Can hyperthyroidism last for years?
Once treatment with antithyroid medicine begins, your thyroid hormone levels may not move into the normal range for several weeks or months. The total average treatment time is about 1 to 2 years, but treatment can continue for many years.
Do you have hyperthyroidism for life?
Hyperthyroidism typically does not go away on its own. Most people need treatment to make hyperthyroidism go away. After treatment, many people develop hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone).
How is the diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism determined?
The choice of treatment depends on the underlying diagnosis, the presence of contraindications to a particular treatment modality, the severity of hyperthyroidism, and the patient’s preference. Hyperthyroidism is an excessive concentration of thyroid hormones in tissues causing a characteristic clinical state.
How often does hyperthyroidism occur in the population?
Overall population prevalence of hyperthyroidism is 0.3%-2% and annual incidence is 0.1-4 per 1000. 1 2 Graves’ disease accounts for up to 80% of cases, with peak incidence at age 30-50 (F:M 10:1). In older adults, toxic adenoma/multinodular goitre are responsible for a higher proportion of cases.
When to seek specialist advice for hyperthyroidism?
Before initiation, seek guidance from a local endocrinologist on dosing, monitoring, or other aspects, if needed. Pregnancy—Propylthiouracil is the agent of choice for patients who are pregnant or planning to conceive. Initiation is not usually recommended in primary care. Seek specialist advice in such cases.
Can a thyroid nodule be a sign of hypothyroidism?
Thyroiditis can also occur as the result of pregnancy. This is usually short-term. Thyroid nodules are common in both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. More often than not, these nodules are benign. In hyperthyroidism, these nodules can lead to an increase in your thyroid’s size or produce too much T4 thyroid hormone.
Is it common for older patients to have hypothyroidism?
While some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are similar to those in younger patients, it is not uncommon for both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism to be manifest in subtle ways in older patients, often masquerading as diseases of the bowel or heart or a disorder of the nervous system.
The choice of treatment depends on the underlying diagnosis, the presence of contraindications to a particular treatment modality, the severity of hyperthyroidism, and the patient’s preference. Hyperthyroidism is an excessive concentration of thyroid hormones in tissues causing a characteristic clinical state.
Can a person with overactive thyroid have hyperthyroidism?
As in all hyperthyroid patients, if there is too much thyroid hormone, every function of the body tends to speed up (see Hyperthyroidism brochure ). However, while the younger patient often has multiple symptoms related to the overactive thyroid, the elderly patient may only have one or two symptoms.
How to tell if an elderly patient has thyroid disease?
To make this diagnosis in the elderly patient, a doctor often needs a high index of suspicion. Clues to the possibility of hypothyroidism include a positive family history of thyroid disease, past treatment for hyperthyroidism, or a history of extensive surgery and/or radiotherapy to the neck.