Overactive thyroid glands produce too much thyroid hormone, resulting in a condition called hyperthyroidism, according to womentowomen.com. Symptoms of overactive thyroid glands can include heart palpitations, insomnia, increased appetite, diarrhea, bulging eyes, trembling and weight loss. If not treated, symptoms typically become progressively worse. Though it is a chronic condition, it is treatable and manageable.
Anti-Thyroid Medication
Anti-thyroid medications are drugs that stop the thyroid gland from overproducing hormones, according to the Mayo Clinic. Drugs in this category include propylthiouracil and methimazole. Once treatment with anti-thyroid drugs starts, symptom relief can occur within 12 weeks, but treatment with these medications typically lasts at least one year. For some individuals, these medications remedy the problem of overactive thyroid glands, but for other people they work only temporarily.
Radioactive Iodine
The University of Maryland Medical Center lists radioactive iodine as a remedy for overactive thyroid glands. Liquid radioactive iodine calms the thyroid gland, shrinking it and causing the symptoms to subside, according to the Mayo Clinic. The University of Maryland states that nearly half of patients who receive this treatment for an overactive thyroid actually develop hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of hormones. In this case, patients may have to take replacement thyroid hormones.
Nutrition
Nutritional changes may reduce symptoms of an overactive thyroid gland, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Eating foods high in B-vitamins and iron, whole grains, and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; avoiding refined foods; avoiding possible food allergens like dairy or wheat; and limiting red meat can all help with symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Staying away from alcohol and tobacco and exercising on a regular basis can also minimize symptoms of the disorder.
Surgery
For people who do not tolerate anti-thyroid medications and those who do not want to take radioactive iodine, surgery may be an option in treating an overactive thyroid, says the Mayo Clinic. A thyroidectomy involves the removal of a large part of the thyroid gland. Risks of the surgery include damage to vocal chords and the parathyroid glands. Persons who undergo this surgical procedure require lifelong levothyroxine supplements to ensure they have the appropriate amounts of thyroid hormone. If the parathyroid glands are removed or damaged, medication may be needed to help regulate calcium levels in the blood.
