No or Few Breaks

One of the most frequent complaints from ICU nurses and other staff members is that they have to be engaged with their job at all times. They can’t have an off moment or take a break from monitoring the patients in the ICU because even a second away can have disastrous results. Even if they are given a federally- or state-mandated break, they really can’t escape the pressures of the ICU because they may be one of just a few who are on duty at any given time.

Tele ICU services can give in-person ICU staff members the breaks they need during their shifts and allow them to actually disengage for that time. This is because the remote monitoring system is staffed by fully licensed ICU personnel who can handle a portion of the load that threatens to crush in-person care teams. There is always a second eye on the patients in a remote monitoring situation, so an ICU nurse or physician can relax a little bit because they know someone has their back.

Burnout

While there are several factors that lead to ICU staff burnout, long shifts are a major contributor. Although it has long been the status quo to have nurses working 12-hour shifts in the ICU, there’s no reason why it has to remain the norm. With an eICU system, in-person shifts can be shortened because there will be continuity of care no matter who is on shift.

A patient’s electronic medical record will be continuously updated and their vitals are constantly monitored both remotely and in-person, ensuring their care is seamless regardless of who their nurse or physician is or where they’re physically located. Reducing the length of shifts for ICU staff members is a major step toward preventing burnout, mostly because they aren’t under constant stress and pressure for 12 hours at a time.

Compassion Fatigue

Patients in ICUs are often there for extended periods of time, which means ICU staff members often become more attached to their patients than in other units. Unfortunately, many of these patients also die and it becomes extremely challenging for ICU staff members to deal with the amount of sickness and death they see. This is known as compassion fatigue.

The good news is that eICUs are improving patient outcomes, which means fewer patients are dying when tele ICU technology is in place. Additionally, this tech is reducing patients’ length of stay in an ICU, so attachment isn’t as much of a problem as it can be in ICUs without this technology.

Conclusion

Overall, ICU professionals have much more stress and pressure than others in the medical field. Fortunately, solutions are available starting with the implementation of a remote ICU monitoring system.

What causes hyperhidrosis?
Sweating is natural, which helps the body stay cool. People sweat more in warm temperatures, when they exercise, or in response to situations that make them nervous, angry, embarrassed, or afraid.

Excessive sweating occurs without such triggers. People with hyperhidrosis appear to have overactive sweat glands.

When excessive sweating affects the hands, feet, and armpits, it is called primary or focal hyperhidrosis. In most cases, no cause can be found. It seems to run in families.

If the sweating occurs as a result of another medical condition, it is called secondary hyperhidrosis. The sweating may be all over the body or it may be in one area.

The following conditions may cause secondary hyperhidrosis:

• Acromegaly
• Anxiety conditions
• Cancer
• Carcinoid syndrome
• Certain medicines and substances of abuse
• Glucose control disorders
• Heart disease, such as heart attack
• Overactive thyroid
• Lung disease
• Menopause
• Parkinson disease
• Pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor)
• Spinal cord injury
• Stroke
• Tuberculosis or other infections

What are the symptoms of hyperhidrosis?
The primary symptom of hyperhidrosis is wetness.  Moist palms of the hands, moist soles of the feet, and sweating that soaks through clothing are the common symptoms.

How is hyperhidrosis diagnosed?
During physical exam, your doctor may notice visible signs of sweating. Your doctor may ask following questions to know more about your sweating:

• Location. Does it occur on your face, palms, or armpits, or all over the body?
• Time pattern. Does it occur at night? Did it begin suddenly?
• Triggers. Does the sweating occur when you are reminded of something that upsets you (such as a traumatic event)?
• Other symptoms. Weight loss, pounding heartbeat, cold or clammy hands, fever, lack of appetite.

The doctor may also do the following tests to diagnose excessive sweating:

• Starch-iodine test. An iodine solution is applied to the sweaty area. After it dries, starch is sprinkled on the area. The starch-iodine combination turns a dark blue color wherever there is excess sweat.
• Paper test. Special paper is placed on the affected area to absorb the sweat, and then weighed. The heavier it weights, the more sweat has accumulated.
• Blood tests. These may be ordered if thyroid problems or other medical conditions are suspected.
• Imaging tests may be ordered if a tumor is suspected.

