The diagnosis
In order to make a diagnosis of heart stumbling due to thyroid disease, the extrasystoles must first be detected in an ECG. Often this is not possible in a normal ECG because the derivation time of the heart action is only a few seconds and extrasystoles usually occur much less frequently. Therefore, the derivation of a 24-hour ECG is recommended, in which case the heart stumbling can be verified under certain circumstances.
In order to determine a thyroid dysfunction, a blood sample must be taken to determine thyroid values. If the thyroid gland is overactive and there is a high incidence of cardiac stuttering, it can be assumed that the two are related. However, causality cannot be proven with certainty.
The treatment
In the case of heart stumbling through the thyroid gland, the thyroid dysfunction – usually an overactive thyroid – must be treated. This treatment is carried out by various measures, depending on the cause. If Graves’ disease is present, treatment is usually carried out with medication.
The drugs used are drugs that inhibit the production of thyroid hormones, known as thyrostatic agents. The drugs must usually be taken for at least one year. If recurrences (recurrence of the disease) occur repeatedly after discontinuing the medication, surgery or so-called radioiodine therapy may be necessary.
Surgery with removal of the overactive part of the thyroid gland is the treatment method of choice even in the case of autonomy. For many patients, however, radioiodine therapy may also be considered. This is a type of radiation therapy in which the overactive tissue is irradiated by taking radioactive iodine. Beta-blockers can be used for rapid treatment of the unpleasant symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, such as heart failure. However, they are not intended to eliminate the cause but only to alleviate the symptoms.
- The therapy of hyperthyroidism
- The Thyrostatics
The prognosis
The prognosis of heart stumbles caused by the thyroid gland is usually good. In most cases, the heart stutter has no negative effects on the body except that it can be unpleasant for the person affected. Nevertheless, the underlying disease, hyperthyroidism, must be treated, otherwise it can cause serious damage.
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