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Hyperthyroidism
Make it clearer
Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, means the thyroid makes more thyroid hormone than the body needs. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits in the front of the neck.
Those hormones control how the body uses energy, which is why their effect does not stay in the neck: they reach almost every organ and affect even the way the heart beats. When there is too much thyroid hormone, many body functions speed up. That is what the word overactive means here: the gland is not broken; it is delivering too much, and the rest of the body runs at that pace.
In brief
Hyperthyroidism, also called overactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormone than the body needs.
Thyroid hormones control how the body uses energy, so they affect almost every organ, even the way the heart beats. With too much thyroid hormone, many body functions speed up.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck.
Sources (1)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesHyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid)
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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