How long can a person with hyperthyroidism live?

How long can a person with hyperthyroidism live? Hyperthyroidism is a chronic disease that is usually not life-threatening. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include exophthalmos, enlarged thyroid gland, hand tremors, more food intake, weight loss, fear of heat, sweating, palpitations, insomnia, irritability, diarrhea, etc. In severe cases, hyperthyroidism, coma, and even life-threatening conditions may occur. In fact, the earlier any disease is detected, the faster it can be treated and the better the outcome, and this is also true for hyperthyroidism. There are many causes of hyperthyroidism, and different treatment plans are also different for different causes.

The clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism include enlarged thyroid gland, irritable temperament, easy excitement, insomnia, trembling hands, fear of heat, sweating, moist skin, increased appetite but emaciation, weight loss, palpitations, rapid and strong pulse (the pulse rate is often over 100 beats per minute and is still rapid during rest and sleep), increased pulse pressure (mainly due to increased systolic blood pressure), endocrine disorders (such as menstrual disorders), as well as weakness, fatigue, and proximal limb muscle atrophy. Among them, increased pulse rate and pulse pressure are particularly important, and can often be used as important indicators to judge the severity of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment.

1. Clinical symptoms

Hyperthyroidism can occur at any age, most often between 20 and 40 years old. Generally, the incidence rate in women is higher than in men, about 4:1. However, in areas where goiter is endemic, the incidence rate in women is slightly higher than that in men, about 4:3. Young women often experience adolescent hyperthyroidism, with mild symptoms. Some people do not receive treatment and the disease heals on its own after puberty.

Elderly patients are more likely to have "latent" or "indifferent" hyperthyroidism than younger patients. Their neurotic and emotional symptoms are milder, and the incidence of exophthalmos is also lower. Multiple systems are affected in hyperthyroidism, and the clinical manifestations are variable. The disease is more common in young and middle-aged people aged 20 to 40 years old, but in recent years, the number of elderly patients with hyperthyroidism has been increasing. The onset is slower, and most patients have a history of mental trauma and family history. After the onset of the disease, the course is prolonged and may not be cured for several years. The recurrence rate is high, and various complications may occur.

(1) Abnormalities in energy metabolism and sugar, protein, and fat metabolism: In hyperthyroidism, the basal metabolic rate (BMR) increases, which may lead to hot flashes, sweating, weight loss, low work efficiency, muscle wasting, weakness, fatigue, negative balance of protein metabolism, decreased or normal cholesterol, disappearance of subcutaneous fat, accelerated fat metabolism, increased breakdown of liver and muscle glycogen, accelerated glycogenolysis, increased blood sugar or postprandial hyperglycemia. Severe abnormalities in sugar metabolism may lead to diabetes.

(2) Disorders in water, salt and vitamin metabolism: Thyroid hormones can promote diuresis, potassium excretion and magnesium excretion. Therefore, hypokalemic periodic paralysis and hypomagnesemia are prone to occur in hyperthyroidism. The movement of calcium and phosphorus is accelerated, and there is often high urine calcium, high urine phosphorus and high urine magnesium. Over time, bone decalcification and osteoporosis may occur. When hypocalcemia occurs and the patient does not take in enough calcium, a small number of patients may develop secondary hyperparathyroidism. At the same time, due to poor absorption, rapid metabolism and high consumption in hyperthyroidism, multiple vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin B1, C, D and trace element deficiencies may occur.

(3) Symptoms of abnormal skin and muscle metabolism: negative metabolic balance of protein, negative balance of creatine, negative balance of nitrogen, decreased ATP, decreased creatine phosphate, prone to hyperthyroid myopathy, eye muscle weakness, myasthenia gravis, or frequent flaccid paralysis, myxedema of the skin, more common on the eyelids and anterior tibia, softening or deformation and infection of nails.