Thyrotoxicosis

At a Thyrotoxicosis, also Thyrotoxic crisis called, it is a disease that is related to the thyroid gland and its function. Under all circumstances, this condition must be treated by an experienced doctor. In this way, long-term effects and other diseases can be largely avoided.

What is thyrotoxicosis?

A Thyrotoxicosis translated means "poisoning with thyroid hormones".

It is a life-threatening metabolic disorder based on hyperthyroidism, i.e. an overactive thyroid gland.

That is, the body becomes inundated with an excessive amount of thyroid hormones and a variety of ailments arise.

Thyrotoxicosis can be identified by a sharp increase in hormone levels in the blood.

causes

The reasons for the presence of thyrotoxicosis can vary greatly from patient to patient. An incorrect or excessive dose of thyroid hormones can be a reason for the outbreak.

Stress-related situations such as myocardial infarction, accidents, burns, blood poisoning or an operation are also possible. Those affected often suffer from an overactive thyroid, which has not yet been diagnosed as such.

Less common causes of hyperfunction can be inflammation of the organ or hormone-producing tumors. Both the thyroid gland itself and the pituitary gland can be affected by a tumor.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

An outward sign of this overproduction is often an enlarged thyroid, also known as a "goiter". Another cause can be functional autonomy. Here parts of the thyroid gland or the entire thyroid tissue independently form hormones. These autonomous areas are then no longer controlled by the pituitary gland.

Thyroid patients therefore often only receive an accurate diagnosis after many weeks or months. They often report complaints such as inner restlessness, sleep disorders, panic and anxiety attacks, increased hair loss and accelerated digestion through to diarrhea.

They often have a great appetite, and there is a sudden and usually severe weight loss. Sweating, racing heart, and high blood pressure are also signs. In addition, tremors of the hands, shortness of breath or psychological changes such as irritability and nervousness can also be observed.

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the patient's well-being can be very limited. For some patients, a normal everyday life is temporarily impossible. The large number of symptoms then has a very strong effect on the mental and physical resilience of the patient and can also, for example, promote psychological changes such as depression.

Diagnosis & course of disease

The diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis is usually made by a competent internist or a doctor (endocrinologist) who specializes in hormones. This is done by doing some very simple blood tests on the patient. For example - the TSH value, the FT3 value, the FT4 value, as well as the TPO and TRAK value are determined.

The TSH value is the value that indicates the ability of the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce hormones. The values ​​FT3 and FT4 indicate the concentration of free hormones in the blood, and the TPO and TRAK values ​​provide a more precise indication of an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. These are the so-called thyroid antibodies, which are responsible for diseases such as Hashimoto's or Graves' disease.

To further confirm the diagnosis, specialists also perform an ultrasound scan of the thyroid gland to determine the size of the organ and / or order a scintigram. This widely used method involves injecting a small dose of radioactive fluid into the patient's vein and imaging the thyroid before the examination. This shows whether and how the thyroid is still working. Thyroid tumors or nodules can also be diagnosed more easily with this method.

Complications

As a rule, this disease does not heal itself, so that those affected are dependent on treatment in any case. Complications occur especially when no treatment is initiated and the malfunction of the thyroid gland persists. Many sufferers develop a goiter on the neck due to thyrotoxicosis.

This is usually visible and also clearly felt. There is also an underweight or overweight and inner restlessness. Sleep problems or severe panic attacks can also occur and have a very negative effect on the patient's quality of life. Many patients also suffer from hair loss and accelerated digestion. It is not uncommon for diarrhea to occur.

Furthermore, psychological complaints or depression often occur, which are accompanied by nervousness or irritability. The treatment of thyrotoxicosis is usually always based on the root cause. Usually there are no complications. In the case of a tumor, those affected are dependent on chemotherapy, which is often fraught with side effects.

When should you go to the doctor?

In the case of thyrotoxicosis, the person concerned is usually always dependent on treatment by a doctor. Self-healing cannot occur with this disease, and without treatment of thyrotoxicosis the symptoms usually continue to worsen and have a very negative effect on the quality of life of the person affected.

