Have you started noticing some changes in your body and behavior? You might suspect something is wrong, and it might have to do with your thyroid. This gland, located in your neck, is responsible for a variety of bodily functions, including mood, appetite, and sleep. If your thyroid is overactive, also known as hyperthyroidism, it produces too many hormones. Keep reading to learn about the most common overactive thyroid symptoms to see if you should have your thyroid checked.
1. Mood Changes
If you have noticed that your mood has started to shift recently, you may be concerned about your health. Some of the most common mood changes that have to do with an overactive thyroid include increased anxiety, nervousness, and irritability. You may also experience drastic mood swings that seem to come out of nowhere.
2. Sleep Issues
Like we mentioned, your thyroid is responsible for producing hormones that help you sleep. A common overactive thyroid symptom is having difficulty sleeping. If you have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, you may want to have your thyroid levels checked by your primary care physician.
3. Unusual Tiredness
Tiredness happens to everyone at some point, but when it is persistent no matter how much rest you get, it may be time to talk to your doctor about it. Unusual and persistent tiredness is another hyperthyroidism symptom.
4. Sensitivity to Heat
Another common overactive thyroid symptom is heat sensitivity. Of course, we all get hot. But people with hyperthyroidism are especially sensitive to higher temperatures.
5. Swelling in Neck
A common and obvious symptom that something is wrong with your thyroid is your neck swelling. Since the gland is located at the front of the neck, you will probably know something is wrong if your neck starts to swell and you have other symptoms on this list.
6. Irregular Heart Rate
Fast heart rate and/or irregular heart rate is another symptom to look out for if you suspect you have hyperthyroidism. Medically, this is known as tachycardia, and it is caused by the gland stimulating your sinoatrial node, which controls how quickly your heart beats.
7. Trembling
Trembling or tremors are other overactive thyroid symptoms you may notice. These happen because the extra hormones in your body cause your metabolism to increase, which can cause these tremors.
8. Weight Loss
Another symptom that is related to increased metabolism because of an overproduction of hormones is weight loss. If you notice you’ve lost a lot of weight in a short amount of time without trying, you may have hyperthyroidism.
How to Treat Hyperthyroidism
So you notice you have almost all of these symptoms, and you want to know what to do next. You should schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, and they will order blood tests to check your TSH, T-4, and T-3 levels. If your levels are higher than the normal range, you have hyperthyroidism. Depending on the severity, treatments can include medications, removal of the thyroid, or radioiodine therapy.
Now you know what overactive thyroid symptoms to look for if you suspect you might have hyperthyroidism. Do you have questions about your recent diagnosis and treatment plan? Reach out to us, and we will be happy to answer your questions!
