□Zhengzhou People’s Hospital Yu Hua
There are many episodes in TV dramas where you blush and heartbeat after seeing your favorite person, but in real life you always blush and heartbeat. You have hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disease caused by increased thyroid function and excessive synthesis of thyroxine, resulting in an increase in the body’s metabolic rate.
What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is more common in young and middle-aged women, and it is more common in summer, that is, it is easy to develop and recur in summer. Dong Qijuan, director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Zhengzhou People’s Hospital, said: “If you feel a fast heartbeat, sweating, agitation, or other symptoms at the same time, you should consider whether you have hyperthyroidism.”
Clinically, patients with hyperthyroidism mainly Manifested as palpitation, shortness of breath, aggravated after activity, often with sinus tachycardia; intolerance to heat, sweating, increased appetite, weight loss, weight loss, fatigue; Fine tremors, hyperactivity, insomnia, lack of concentration, anxiety, irritability, suspicion, etc.; women may have menstrual disorders or even amenorrhea, and men may have impotence or breast development.
The goiter is symmetrical, and some patients are asymmetrical, and the goiter will move up and down with swallowing. There may be exophthalmos, which are divided into malignant exophthalmos and benign exophthalmos, and some patients with hyperthyroidism have no ocular symptoms or no obvious symptoms.
Typical hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and signs. For patients with atypical or complex conditions, laboratory tests are required to make a definite diagnosis.
How should hyperthyroidism be treated?
Currently, there are three common treatments for hyperthyroidism: drug therapy, iodine-131 therapy (radiotherapy) and surgery.
The drug treatment cycle is generally 1.5 to 2 years or longer. “For patients with poor drug treatment and recurrence, we will recommend iodine-131 or surgery.” Dong Qijuan said.
Iodine-131 and surgical treatment are both destructive treatments. After surgery, patients may experience symptoms of thyroxine deficiency (hypothyroidism), so they need to take “levothyroxine tablets” for a long time. Thyroid hormones remain at normal levels.
“Hyperthyroidism can be cured, but the medication cycle is long, and many patients feel that the symptoms have subsided, so they stop the medication on their own, which is the main reason for the recurrence of hyperthyroidism.” Dong Qijuan said, if patients want to stop the medication , It is best to go to the hospital for examination to ensure that all indicators are normal, and stop the drug under the guidance of a doctor.
Dong Qijuan reminded that patients with hyperthyroidism are prone to hyperthyroidism, and are easily agitated or fearful when slightly mentally stimulated, which can induce or aggravate the disease, so mental health care is also very important in the entire treatment process.
Patients with hyperthyroidism should also pay attention to their diet. It is recommended to maintain a balanced nutrition and eat more vegetables. Avoid stimulants such as alcohol, coffee, tea, nicotine, desserts, and soda. In particular, be careful with drinking alcohol and irritating carbonated drinks, because they can excite the cerebral cortex, aggravate the symptoms of hyperthyroidism or cause hypokalemic paralysis. Women of childbearing age who suffer from hyperthyroidism should try their best to control the condition before becoming pregnant; women with hyperthyroidism during lactation should be weaned as much as possible. Pay attention to timely hydration and potassium supplementation.