How is hyperhidrosis treated?
A wide range of treatments are available to treat hyperhidrosis. Your doctor may choose to treat you with one or more of the following treatment options:

• Antiperspirants. Excessive sweating may be controlled with strong antiperspirants, which plug the sweat ducts. Products containing 10% to 20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate are the first line of treatment for underarm sweating. Some people may be prescribed a product containing a higher dose of aluminum chloride, which is applied nightly onto the affected areas. Antiperspirants can cause skin irritation, and large doses of aluminum chloride can damage clothing. Note: Deodorants do not prevent sweating, but are helpful in reducing body odor.
• Medicines. Medicines may prevent stimulation of sweat glands. These are prescribed for certain types of hyperhidrosis such as excessive sweating of the face. Medicines have side effects and are not right for everyone.
• Iontophoresis. This procedure uses electricity to temporarily turn off the sweat gland. It is most effective for sweating of the hands and feet. The hands or feet are placed into water, and then a gentle current of electricity is passed through it. The electricity is gradually increased until the person feels a light tingling sensation. The therapy lasts about 10 to 30 minutes and requires several sessions. Side effects, although rare, include skin cracking and blisters.
• Botox. Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) is used to treat severe underarm, palmar, and plantar sweating. This condition is called primary axillary hyperhidrosis. Botulinum toxin injected into the underarm temporarily blocks the nerves that stimulate sweating. Side effects include injection-site pain and flu-like symptoms. Botox used for sweating of the palms can cause mild, but temporary weakness and intense pain.
• Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). In severe cases, a minimally-invasive surgical procedure called sympathectomy may be recommended when other treatments do not work. The procedure cuts a nerve, turning off the signal that tells the body to sweat excessively. It is usually done on people whose palms sweat much more heavily than normal. It may also be used to treat extreme sweating of the face. ETS does not work as well for those with excessive armpit sweating.
• Underarm surgery. This is surgery to remove the sweat glands in the armpits. Methods used include laser, curettage (scraping), excision (cutting), or liposuction. These procedures are done using local anesthesia.

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.

Atopic dermatitis is most common in infants. It may start as early as age 2 to 6 months. Many people outgrow it by early adulthood.

What causes atopic dermatitis?
What exactly causes atopic dermatitis is not known. Researchers believe an immune reaction in the skin causes it. When a substance from inside or outside the body triggers the immune system, it over-reacts and produces inflammation. It is this inflammation that causes the skin to become red, rashy and itchy.

Researchers also believe that a combination of genetics and other factors are involved.

People with atopic dermatitis may be more sensitive because their skin lacks specific proteins that maintain the skin’s barrier to water.

What are the symptoms of atopic dermatitis?
The main symptoms of atopic dermatitis are an itchy, scaly, and red rash on the skin. Intense itching is the common symptom. Itching may start even before the rash appears. Atopic dermatitis appears typically on the cheeks, arms, and legs, but can appear anywhere on the body.

The following symptoms (skin changes) occur due to atopic dermatitis:

• Blisters with oozing and crusting
• Dry skin all over the body, or areas of bumpy skin on the back of the arms and front of the thighs
• Ear discharge or bleeding
• Raw areas of the skin from scratching
• Skin color changes, such as more or less color than the normal skin tone
• Skin redness or inflammation around the blisters
• Thickened or leather-like areas, which can occur after long-term irritation and scratching

The type and location of the rash can depend on the age of the person:

• In children younger than age 2, the rash may begin on the face, scalp, hands, and feet. The rash is often itchy and forms blisters that ooze and crust over.
• In older children and adults, the rash is more often seen on the inside of the knees and elbow. It can also appear on the neck, hands, and feet.
• In adults, the rash may be limited to the hands, eyelids, or genitals.
• Rashes may occur anywhere on the body during a bad outbreak.

How is atopic dermatitis diagnosed?
Your doctor will look at your skin and perform a physical exam. The doctor may suspect atopic dermatitis based on how your skin looks, your personal and family history. The doctor may do a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other causes of dry, itchy skin.

The doctor may do allergy skin testing in people with hard-to-treat atopic dermatitis, other allergy symptoms, or skin rashes that form only on specific areas of the body after exposure to a particular chemical.

The doctor may order cultures for infection of the skin.  If you have atopic dermatitis, you may get infections easily.

How is atopic dermatitis treated?
Depending on the severity of the symptoms, atopic dermatitis is treated with topical medications, phototherapy, or immunosuppressant medications.

