Other accompanying symptoms

The typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism can all be attributed to increased hormone production. Those affected suffer from agitation, nervousness and hyperactivity. The appetite is significantly increased and the affected persons nevertheless lose weight.

Arrhythmias and high blood pressure can occur. Women also report irregularities in their menstrual cycle. Sleep disorders are also a common symptom.

Many sufferers also suffer from hair loss and frequent bowel movements with diarrhoea. The symptoms can be very different. The hormones of the thyroid gland have a great effect on the cardiovascular system.

As in the whole body, these hormones have an increasing effect. The heart rate is increased significantly and can also rise suddenly in episodes. Those affected can often feel this tachycardia themselves and get scared, which makes the heart rate rise even further.

This is often the first reason for a doctor’s visit and thus leads to further diagnosis. The tachycardia itself is not dangerous, but other cardiac arrhythmias can also occur and lead to cardiac arrest. Hyperthyroidism leads to an increased metabolic function and thus to an increased calorie requirement.

Those affected are therefore more likely to suffer from weight loss despite increased food intake. The weight gain is to be expected in the case of hypothyroidism, which is not accompanied by hot flushes. If hot flushes and weight gain occur at the same time, the cause is usually more likely to be an estrogen deficiency in the menopause than thyroid function.

In the case of an increased metabolic state due to hyperthyroidism, those affected often complain of restlessness and hyperactivity, which does not change even at night.Therefore sleep disorders are a common symptom of hyperthyroidism. Hot flushes are also often to blame for poorer sleep, as night sweats wake up the affected person and make it difficult to fall asleep. Sleep disorders, however, are a very unspecific symptom, as they occur in many diseases and can have countless causes.

How can it be treated?

Depending on the exact cause of the hyperthyroidism, the therapy varies. The first group of therapies, are the drug treatments. The production of thyroid hormones is inhibited by thyrostatic drugs.

These include the drugs Thiamazol and Carbimazol. However, these are not effective in the treatment of thyroid inflammation. Purely symptomatically, beta blockers can also be used.

These can reduce tachycardia, i.e. the racing of the heart. In addition to drug therapy, the thyroid gland can also be removed. However, patients must then take thyroid hormones for the rest of their lives, otherwise they will slip into hypofunction.

An alternative to surgery is radio-iodine therapy. In this therapy the thyroid gland tissue is destroyed by radioactivity. This procedure cannot be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Emergency treatment must be carried out in the event of a thyrotoxic crisis, i.e. an acute overdose of thyroid hormones. This is a combination of many different drugs. These include cortisol, heparin and fluid replacement.

Those affected must also be cooled down. If a bacterial cause is suspected, antibiotics are also used. In addition to drug therapy, the thyroid gland can also be removed.

However, those affected must then take thyroid hormones for the rest of their lives, otherwise they will slip into hypofunction. An alternative to surgery is radio-iodine therapy. In this therapy the thyroid gland tissue is destroyed by radioactivity.

This procedure cannot be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Emergency treatment must be carried out in the event of a thyrotoxic crisis, i.e. an acute overdose of thyroid hormones. This is a combination of many different drugs.

These include cortisol, heparin and fluid replacement. Those affected must also be cooled down. If a bacterial cause is suspected, antibiotics are also used.

Home remedies cannot eliminate the cause of hyperthyroidism, but some symptoms can be relieved. Hot flashes can be reduced by loose clothing, a cool bedroom and cool drinks or food. Relaxation therapies and sleep rituals can also help those affected.

Some sufferers also report sport as a helpful tool. Certain herbs such as lemon balm, wolfsbane and feverfew are also said to alleviate the symptoms and sometimes even reduce hormone levels. Many other foods also have an influence on the hormone balance of the thyroid gland.

Hyperthyroidism is an endocrinological disorder that can lead to serious complications if not treated properly. Homeopathic remedies can only be used to support the therapy and can alleviate the symptoms of sleep disorders or hot flushes in some patients. The homeopathic remedies that are recommended are all iodine-containing, which can help with certain causes of hyperactivity, namely iodine deficiency goiter.