eye problems – such as eye irritation, double vision or bulging eyes.

Further problemsĪn overactive thyroid can sometimes lead to further problems, particularly if it's not treated or well controlled.

some medicines such as amiodarone, which can be used to treat an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)įind out more about the causes of an overactive thyroid.

lumps (nodules) on the thyroid – this extra thyroid tissue can produce thyroid hormones, causing your levels to be too high.

Graves' disease – a condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the thyroid (about 3 in every 4 people with an overactive thyroid have Graves' disease).

There are several reasons why your thyroid can become overactive.

You'll usually see a specialist in hormonal conditions (endocrinologist) to discuss which treatment is best for you.įind out more about how an overactive thyroid is treated. surgery to remove some or all of your thyroid, so that it no longer produces thyroid hormonesĮach of these treatments has benefits and drawbacks.radioiodine treatment – where a type of radiotherapy is used to destroy cells in the thyroid, reducing its ability to produce thyroid hormones.medicine that stops your thyroid producing too much of the thyroid hormones.Treatments for an overactive thyroidĪn overactive thyroid is usually treatable. If the blood test shows that you have an overactive thyroid, you may be referred for further tests to identify the cause.įind out more about how an overactive thyroid is diagnosed. They'll ask about your symptoms and if they think you might have a thyroid problem, they can arrange for a blood test to check how well your thyroid is working. See a GP if you have symptoms of an overactive thyroid. an irregular and/or unusually fast heart rate (palpitations)įind out more about the symptoms of an overactive thyroid.

swelling in your neck from an enlarged thyroid gland (goitre).Symptoms of an overactive thyroidĪn overactive thyroid can cause a wide range of symptoms, including: Having too much of these hormones can cause unpleasant and potentially serious problems that may need treatment.Īn overactive thyroid can affect anyone, but it's about 10 times more common in women than men, and typically happens between 20 and 40 years of age. It produces hormones that affect things such as your heart rate and body temperature. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe (trachea). An overactive thyroid, also known as hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, is where the thyroid gland produces too much of the thyroid hormones.

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