How can a doctor diagnosis one of the variations of hyperthyroidism?
• Enlarged thyroid gland • Rapid heart beat (tachycardia) or heart palpitations • Smooth, velvety skin • Tremor of the fingertips • For Graves’ disease, eyes and skin as described in Part 1 Other symptoms are: • Fatigue • Sweaty palms • Weight loss • Fine brittle hair • Restlessness • Depression • Increased appetite • Changes in sex drive • Muscle weakness, especially in the upper arms and thighs • Shortened attention span • Heat intolerance • Increased sweating • Nervousness and irritability • Restless sleep or insomnia • Erratic behavior • For women, irregular menstrual cycle and reduced menstrual flow • Infertility, recurrent miscarriage • Increased frequency of bowel movements A family medical history may also hold clues to a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, specifically if a family member: • Had either or an underactive thyroid • Had hair that went gray starting in their 20’s • Had problems with their immune system, such as juvenile diabetes A final diagnosis is always made by means
