What is hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is the most common hormonal disease of cats resulting from secretion of excess thyroid hormone (T4). The average age of onset is 13 years of age. Thyroid hormone (T4) is responsible for regulating the metabolic rate of all cells in the body, which results in an overstimulation of nearly all organ systems. This overstimulation puts significant and ultimately fatal stresses on the body.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which there is an excessive amount of thyroid hormones (chemical messengers) circulating in the blood, usually because of an overactive thyroid gland. — Thyroid hormones help to regulate growth and the rate of chemical reactions (metabolism) by which the body uses energy. — When there is too much thyroid hormone this produces the symptoms of hyperthyroidism because of the increased activity of these hormones around the body. — This leads to problems caused by the speeding up of many normal body processes. How do you get Hyperthyroidism? Thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland which is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adam’s apple. It is wrapped around the windpipe (trachea) and has the shape of a butterfly, being formed by two wings (or lobes) which are attached by a middle part. In hyperthyroidism the thyroid gland either produces too much thyroid hormone or becomes leaky and releases stores of the hormones. More women th
Hyperthyroidism is an overfunctioning of the thyroid gland. This overfunctioning results in the production of too much thyroid hormone. Because the thyroid hormone controls many bodily functions, this increase in the thyroid hormone level causes these bodily functions, such as heartrate, or in some cases blood pressure, to increase, sometimes to very dangerous levels. Is it contagious? No. It’s not thought to be contagious. (But one has to wonder, when George and Barbara Bush both came down with Graves’ disease at the same time, and then so did their dog Millie.) What causes hyperthyroidism? Hyperthyroidism can be caused by: • Graves’ disease, which is an autoimmune disease • Toxic nodules or goiters on the thyroid • Excessive thyroid medication given to hypothyroid sufferers • Iodine excess • Thyroiditis (an inflammation of the thyroid) I thought that hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease were the same thing? What’s the difference? Graves’ Disease is the most common type of hyperthyroid
