Overview of hyperthyroidism

Disease definition

Hyperthyroidism, referred to as hyperthyroidism, is a clinical syndrome of thyrotoxicosis caused by the excessive production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland itself, which leads to the acceleration of the body’s metabolic activities, increased excitability of the nervous, circulatory, and digestive systems, and a clinical syndrome of hypermetabolism. There are major clinical manifestations such as polyphagia, weight loss, heart palpitations, and sweating.

Epidemiology

The overall prevalence of hyperthyroidism in the general population is about 1.3%, of which about 0.5% have obvious symptoms. Generally speaking, women and smokers have a higher incidence of hyperthyroidism; young women are more likely to develop diffuse goiter with hyperthyroidism (Graves' disease), while the elderly are more likely to develop multinodular toxic goiter.

Infectious

The disease is not an infectious disease and is not infectious.

Type of disease

It is difficult to classify hyperthyroidism, and there is currently no clear classification of hyperthyroidism. The most common clinically is to divide hyperthyroidism into primary hyperthyroidism and secondary hyperthyroidism according to the location of the disease, or into clinical and subclinical hyperthyroidism according to the degree of the patient's hyperthyroidism.

Classification according to the location of the lesion

Primary hyperthyroidism

Refers to hyperthyroidism caused by the thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism caused by Graves disease, multinodular toxic goiter, and high-functioning adenoma are all primary hyperthyroidism. Due to the increased synthesis of thyroid hormone by the thyroid, feedback inhibits the secretion of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from the pituitary, so the blood TSH level is reduced.

Secondary hyperthyroidism

Rarely, it refers to hyperthyroidism caused by the increased secretion of TSH by the pituitary gland, which stimulates the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone.

Classified by degree

Clinical hyperthyroidism

Refers to the serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level below the normal range, while the triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) levels are elevated, often showing typical symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Subclinical hyperthyroidism

Refers to the serum TSH level is lower than the normal range or undetectable, but the T3 and T4 levels are in the normal range, without or accompanied by mild symptoms of hyperthyroidism.