They do this by helping your body use carbohydrates and fats the way it’s supposed to. This accounts for 70% of the cases. It’s when the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck produces too much thyroid hormone. Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, Why Your Body Might Make Too Much Thyroid Hormone, The Thyroid (Human Anatomy): Picture, Function, Definition, Location in the Body, and More. An autoimmune disorder called Graves’ disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Symptoms appear slowly, so you may not notice a problem at first but left untreated over a long period, hyperthyroidism can be fatal. What Are the Treatments for Hyperthyroidism? Consumption of iodine in abundant amounts or using excessive amounts of thyroid hormone medication also cause hyperthyroidism. If you have a family member with hyperthyroidism, your risk is increased. This is a disorder in which the immune system attacks the thyroid, causing overproduction of the thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism causes a high metabolism, which has many negative effects on the body. If you have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), your thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormones. This can happen for many different reasons. At first, the symptoms may be mistaken for simple nervousness due to stress. It was named after Robert Graves, an Irish physician, who described patients with this condition in the 19th century. The recommendation to check TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAbs) to distinguish Graves' disease from other causes of hyperthyroidism is based on the NICE clinical guideline , the ATA guidelines on hyperthyroidism , the ETA guideline on Graves' hyperthyroidism [Kahaly, 2018], and expert opinion in review articles [De Leo, 2016; Kravets, 2016; Bathgate, 2018; Biondi, 2018]. An increased level of iodine in your body can cause your thyroid to produce excess thyroid hormones. It’s more likely to affect women under the age of 40. Hyperthyroidism can have multiple causes. When the thyroid glands don’t produce enough hormone it’s known as hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. Other possible causes of an overactive thyroid include: Page last reviewed: 24 September 2019 Two major hormones that affect how your body works are produced in your thyroid. Main causes of hyperthyroidism include Graves’ disease, thyroid nodules and thyroiditis. Hyperthyroidism usually begins slowly but in some young patients these changes can be very abrupt. These are called thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3). It’s also more common in young women. It causes antibodies to stimulate the thyroid to secrete too much hormone. Plummer’s disease is more common in older people. Hyperthyroidism can be caused by a number of conditions, including Graves' disease, Plummer's disease and thyroiditis.Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple. This can occasionally happen if you're taking medicine that contains iodine, such as amiodarone, which is sometimes used to control an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). When your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones, the balance of chemical reactions in your body can be upset. This can happen for many different reasons. Rarely, hyperthyroidism is caused by a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain. 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