Hyperthyroidism Causes

Common causes of hyperthyroidism in adults include:

• Diffuse Toxic Goiter (Grave's Disease)
  
  
  • Overactivity of the entire thyroid gland caused by antibodies in the blood which stimulate the thyroid to grow and secrete excessive amounts of thyroid hormone
  
  
  
• Toxic Adenoma ("hot nodule")
  
  
  • A dominant thyroid nodule, or lump, is overactive and secretes excess thyroid hormone
  
  
  
• Toxic Multinodular Goiter (Plummer's Disease)
  
  
  • One or more nodules or lumps in the thyroid becomes overactive
  
  
  
• Subacute Thyroiditis
  
  
  • Hyperthyroid phase of subacute thyroiditis, caused by viral infection or post-partum inflammatory process
    
    
  • Due to thyroid inflammation, excess hormone is released into the blood circulation
    
    
• Drug-Induced Hyperthyroidism
  
  
  • Iodine-induced hyperthyroidism: older population, typically in setting of preexisting nontoxic nodular goiter
    
    
  • amiodarone (Cordarone)
    
    
  • Iodine-containing contrast material used in radiology studies
    

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Hyperthyroidism - Symptoms Experienced

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