Initially, the doctor may prescribe the following medications:

• Mild cortisone (steroid) cream or ointment. May prescribe a stronger medicine if this does not work.
• Topical immunomodulators (TIMs) for anyone over 2 years old.
• Creams or ointments that contain coal tar or anthralin to be used for thickened areas.
• Barrier repair creams containing ceramides.

The doctor may prescribe the following other treatments:

• Antibiotic creams or pills if your skin is infected
• Drugs that suppress the immune system
• Phototherapy, a medical treatment in which your skin is carefully exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light
• Short-term use of systemic steroids (oral or intravenous)

The doctor may recommend the following skin care measures to cut down on the need for medicines.

• Use a moisturizer, topical steroid cream, or other medicine your provider prescribes.
• Take oral antihistamine medicines to reduce severe itching.
• Keep your fingernails cut short. Wear light gloves during sleep if nighttime scratching is a problem.
• Keep your skin moist by using ointments (such as petroleum jelly), creams, or lotions 2 to 3 times a day.
• A humidifier to keep home air moist.

When washing or bathing:

• Expose your skin to water for as short a time as possible. Quick, more cooling baths are better than long, hot baths.
• Use gentle body washes and cleansers instead of regular soaps.
• Don’t scrub or dry your skin too hard or for too long.
• Apply lubricating creams, lotions, or ointment to your skin while it is still damp after bathing. This will help trap moisture in your skin.

Avoid the following things that can make your symptoms worse:

• Irritants, such as wool and lanolin
• Strong soaps or detergents, as well as chemicals and solvents
• Sudden changes in body temperature and stress, which may cause sweating
• Triggers that cause allergy symptoms

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.

The sound of wheezing is most noticeable when breathing out, but it may also be heard when breathing in.

What causes wheezing?
Wheezing is mainly caused by narrowed airways or inflammation. Many things can cause problems in airways.

The following are the common causes of wheezing:

• Breathing a foreign object into the airways to the lungs
• Damage and widening of the large airways in the lungs (bronchiectasis)
• Swelling and mucus buildup in the smallest air passages in the lungs (bronchiolitis)
• Swelling and mucus buildup in the main passages that carry air to the lungs (bronchitis)
• Asthma
• COPD, especially when a respiratory infection is present
• Acid reflux disease
• Heart failure (cardiac asthma)
• Insect sting that causes an allergic reaction
• Certain medicines (mainly aspirin)
• Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
• Smoking
• Viral infection, especially in infants younger than age 2

What are the symptoms of wheezing?
A harsh, high-pitched whistling sound while breathing is the main symptoms of the wheezing. Shortness of breath may also occur along with wheezing.

How is wheezing diagnosed?
The doctor will perform a physical exam and review medical history and symptoms. Questions about your wheezing may include when it started, how long it has lasted when it is worse, and what might have caused it. The physical exam may include listening to the lung sounds with a stethoscope.

The doctor may order the following tests for diagnosis:

• Chest x-ray
• Lung function tests
• Blood tests to check oxygen level

How is wheezing treated?
The doctor will treat the underlying condition, such as inflammation, asthma, bronchitis, or others that caused wheezing. He/she may recommend hospitalization if:

• Breathing is particularly difficult
• The person needs to be closely watched by medical personnel
• Medicines need to be given through a vein (IV)
• Supplemental oxygen is required

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.

What causes Zika?
Zika is caused by Zika virus. This virus is named after the Zika forest in Uganda, where the virus was first discovered in 1947.

How is Zika transmitted or spread?
Aedes mosquitoes spread the Zika virus from person to person.

• Aedes mosquitoes acquire the virus when they feed on infected people. They then spread the virus when they bite other people.
• The Aedes mosquitoes that spread Zika are the same type that spread dengue fever and chikungunya virus. These mosquitoes usually feed during the day.

Zika can be passed from a mother to her baby.

• This can happen in the uterus or at the time of birth.
• Zika is not spread through breastfeeding.

The virus can be spread through sex.

• People with Zika can spread the disease to their sex partners before symptoms begin, while they have symptoms, and after symptoms end.
• The virus can also be passed during sex by people with Zika who never develop symptoms.
• No one knows how long Zika remains in sperm and vaginal fluids, or how long it can be spread during sex.
• The virus remains in semen longer than in other body fluids (blood, urine, vaginal fluids).

