Know About Thyrotoxicosis: Definition, Symptoms, Treatment & Other

Thyrotoxicosis is a medical condition that develops mainly when there is excessive accumulation of thyroid hormone in one’s body. Note that it is different from hyperthyroidism, in which one’s thyroid gland both produces and releases excess thyroid hormone.

Read on to know about meaning  of thyrotoxicosis' in detail. Additionally, individuals must also be aware of the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of this condition. So, keep scrolling to check those!

The thyroid glands produce and release two types of hormones that play an essential part in carrying out body functions. However, when the levels of these thyroid hormones increase in blood, it boosts the metabolism speed in a body, leading to a condition called thyrotoxicosis. As a result, people experience symptoms like weight loss, rapid heartbeat, etc. Here are some more details on signs and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis.

If an individual is experiencing mild thyrotoxicosis, they will not notice any symptoms. However, if this condition becomes severe, then the following symptoms of thyrotoxicosis become apparent:

• Sweating
• Heart palpitation
• Anxiety
• Hair thinning
• Diarrhoea
• Rapid weight loss
• Decreased/increased appetite
• Shaking or tremor in the hands
• Skin issues like itching or redness

There are several causes of thyrotoxicosis an individual must be careful of. Some of these are as follows:

1. Thyroid Inflammation

Thyroid inflammation develops in your body as a result of fungal and bacterial infections or from the actions of drugs and immune system issues. This inflammation further affects your throat, causing the thyroid glands to leak stored hormones. As a result, the content of hormones in the body increases, leading to thyrotoxicosis.

2. Hyperthyroidism

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism (a type of thyrotoxicosis) is Grave's disease. It is an autoimmune health problem that leads to 80% of hyperthyroidism cases. Apart from this, nodules can also be a common cause of thyrotoxicosis.

3. Consuming too Many Thyroid Medications

Another cause of thyrotoxicosis is consuming thyroid medications in excess. This is mainly in the case when a patient has hyperthyroidism and takes drugs to control it.

4. Overconsumption of Thyroid Hormone

A person often over-consumes thyroid hormone unintentionally by eating beef made from a cow with thyroid tissue contamination issues, could also lead to thyrotoxicosis. This situation is referred to as hamburger thyroiditis and is very rare.

Certain risk factors add to the chances of developing thyrotoxicosis. They are:

• Sex: Females are more prone to experience thyrotoxicosis disease than males. It can be mainly because of the difference in hormones. 
• Age: As you age, you increase your chances of developing the disease. 
• Pregnancy: Pregnancy is also one of the risk factors that increases the chance of suffering from thyrotoxicosis both for the mother and baby. 
• Health Condition: Certain health condition like type 1 diabetes, pernicious anaemia, and primary adrenal insufficiency increases disease risk. 
• Family History: A family history of having Graves' disease or autoimmune disease also increases the risk.

Before suggesting the treatment of thyrotoxicosis, doctors will run a diagnosis to check the severity of the condition. The tests may include the following:

• TSH or Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Level Test: TSH is produced in the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland to form hormones. However, when the levels of thyroid hormones in the body increase, the pituitary gland reacts by decreasing its TCH production. This serves as an early sign of thyrotoxicosis.
• Thyroid Scan: Doctors take a thyroid scan by measuring the amount of iodine their patient's body takes up. For this purpose, patients will get a small tablet or drop of iodine. Then professionals will use a special camera to take a picture of their thyroid, revealing the part of the thyroid gland in which the problem lies.
• T4, T3, and Free T4 Level Test: T4, T3, and free T4 level tests help estimate the thyroid hormone amount in a patient's bloodstream. 
• CT/MRI Scans: These scans help identify if a patient is suffering from a pituitary tumour.
• Ultrasonography of Thyroid: Ultrasonography helps doctors measure their patient's thyroid gland size. Also, it determines whether it has nodules formed on or in it. Not only this, but the process also helps determine if the mass is in cystic or solid form.

The treatment process for thyrotoxicosis will mainly depend on its cause. However, the different treatment options available includes:

1. Radioactive Iodine

In case of hyperthyroidism, the doctor may recommend you take radioactive iodine through your mouth. As you consume it, overactive thyroid cells absorb it, which kills them instantly. This results in shrinkage of your thyroid gland and decreases thyroid hormone to normal. However, after this treatment, you may have to take thyroid hormone medicines for the rest of your life to maintain its level.

2. Anti-thyroid Drug

Tapazole and PTU are two of the anti-thyroid drugs doctors recommend for blocking thyroid hormone production altogether.

3. Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers are another treatment process for thyrotoxicosis that blocks thyroid hormones from taking any action in your body. Thus, this option will not alter the hormone level in your body but control disease symptoms like tremors and rapid heartbeat. Under thyroiditis, doctors even recommend taking beta-blockers until they cure the problem completely.

4. Surgery

In some cases, healthcare providers also recommend thyroidectomy, in which they will remove your thyroid gland by performing a surgery. Under this treatment process, you will also have to take thyroid hormone medicine for the rest of your life to maintain proper hormone levels.

5. Glucocorticoids

Glucocorticoid is one of the corticosteroid types that doctors only prescribe when the problem of thyroiditis is causing pain.

There is no definitive way that health experts suggest to prevent thyrotoxicosis. However, avoiding thyroid medication consumption can aid in the process. This is because consuming excessive thyroid supplements is one of the causes of thyrotoxicosis. 

Here was a comprehensive overview of thyrotoxicosis. Hopefully, going through this guide will help individuals learn about the specific information relating to this condition’s symptoms, causes and other details. This, as a result, will help them identify symptoms quickly if and when they develop any and consult a professional immediately to get the best treatment.