There are numerous symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, hyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. It can be caused by many factors, including over-consumption of iodine, Graves disease, viral infection of the thyroid and benign lesions or growths on the thyroid and pituitary gland.
Excessive Sweating
Excessive sweating is a symptom of hyperthyroidism disease. According to the Mayo Clinic website, sweating is one of the most common symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism, although sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, can be symptomatic of other health problems, including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, tuberculosis, parasites, nerve disorders and panic attacks. A person with hyperthyroidism and hyperhidrosis may exhibit reddening of the skin and may blush easily. The Mayo Clinic website states that younger adults are more likely to experience hyperthyroidism symptoms--including excessive sweating--than older adults, although older adults with hyperthyroidism may still have subtle signs or symptoms, including heat intolerance and fatigue with ordinary activities.
Weight Loss
Weight loss is a symptom of hyperthyroidism disease. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases or NIDDK--a division of the National Institutes of Health--states that the thyroid is a 2-inch-long, butterfly-shaped gland that weighs less than one ounce, and that the gland is situated in the front of the neck and consists of two lobes, one on each side of the trachea or windpipe. According to NIDDK, the thyroid gland produces two hormones: T3 and T4. Thyroid hormones influence a person's metabolism, brain growth, breathing and heart functions, along with her menstrual cycles, cholesterol levels and weight. In fact, one of the most easily observed signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism is recent unexplained weight loss, especially in the presence of other signs or symptoms that may indicate hyperthyroidism, including fatigue or muscle weakness, poor sleep, heat intolerance and mood swings. Unexplained weight loss in expectant mothers or an inability to gain weight during pregnancy may suggest an underlying disorder such as hyperthyroidism.
Tachycardia
Tachycardia is a symptom of hyperthyroidism disease. According to the American Thyroid Association or ATA, if a person's thyroid makes too much thyroid hormone, his body's functions tend to accelerate, including his heart rate. Tachycardia is the medical term for a heart rate that exceeds the normal range for a resting heart rate, which is around 70 beats per minute in healthy individuals. In a person with hyperthyroidism, his heart rate may be elevated both at rest and during physical exertion, and in people who have heart disease, hyperthyroidism can cause heart arrhythmias or abnormal electrical activity in the heart that, in some cases, can be life-threatening. The ATA states that hyperthyroidism's onset is usually gradual, and many people mistake hyperthyroid symptoms, including a racing heart, for nervousness.
