Your heart pounds now and then for no reason, you are irritable, you are losing weight while you are actually eating more, and at night you lie wide awake. It feels as if your engine is stuck in too high a gear and you cannot shift back down. That feeling, everything switched on, is typical of an overactive thyroid.
An overactive thyroid is less common than an underactive one, and in men even a little less so. That is exactly why it is not always considered straight away in men, while the symptoms can really disrupt your life.
What is an overactive thyroid?
An overactive thyroid, medically hyperthyroidism, means your thyroid makes too much hormone. Your metabolism shoots up, and your body burns energy as if you are constantly sprinting, even when you sit still.
In your blood you usually see this as a lowered TSH with a raised free T4 or free T3. Your pituitary pinches off the TSH because there is already too much thyroid hormone.
The pace at which this develops differs per person. For one it creeps in over months, for another it happens in weeks. That makes the picture not always easy to recognise, not even for yourself.
Which symptoms does it cause in men?
The symptoms are often the mirror image of an underactive thyroid. Where slow makes you brake, fast makes you go too hard. The body is effectively under constant tension.
Common signals are palpitations or a fast heart rate, restlessness and irritability, unwanted weight loss despite a normal appetite, excessive sweating, trembling hands and poor sleep. In men, your sexual function can suffer too, something that stays underexposed in most information.
What makes it extra confusing in men is that restlessness and irritability are quickly attributed to work pressure or stress. You think you have simply taken on too much, while your body is actually giving a physical signal that deserves attention.
What are the causes?
The best-known cause of an overactive thyroid is Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition in which your immune system drives your thyroid instead of slowing it down. Other causes include active thyroid nodules.
Because Graves is an autoimmune cause, a doctor can measure specific antibodies alongside your thyroid values. The Graves’ disease panel is aimed at that.
Overactive or underactive: what is the difference?
Because the two are opposites, it helps to see them side by side. The table below lays out the core, so you grasp more quickly which way your result points.
| Feature | Overactive thyroid (hyper) | Underactive thyroid (hypo) |
|---|---|---|
| Body pace | Too high, everything switched on | Too low, everything at a lower setting |
| Weight | Often unwanted loss | Often unwanted gain |
| Temperature | Quickly warm, sweating | Quickly cold |
| Heart rate | Fast, pounding | Often calm or slow |
| TSH in blood | Lowered | Raised |
If you want to read up on the slow side, you can turn to our piece on the underactive thyroid. And if you want to know what your TSH number means exactly, read about the TSH value.
How is an overactive thyroid treated?
An overactive thyroid is treated in several ways, depending on the cause and your situation. A doctor often starts with medicines that slow the production of thyroid hormone, so your body calms down again.
In other cases, treatments with radioactive iodine or, less often, surgery come into view. Which route fits best is decided by a specialist together with you. So it really is not a matter of trying something yourself.
Important to know: an untreated overactive thyroid can strain your heart and bones over time. That is exactly why it is so worthwhile to have symptoms checked in time, even if they feel harmless at first.
When to see your GP?
Palpitations, marked weight loss or persistent restlessness are symptoms you should not let run. According to Thuisarts.nl, it is wise to have your thyroid checked for this kind of symptom, because an untreated overactive thyroid can affect your heart and bones.
Your GP can assess your thyroid, and if you want a first picture yourself, a blood test can help. Always discuss an abnormal result with a doctor, and for acute, severe symptoms such as sudden heavy palpitations, contact a doctor or 112 immediately.
Sources
- NHG (Dutch College of General Practitioners). NHG-Standaard Schildklieraandoeningen.
- Thuisarts.nl. I have an overactive thyroid.
Disclaimer
Caliberhealth works with BIG-registered doctors who review your blood results. This article provides general information and is not a substitute for medical advice from a GP or specialist. A blood test is a tool, not a diagnosis in itself. For serious or persistent symptoms, contact your GP, or call 112 in an emergency.
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