Zika can also be spread through:

• Blood transfusion
• Exposure in a laboratory

What are the symptoms of Zika?
In most cases, there are no symptoms. Only about 20% of people infected with Zika virus will have symptoms. Symptoms typically occur 2 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms are usually mild and last for a few days to a week before going away entirely.

The symptoms of Zika include:

• Fever
• Rash
• Joint pain
• Red eyes
• Muscle pain
• Headache

How is Zika diagnosed?
The doctor will perform a physical exam and review your symptoms. He/she will also ask you about recent travel to an area where the virus is present.

If you have symptoms of Zika, the doctor will order blood and urine tests to look for Zika and other viruses like dengue and chikungunya.

How is Zika treated?
There is no specific treatment for Zika. There is no vaccine for Zika. Zika infection has to run its course just like flu.

The doctor may suggest the following steps to help relieve symptoms:

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain and fever.
• Don’t take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory until your doctor confirms that you do not have dengue. These medicines can cause bleeding in people with dengue.

What are the possible complications of Zika?
A Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a rare condition called microcephaly to the baby. It occurs when the brain does not grow as it should in the womb or after birth and causes babies to be born with a smaller-than-normal head.

Some people infected with Zika have later developed Guillain-Barré syndrome. It is a rare disorder, in which your immune system damages your peripheral nervous system. This causes neurologic symptoms of numbing and tingling sensation. This may eventually lead to paralysis. It is not clear why this may occur.

Can Zika be prevented?
There is no vaccine to protect against Zika. The best way to avoid getting the virus is to avoid getting bit by mosquitoes.

If you get Zika, try to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, so you do not pass the virus to others.

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.

Over a period of time, high blood glucose levels can cause many health problems. Diabetes is not a curable disease, but we can take certain steps to manage it and stay healthy.

What are the types of diabetes?
The most common types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make insulin. It is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and young adults, although it can occur at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to keep their blood glucose at an optimum level.

Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body does not respond appropriately to insulin. This condition is called insulin resistance.  Although type 2 diabetes can occur at any age, it mostly occurs in middle-aged and older people. Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes.

Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs in some women when they are pregnant. It usually goes away after the childbirth. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

What are the complications of diabetes?
Over a period of time, high blood glucose or sugar levels lead to following health problems:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Eye problems
• Dental disease
• Nerve damage
• Foot problems

What are the symptoms of diabetes?
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can occur suddenly and can be severe. Some symptoms of type 2 diabetes are same as type 1 diabetes. In many cases, there are no symptoms, but when symptoms develop, they appear gradually. The following are the common symptoms of diabetes:

• Frequent urination.
• Increased thirst.
• Increased hunger.
• Dry mouth.
• Fatigue.
• Unintentional weight loss.
• Cuts and wounds take longer to heal.
• Blurred vision.

Other symptoms of type 2 diabetes
While the symptoms of type 2 diabetes can be the same as type 1 diabetes, there are other symptoms specific to type 2 diabetes. The following are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes:

• Slow-healing sore or cuts
• Frequent infections
• Itching of the skin in groin area
• Yeast infections
• Weight gain
• Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
• Impotence

What are the treatments for diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes neither can be prevented nor can be cured. The main aim of treatment for diabetes is to keep blood glucose levels as normal as possible. Treatment for either type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes is the same involving medicines, diet, and exercise to control blood sugar level.

The first line of treatment for people with type 1 diabetes is taking insulin every day to keep their blood glucose as normal as possible.

Type 2 diabetes can be controlled or even reversed with healthy diet, lifestyle changes, losing weight, and exercise.

Diabetes Education
Diabetes is a complex disease that requires daily self-management and other measures. Every diabetic patient should learn as much as possible about best ways to manage their diabetes. Your doctor will be able to educate you about various ways to manage your diabetes.

Every diabetic patient should visit their doctor at least 3 to 4 times a year. This way, your doctor will be able to treat as well as educate you about best ways to get better control over your blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels. Controlling them reduces your risk of diabetic complications, such as kidney disease, eye disease, nerve disease, heart attack, and stroke.

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.

What causes hemangioma?
About one-third of hemangiomas are present at birth. The rest appear in the first several months of life. The hemangioma may form in the top skin layers (capillary hemangioma), deeper in the skin (cavernous hemangioma), or a mixture of both.

