Do you know that hyperthyroidism is more common in people with a family history?

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Are You at Risk for Thyroid Disease?

Thyroid disease is a common cause of hormonal imbalance in the body. The thyroid can make either too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism). Thyroid disease generally isn’t preventable, but awareness of risk factors and symptoms can help prevent serious complications if you do have a thyroid disorder. Some people are more likely than others to develop thyroid problems. One of the risk factors for hyperthyroidism is the history of hyperthyroidism in the family.

Hereditary hyperthyroidism

Family history: In the case of a history of thyroid disease or an autoimmune disease (such as Graves disease) in the family, the person is at risk of developing Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism.
Genetic mutation: According to a study in 2004, familial hyperthyroidism due to mutations in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor is a hereditary non-autoimmune hyperthyroidism transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. It is characterized by the presence of signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism and diffuse goiter without evidence of an autoimmune etiology. Diagnosis is based on the absence of the typical signs of autoimmune hyperthyroidism. The age of onset of hyperthyroidism is highly variable and it may be present in infants or develop in adulthood. The absence of a clear correlation between mutant genotypes and phenotypic expression of the disease limits the prognostic value of genetic testing in families with hereditary non-autoimmune hyperthyroidism.

Causes

Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease occurs more often in women than in men. You should tell your doctor if your relatives have had the condition. Other causes include:

excess iodine
tumors of the ovaries or testes
benign tumors of the thyroid or pituitary gland
inflammation of the thyroid

Symptoms

High amounts of T4, T3, or both can cause an excessively high metabolic rate. As a result of this, you may experience the following situations:

A rapid heart rate,
Elevated blood pressure,
Hand tremors.
Sweat a lot and develop a low tolerance for heat
More frequent bowel movements,
Weight loss,
Irregular menstrual cycles in women

Diagnosis and treatment

The first step in diagnosis is to get a complete medical history and physical exam. The doctor may then want other tests, including cholesterol test, thyroid function test, ultrasound and CT scan or MRI. Treatment of the disease according to the patient’s need may be done in the form of medication, radioactive iodine and surgery.