What is Hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland is overactive, in other words, it secretes too much thyroid hormone.
Hyperthyroidism explained in first person
A person who has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism should remember that it is a benign disease, it can be cured and their life will not be determined by this disease.
Thyroid hormones control the metabolic rate of all the body's processes. If the gland secretes too much hormone, the pace of these bodily processes tends to speed up. In general, the symptoms of hyperthyroidism develop slowly and can be mistaken for the body's stress response.
Graves-Basedow disease (GBD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, followed by toxic multinodular goitre and toxic adenoma. Knowing the cause of the disease is essential for properly diagnosing and treating it.
How many people are affected?
In Europe, the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in women is around 0.8% in its clinical forms, in other words, when there are symptoms, and 3.2% in its subclinical forms, when there are no symptoms. In men it has a prevalence of 0.5% and 2% respectively.
The annual incidence of hyperthyroidism in Europe is 51.04 per 100,000 women and 16.24 per 100,000 men.
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Published: 17 June 2021
Updated: 17 June 2021
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