What are the possible complications of a hemangioma?
The following complications may occur from a hemangioma:

• Bleeding (especially if the hemangioma is injured)
• Problems with breathing and eating
• Psychological problems due to skin appearance
• Secondary infections and sores
• Visible changes in the skin
• Vision problems

What are the symptoms of a hemangioma?
Most hemangiomas from on the face and neck. The following are the symptoms of a hemangioma:

• A red to reddish-purple, raised sore (lesion) on the skin
• A massive, raised, tumor with blood vessels

How is a hemangioma diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical exam to look for a hemangioma. If the buildup of blood vessels is deep inside the body, the doctor may order a CT or MRI scan for diagnosis.

How is hemangioma treated?
Most of the small or uncomplicated hemangiomas may not require treatment. They often go away on their own and the appearance of the skin returns to normal. About half go away by age 5, and almost all disappear by age 9.

Cavernous hemangiomas that involve the eyelid and block vision are usually treated with lasers or steroid injections to shrink them. This allows vision to develop normally. Large cavernous hemangiomas or mixed hemangiomas may be treated with steroids given orally or injected into the hemangioma.

Doctors also use beta-blocker medicines to help reduce the size of a hemangioma.

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.

Causes
A number of factors are considered to be responsible for causing Urosepsis. Some of them are kidney stones, indwelling catharsis, the invasion of the chlamydia bacteria, benign prostate hyperplasia, and Urinary Tract Infections caused due to the presence of the Escherichia coli bacterium. When bacteria enter into the bladder through the urethra and starts to multiply, causing infections, Urosepsis occurs.

Symptoms
Developed as a complication of Urinary Tract Infections, some of the common symptoms of Urosepsis are:

• Pain at the lower back, at the location of the kidneys
• Vomiting and nausea
• Fever, extreme tiredness
• Difficulty in breathing, and increased heart rate
• Low or high body temperature
• Abnormal heart functioning with fast breathing

When serious, Urosepsis may result in septic shock, where the blood pressure falls drastically, leading to the shutting down of the other organs in the body.

Urosepsis Victims
Compared to young people, it is the older people who are more prone to suffer from Urosepsis. Women, older adults, children along with patients with low-immunity diseases such as HIV and serious kidney conditions or infections are also at greater risk of developing this condition.

Complications
Septic shock is the most potential complications of Urosepsis. For those who suffer from severe sepsis, septic shock may occur, leading to extremely decreased oxygen flow to the vital organs of the body and low blood pressure. Acute damage to the heart and to the brain are also two of the common complications caused due to Urosepsis. Older women who develop Urosepsis often become susceptible to secondary infections, following the Urinary Tract Infection.

Treatment
Treating Urosepsis can be complex, though early diagnosis always results in better results. Though there are various prescribed antibiotic drugs are available for treating Urosepsis, sometimes surgery becomes necessary to remove the very source of infections when medications fail to show promising results.

Prevention
Prevention of Urosepsis can be possible through following a few measures, such as, by avoiding urine retention for long hours, emptying the urinary bladder frequently, maintaining some hygienic anal cleaning steps, every time after passing the stool, such as using one clean tissue at a time. Plus, by maintaining a strong immunity power of the body, keeping the low-immunity diseases at bay and preventing urinary issues to develop, risks of Urosepsis can be prevented.

Remember, Urosepsis is an advanced and immediately condition which can be deadly. Having a worldwide mortality rate of 40%, it’s important to know about its probable symptoms and treatment options to opt for the necessary treatment on time. In case one notices any sign or symptom of this disease or suspect Urosepsis, he or she should consult with their doctor immediately.

What causes Hodgkin lymphoma?
The cause of Hodgkin lymphoma is not known. Hodgkin lymphoma is most common among people 15 to 35 years old and 50 to 70 years old. Past infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is thought to contribute to some cases. People with HIV infection are at increased risk compared to the general population.

What are the symptoms of Hodgkin lymphoma?
The first symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is often a swollen lymph node that appears without a known cause. The disease can spread to nearby lymph nodes. Later it may spread to the spleen, liver, bone marrow, or other organs.

One or more of the following symptoms may occur due to this disease:

• Fatigue
• Fever and chills that come and go
• Itching all over the body that cannot be explained
• Loss of appetite
• Drenching night sweats
• Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, armpits, or groin (swollen glands)
• Weight loss that cannot be explained

The following are the other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

• Coughing, chest pains, or breathing problems if there are swollen lymph nodes in the chest
• Excessive sweating
• Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs due to swollen spleen or liver
• Pain in lymph nodes after drinking alcohol
• Skin blushing or flushing

How is Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed?
The doctor will perform a physical exam and check body areas with lymph nodes to feel if they are swollen.

