Do I have an overactive thyroid?

Understanding your thyroid

The human body is a complex and finely tuned system, where each part plays a crucial role in maintaining your health and wellbeing. Among these, your thyroid gland is a small but mighty player, significantly impacting your overall health. Yet, it's often overlooked until problems arise. Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, can have wide-ranging effects on your body.

Understanding hypothyroidism is important. Why? Because its symptoms are commonly mistaken for other health issues, leading to a misdiagnosis or delayed treatment. In this blog, we'll explore what an underactive thyroid is, how to recognise its signs, and what you can do about it. So, if you're feeling unusually tired, gaining weight without a clear reason, or experiencing other subtle health changes, it's time to learn more about this gland and its functions.

The role of your thyroid

Nestled in your neck lies your thyroid gland. This butterfly-shaped gland plays a massive role in your body's daily functions. It produces hormones that regulate your metabolism, impacting everything, from your heart rate to how quickly you burn calories.

The thyroid's main hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which control the speed of your metabolism. They influence how fast or slow your brain, heart, muscles, liver, and other parts of your body work. When everything is in balance, you feel great – energised, focused, and stable in weight. But when things change, it can lead to noticeable changes in your health and wellbeing.

The regulation of these hormones is a masterclass in biological control. It involves a feedback system involving your brain and pituitary gland. When thyroid hormone levels in your blood are low, the pituitary gland produces Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), which prompts the thyroid to produce more hormones. When the levels are back to normal, the pituitary gland slows down TSH production. This delicate balance ensures your body functions smoothly.

What is an underactive thyroid?

Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is when your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough of the crucial hormones T3 and T4. This deficiency can slow down your metabolism, impacting various body functions. It's a common condition, especially among women and older adults, but it can affect anyone at any age. The symptoms of hypothyroidism often develop slowly, over years. They can be subtle at first, and you might not even notice them. Common signs include:

• Feeling unusually tired and lacking energy
• Unexplained weight gain
• You might feel colder than others around you or have trouble staying warm
• Changes in the texture of your skin and hair texture (it can become dry and coarse)
• You may experience general muscle weakness and joint pain
• Brain fog’, which describes difficulty concentrating or focusing properly
• The impact of hypothyroidism on your mental health can be significant, leading to mood swings and sometimes long-term depression
• Constipation

These symptoms are often mistaken for normal aging or stress, which is why hypothyroidism can go unnoticed for a long time.

What causes an overactive thyroid?

The most frequent cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disorder. The condition causes your immune system to mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation and reduced hormone production. Other causes include certain medication, radiation therapy, and surgery to remove your thyroid gland.

Diagnosing an overactive thyroid can be tricky

The symptoms of hypothyroidism often resemble those of other conditions.

The most reliable way to diagnose hypothyroidism is through blood tests that measure Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and thyroxine (T4) levels. High levels of TSH and low levels of T4 in your blood can indicate an underactive thyroid. These tests are sensitive and can detect even mild (subclinical) hypothyroidism.

Get a private thyroid scan

In some cases, your doctor might perform other tests to determine the cause of your hypothyroidism. These can include antibody tests to identify autoimmune thyroiditis or imaging tests to examine the thyroid gland's size and presence of nodules.

Top tips to managing life with an overactive thyroid

While managing hypothyroidism can be challenging, it doesn’t have to be with the right treatment plan in place. Treating the condition usually involves a combination of medical treatment, lifestyle adjustments, and sometimes, dietary changes. These can help keep your hormone levels balanced and your symptoms eased.

Managing an overactive thyroid though medication

Medication for an overactive thyroid is usually called thioamides. These work by stopping your thyroid from producing excess hormones. When your hormone levels are balanced and under control, you might be able to reduce the dosage of medication you take.

Managing an overactive thyroid though radioactive iodine therapy

Radioactive iodine therapy is another common long-term treatment. It involves taking radioactive iodine orally, which gradually shrinks your thyroid gland and reduces its hormone production.

Managing an overactive thyroid though surgery

In some cases, you can have surgery to remove some or all your thyroid – this is known as a thyroidectomy. This surgery can be performed through a small cut at the front of your neck or through your mouth. The size and location of the cut depends on the extent of the gland that needs to be removed.

Surgery for an overactive thyroid is usually used when other treatment options haven’t helped to control your hormone level. It is also more common if you have a pre-existing condition that has caused severe hypothyroidism, such as Graves’ Disease, which is an autoimmune disease that leads to an overactive thyroid.

Regular check-ups with your doctor can help you stay on track with your treatment plan.

Tackling stress to keep symptoms at bay

Many case studies show that there could be a direct relationship between stress and autoimmune thyroid disease. Managing your stress levels and taking care of your general health and wellbeing can help you regulate your hormones and manage symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Research by The National Library of Medicine explains that stress can change the level of hormones in your body.

“In response to stress, the level of various hormones changes. Reactions to stress are associated with enhanced secretion of a number of hormones including glucocorticoids, catecholamines, growth hormone and prolactin, the effect of which is to increase mobilization of energy sources and adapt the individual to its new circumstance.” The National Library of Medicine

Techniques like meditation, yoga, or simply engaging in hobbies you enjoy can help you manage stress. Regular, moderate exercise can also improve your heart health and overall wellbeing, while helping provide an increase in mental clarity and concentration levels. Eating a balanced diet with a variety of nutrients is also key. Focus on fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Some foods, like soy and gluten, might interfere with your thyroid function or medication absorption, so it’s always best to discuss your diet and lifestyle with your doctor to make sure it matches your needs.

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Getting help for your overactive thyroid

We offer a wide range of services for thyroid issues with a network of brilliant consultants. You can book an appointment with one of our consultants to get diagnosed and find the best treatment for you.