What causes dizziness due to hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is a high-consumption disease and we need nutritional supplements. Many people will feel dizzy due to overwork. In this case, we must rest in time and not continue working. Patients with hyperthyroidism are prone to bad temper, so they should control their emotions. Eating more light vegetables may help relieve their emotions to a certain extent, and remember to eat small meals frequently. So, what is the cause of dizziness caused by hyperthyroidism?

1. Clinical manifestations

Thyroid hormones promote metabolism and the body's redox reactions. Hypermetabolism requires the body to increase food intake; gastrointestinal activity is enhanced, and the frequency of bowel movements increases; although food intake increases, the oxidation reaction is enhanced, the body's energy consumption increases, and patients experience weight loss; increased heat production manifests as heat intolerance and sweating, and some patients experience low fever; increased thyroid hormones stimulate sympathetic nerve excitement, and clinical manifestations include palpitations, tachycardia, insomnia, irritability, and even anxiety.

If patients with hyperthyroidism do not receive appropriate treatment for a long time, it may cause hyperthyroid heart disease.

2. Inspection

Physical examination revealed an enlarged thyroid gland (mild to severe). In elderly patients, the enlargement is often not obvious and the thyroid gland is soft or medium in texture. In severe patients, vascular murmurs can be heard throughout the entire period using a stethoscope. In severe hyperthyroidism, tremors can even be felt when touched by hand. The heart rate of most patients with hyperthyroidism is increased, often exceeding 90 beats per minute when at rest, and elderly patients may exhibit rapid atrial fibrillation. Patients with hyperthyroidism have hot flashes on the skin and fine hand tremors. Many patients also have eyelid edema, widened palpebral fissures, less blinking in both eyes, and conjunctival congestion and edema. Severe patients may experience exophthalmos, restricted eye movement, and even incomplete eyelid closure.

Some patients with more severe hyperthyroidism experience myxedema in the anterior tibia (shinbone) of the lower limbs. The skin in front of the tibia becomes coarser, thicker, and rougher, with an orange peel-like appearance. The sweat hair becomes coarser, similar to elephantiasis, and is quite difficult to treat.

3. Diagnosis

The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is not difficult. As long as hyperthyroidism is considered, a thyroid function test can be performed to diagnose it.

The secretion of T3, T4, FT3, and FT4 by the thyroid gland is significantly increased, and TSH is often reduced due to the feedback between the thyroid and pituitary axis. If a patient's T3, T4, FT3, and FT4 are elevated while TSH is decreased, it means that the patient has hyperthyroidism.

Since most cases of hyperthyroidism are Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland, it is often accompanied by elevated thyroid autoantibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies. Graves' disease patients have thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) produced by thyroid cells, so clinical tests show positive thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibodies (TRAb).

Some patients with hyperthyroidism may only show elevated T3 and FT3, normal T4 and FT4, but decreased TSH, which we call "T3 hyperthyroidism." "T3 hyperthyroidism" is more common in elderly patients with hyperthyroidism or patients with toxic functional autonomous hot nodules.