Is Your Thyroid in Overdrive? Understanding Hyperthyroidism

Your thyroid may be small, but it plays a powerful role in how your body functions. This butterfly-shaped gland in your neck helps regulate metabolism, energy levels, heart rate, and hormone balance throughout the body. Left unaddressed, hyperthyroidism can affect nearly every system in the body, but with proper evaluation and personalized care, it can be effectively managed.

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid becomes overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone (T3 and T4). This excess can place the body in a constant “overdrive” state, leading to symptoms that are often not seen as a thyroid issue. It’s important to distinguish hyperthyroidism from other thyroid disorders, such as hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), or other diagnoses, as the causes, symptoms, and treatments differ significantly.

According to the American Thyroid Association, nearly 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease—and up to 60% don’t know it. Left undiagnosed or untreated, thyroid imbalances can increase the risk of serious health concerns, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and infertility.

Causes/Risk Factors of Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism can affect people of all ages and genders but it is most often seen in women between the ages of 30-60. Causes of hyperthyroidism include:

• Graves disease – is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to create antibodies that overstimulate the thyroid gland, causing it to overproduce thyroid hormone.
• Thyroiditis – inflammation of the thyroid gland
• Family history of hyperthyroidism
• Overactive thyroid nodules
• Too much iodine
• Too much thyroid medication
• Other chronic or autoimmune conditions
• Postpartum thyroid changes
• Periods of prolonged stress

Common Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

The overproduction of thyroid hormone can affect nearly every system in the body and vary widely from person to person. The most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

• Unexplained weight loss despite normal or increased appetite
• More frequent bowel movements
• Fast and/or irregular heart rate, palpitations
• Anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating
• Insomnia
• Protruding eyes (thyroid eye disease)
• Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
• Hand tremors
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Thinning hair
• Changes in menstruation
• Increased sweating and increased sensitivity to heat

Not every individual experiences all of these symptoms and often they can be misattributed to stress, aging, or other conditions. This is why thyroid disorders are often undiagnosed for many years.

Diagnosing and Managing Your Thyroid Imbalance – The Kaplan Method™

At the Kaplan Center, your visit begins with a comprehensive medical history and physical exam so your provider can fully understand your past and current health. Using a functional medicine approach, we evaluate all aspects of your health to identify the root cause—or causes—of your symptoms. Our goal is to restore resilience and rebuild your health—we’ll discuss your unique wellness goals and systematically address all of the health issues that have been uncovered.

Blood tests are central to confirming hyperthyroidism. In addition, we may order digestive tests, vitamin & mineral testing, and adrenal testing to evaluate the overall health of your thyroid and uncover imbalances and deficiencies that may exist.

Managing hyperthyroidism must take into account the cause of the hyperthyroidism, the symptoms you have been experiencing and the impact that it is having on your quality of life. Our goal is to find the best possible treatment options that work for your condition and your lifestyle. Our approach is a holistic one that may include any of the following:

• Medications such as beta blockers, antithyroid drugs, and radioactive iodine may be necessary (depending on the cause of your hyperthyroidism and the results of your thyroid lab tests)
• Dietary changes to improve your diminished gut function
• Appropriate vitamin and mineral supplementation
• Improvement of the adrenal-cortisol function by introducing activities to reduce stress such as therapy, meditation, yoga or exercise
• In certain cases, surgery to remove your overactive thyroid may be required

Living Well With Hyperthyroidism

With proper care, many people with hyperthyroidism are able to lead full, active lives. Ongoing monitoring of symptoms and lab values is important, as thyroid needs may change over time. Lifestyle strategies—such as prioritizing sleep, managing stress, and maintaining balanced nutrition—can further support recovery and stability.

If you suspect that you have a thyroid disorder or feel that you aren’t being treated well for a thyroid disorder that you do have, make an appointment to speak to one of our providers.