The earlier the thyrotoxicosis is recognized and treated, the better the further course of this disease will usually be. In the case of thyrotoxicosis, a doctor should be contacted if the person concerned is suffering from sleep problems or general internal restlessness. In many cases, hair loss or severe panic attacks also occur, with some people suffering from severe diarrhea as a result of the disease. This can also lead to palpitations or high blood pressure. Increased irritability often indicates thyrotoxicosis.

The disease can be detected by a general practitioner. Further treatment depends on the exact cause and is carried out by a specialist. As thyrotoxicosis can also lead to psychological upset or depression, psychological counseling should also be sought.

Treatment & Therapy

Treatment of the patient can be completely different depending on the cause of the thyrotoxicosis. If the cause of the discomfort is, for example, a tumor on the pituitary gland, it must be surgically removed and, if necessary, a subsequent chemotherapy initiated. In Graves' disease, a functional disorder in which the thyroid gland can become very enlarged and growths form, the thyroid gland is often partially or completely removed.

In combination, preparations are usually administered that are intended to inhibit the function of the thyroid gland. Patients who suffer from artificially produced thyrotoxicosis because they have taken too high a dose of thyroid hormones for a certain period of time benefit from a reduction in the hormone dose. Treating thyroid disease can be quite lengthy.

The body often only responds to the hormonal changes after days or weeks. Therefore, a lot of patience is required from the patient and the treating doctor during the course of therapy. Any comorbidities that may arise must also be treated. For example osteoporosis or an eye disease.

prevention

Preventing thyrotoxicosis is not easy and not always possible. However, if you feel the symptoms mentioned above and are not entirely sure, you should definitely consult a doctor. Particularly vigilant should be those who have a genetic history of thyroid disease in their families.

Patients who are already taking hormone preparations for the thyroid gland should have regular medical examinations carried out. Measuring your hormone levels at least twice a year is your best bet here. Depending on the type and course of the disease, an examination may even be indicated once a quarter or more frequently. The specialist determines the intervals.

Aftercare

In the case of a pathological hyperthyroidism, too high a quantity of hormones is released. This pathological condition is a burden for the organism. Often there are secondary symptoms caused by thyrotoxicosis. The most common illnesses include high blood pressure and an increased pulse rate, an intense need to eat while at the same time losing weight, and drowsiness or restlessness.

There is a risk of goiter on the thyroid gland. For this reason, follow-up care is necessary. The physical symptoms should be treated and eliminated so that the patient can live again free of symptoms. The thyroid gland is checked for growths at regular follow-up appointments. Treatment takes place through the administration of drugs that are supposed to regulate hormone production.

The specialist checks the healing success and tolerance. In the event of side effects, he prescribes more appropriate medicine. If there is no noticeable improvement or if healing takes too long, he varies the dosage. After a successful therapy, follow-up care is scheduled. For this, the patient must appear at certain intervals for the check-up appointment.

During the examination, the doctor determines both the activity and the size of the thyroid gland so that changes can be diagnosed at an early stage. If there is a suspicion of goiter formation, a biopsy of the thyroid tissue provides further information.

You can do that yourself

People with thyrotoxicosis suffer from numerous complaints that interfere with their everyday lives. In order to counteract these symptoms and to positively influence one's own quality of life, various self-help measures are possible.

For example, people with thyrotoxicosis often suffer from nervousness and even anxiety. Relaxation techniques that are integrated into everyday life are suitable for alleviating these complaints. These techniques can be used for both mental and physical relaxation. For example, meditation, yoga, autogenic training or Pilates are possible. Sports activities also help reduce nervousness and agitation. Endurance sports are particularly suitable. Patients with thyrotoxicosis can go jogging or swimming regularly. Sport can also help to reduce the muscle weakness that is also associated with thyrotoxicosis, as the muscles are actively trained and developed.

If the patient suffers from weight loss despite sufficient caloric intake, a nutritionist should be consulted according to the doctor. This creates a menu that is individually tailored to the patient, which enables an increased calorie intake. If the body weight does lose weight, medical interventions may be necessary. Those affected can at least partially counteract hair loss with an adapted diet and a generally healthy, as stress-free lifestyle as possible.