the other, but more to do with the immediate risks that surface when you have too much thyroid hormone in your system.
Some of the health consequences that can arise with hyperthyroidism include:
Cardiovascular symptoms and conditions - including rapid heart rate, atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. You can also have a higher risk of stroke or heart attack thanks to these issues.
Low bone density - left untreated, you can develop weak, brittle bones and even osteoporosis. This is because excess thyroid hormone interferes with the body’s ability to deposit minerals such as calcium into the bones.
Eye conditions - This can include bulging, red and swollen eyes, sensitivity to light, blurriness and double vision. Long-term you may even experience vision loss.
Thyrotoxic crisis (thyroid storm) - if your thyroid hormone levels are too high for too long, you can enter a thyroid storm. This can lead to fever, rapid pulse, delirium, fainting and even death if left untreated. If you have hyperthyroidism and have a sudden onset of these types of symptoms, you must seek emergency medical care immediately and rule out a thyroid storm.
How to manage hyperthyroidism
Honestly, conventional treatment of hyperthyroidism leaves a lot to be desired.
It is often treated with beta-blocker medication to slow the heart and anti-thyroid drugs to block the production of thyroid hormones.
If this treatment is not successful, other treatments such as thyroidectomy (surgical removal of the thyroid gland), or radioactive iodine (killing off thyroid tissue) may be considered. However, both these treatments are extreme and can cause their own problems such as hypothyroidism and lifelong reliance on thyroid medication.
But the good news is that there are steps you can take to naturally manage your hyperthyroidism, even if you have been unresponsive to medication.
I cover all of this in detail in my course, the Hyperthyroid and Graves’ Disease Recovery Program.
This comprehensive program includes:
6 modules covering the most important information you need to understand your overactive thyroid and how to support it naturally
Resources on thyroid testing and which tests will give you the best overview of your thyroid function
Steps to help you identify triggers and avoid thyroid flares
6 restorative Naturopathic Yoga sessions
Thyroid meditations
A BONUS 4 step gut healing protocol (because many of the triggers for your thyroid are found in the gut!)