Doctors usually do the following procedures for diagnosis:

• Blood chemistry tests including protein levels, liver function tests, kidney function tests, and uric acid level
• Bone marrow biopsy
• CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis
• Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia and white blood count
• PET (positron emission tomography) scan

If tests confirm Hodgkin lymphoma, more tests will be done to see how far cancer has spread. This is called staging. Staging helps guide treatment and follow-up.

How is Hodgkin lymphoma treated?
A doctor formulates a treatment plan for Hodgkin lymphoma depending on the following factors:

• The type of Hodgkin lymphoma (there are different forms of Hodgkin lymphoma)
• The stage (where the disease has spread)
• Whether the tumor is more than 4 inches (10 cm) wide
• Your age and other medical issues
• Other factors, including weight loss, night sweats, and fever

Depending on the above factors, your doctor may treat you with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both. Your doctor will explain and discuss with you about the specifics of treatment.

Your doctor may give high-dose chemotherapy if Hodgkin lymphoma returns after treatment or does not respond to the first treatment. This is followed by a stem cell transplant that uses your own stem cells.

Your doctor will also manage side effects and other concerns that arise during leukemia treatment.

The following are the issues and concerns that may need proper management:

• Having chemotherapy at home
• Bleeding problems
• Dry mouth
• Eating enough calories
• Safe eating during cancer treatment

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.

What causes hyperthyroidism?
The thyroid gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. It is located at the front of the neck just above where your collarbones meet. The gland makes the hormones that control the way every cell in the body uses energy. This process is called metabolism. Thyroxine is the main hormone produced by the thyroid.

The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is an overproduction of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland. Many diseases and conditions can also cause hyperthyroidism.

The following diseases and conditions can cause hyperthyroidism:

• Graves’ disease (most common cause of hyperthyroidism)
• Inflammation (thyroiditis) of the thyroid due to viral infections, some medicines, or after pregnancy (common)
• Taking too much thyroid hormone (common)
• Noncancerous growths of the thyroid gland or pituitary gland (rare)
• Some tumors of the testes or ovaries (rare)
• Getting medical imaging tests with contrast dye that has iodine (rare, and only if there is a problem with the thyroid)
• Eating too much of foods that contain iodine (very rare, and only if there is a problem with the thyroid)

What are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism?
The following are the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Frequent bowel movements
• Goiter (visibly enlarged thyroid gland) or thyroid nodules
• Hair loss
• Hand tremor
• Heat intolerance
• Increased appetite
• Increased sweating
• Irregular menstrual periods in women
• Nervousness
• Pounding or racing heartbeat (palpitations)
• Restlessness
• Sleep problems
• Weight loss (or weight gain, in some cases)

The following are the other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

• Breast development in men
• Clammy skin
• Diarrhea
• High blood pressure
• Itchy or irritated eyes
• Itchy skin
• Nausea and vomiting
• Protruding eyes (exophthalmos)
• Skin blushing or flushing
• Weakness of the hips and shoulders

How is hyperthyroidism diagnosed?
Your doctor will do a physical exam to look for the following:

• High systolic blood pressure (the first number in a blood pressure reading)
• Increased heart rate
• Enlarged thyroid gland
• Shaking of the hands
• Swelling or inflammation around the eyes
• Very strong reflexes
• Skin, hair, and nail changes

The doctor may also order blood tests to measure your thyroid hormones TSH, T3, and T4.

Your doctor may also do the following blood tests:

• Cholesterol levels
• Glucose

Your doctor may also do following imaging tests:

• Radioactive iodine uptake and scan
• Thyroid ultrasound

How is hyperthyroidism treated?
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of symptoms. Hyperthyroidism is usually treated with one or more of the following:

• Antithyroid medicines (propylthiouracil or methimazole)
• Radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid gland and stop the excess production of hormones
• Surgery to remove the thyroid

If your thyroid is removed with surgery or destroyed with radioactive iodine, you must take thyroid hormone replacement pills for the rest of your life.

Beta-blocker medicines may be prescribed to treat symptoms such as fast heart rate, tremor, sweating, and anxiety until the hyperthyroidism can be controlled.

This feature is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute the expert guidance of a doctor. We advise seeing a doctor if you have any health concerns.