What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is a common disease that occurs in people between the ages of 20 and 40, and is more common in women than in men. This also shows that young and middle-aged people are the main group for preventing hyperthyroidism. The obvious characteristics of this disease are regional characteristics. It is worth noting that this disease also has the characteristics of onset in adolescence, but the symptoms are milder. Let’s take a look at the following introduction to the specific symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

(1) Abnormalities in energy metabolism and sugar, protein, and fat metabolism: In hyperthyroidism, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) increases, which may lead to hot flashes, sweating, weight loss, low work efficiency, muscle wasting, weakness, fatigue, negative balance of protein metabolism, decreased or normal cholesterol, disappearance of subcutaneous fat, accelerated fat metabolism, increased breakdown of liver and muscle glycogen, accelerated glycogenolysis, increased blood sugar or postprandial hyperglycemia. Severe abnormalities in sugar metabolism may lead to diabetes.

(2) Disorders in water-salt metabolism and vitamin metabolism: Thyroid hormones can promote diuresis, potassium excretion and magnesium excretion. Therefore, hypokalemic periodic paralysis and hypomagnesemia are prone to occur in hyperthyroidism. The movement of calcium and phosphorus is accelerated, and there is often high urine calcium, high urine phosphorus and high urine magnesium. Over time, bone decalcification and osteoporosis may occur. When hypocalcemia occurs and the patient does not take in enough calcium, a small number of patients may develop secondary hyperparathyroidism. At the same time, due to poor absorption, rapid metabolism and high consumption in hyperthyroidism, multiple vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin B1, C, D and trace element deficiencies may occur.

(3) Symptoms of abnormal skin and muscle metabolism: negative metabolic balance of protein, negative balance of creatine, negative balance of nitrogen, decreased ATP, decreased creatine phosphate, prone to hyperthyroid myopathy, eye muscle weakness, myasthenia gravis, or frequent flaccid paralysis, myxedema of the skin, more common on the eyelids and anterior tibia, softening or deformation and infection of nails.

Negative balance of protein, negative balance of creatine, negative balance of nitrogen

(4) Symptoms of the cardiovascular system: Thyroid hormones excite the myocardial sympathetic nerves and enhance the effects of catecholamines, resulting in tachycardia, arrhythmia, increased heart sounds, increased pulse pressure, and even cardiac enlargement and apical systolic murmur. The elderly are prone to atrial fibrillation, angina pectoris, and even hyperthyroid heart disease and coronary heart disease, leading to heart failure.

(5) Mental and nervous system symptoms: Thyroid hormones can excite nerves and muscles, which can easily cause mental tension, impatience, agitation, insomnia, dizziness, worry, irritability, talkativeness, hand tremors, hyperreflexia, and in severe cases, hyperthyroidism psychosis and autonomic dysfunction may occur.