甲狀腺功能亢進症(甲亢) What is Hyperthyroidism?

人體甲狀腺負責釋放甲狀腺素，甲狀腺素的主要作用是加速身體新陳代謝。當甲狀腺過度活躍並產生過多的甲狀腺素時，就會導致甲狀腺功能亢進，簡稱甲亢。新陳代謝過快可導致嚴重的併發症。

甲狀腺功能亢進的原因是什麼？
根據研究，大約90％的甲亢病人患有稱為格雷夫斯病(Grave's Disease)的自身免疫疾病。 在格雷夫斯病中，免疫系統會產生一種抗體，導致甲狀腺過度生長並分泌大量甲狀腺素。 研究人員並不完全了解導致這種疾病的原因，但遺傳因素可能與此有關。另外，格雷夫斯病患者中女性比例較高。

另一個甲亢成因是繼發性甲亢，這是由於負責調節激素分泌的腦下垂體向甲狀腺發出大量促甲狀腺激素(TSH)，導致其產生過多甲狀腺素。還有一種比較罕見的甲亢形式，稱為有毒結節性甲狀腺腫，這是一種生長於甲狀腺的非癌性腫瘤，也會導致甲狀腺素分泌過多。

甲亢的一些症狀：
體重下降
食慾增加
心率快
震顫
突眼
出汗
潮熱
增加對熱的敏感性
月經週期的變化
腸道運作的變化
難以入睡
甲狀腺腫（甲狀腺腫大）
皮膚或頭髮變薄
焦慮或煩躁
骨密度降低

有助於緩解甲亢症狀的營養補充劑包括：
腎上腺適應原，例如睡茄(ashwagandha)
益生菌
鋅
維他命D
魚油/琉璃苣油
鎂

What is Hyperthyroidism?
Thyroid gland is responsible for releasing thyroid hormone, which plays a major role in your body’s metabolic rate. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland becomes overactive and produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. This causes a fast metabolism, which can lead to serious complications.

What Causes Hyperthyroidism?
According to research around 90% of patients with hyperthyroidism have an autoimmune condition known as Grave's disease. In Graves’ disease, your immune system creates antibodies that cause the thyroid to grow and make more thyroid hormone than your body needs.  Researchers do not completely understand what causes this disease, although there seems to be a genetic connection. For unknown reasons, Graves’ disease is also more likely to affect women than men.

Secondary hyperthyroidism is a form of the condition that occurs when the pituitary gland, which is responsible for regulating hormones, sends instructions to the thyroid that causes it to produce too much hormone. Another form of hyperthyroidism, called toxic nodular goiter, happens when non-cancerous tumor forms in the nodules of the thyroid gland.

Symptoms of  hyperthyroidism:
Weight loss
Increased appetite
Rapid heart rate
Tremors
Bulging eyes
Sweating
Hot flashes
Increased sensitivity to heat
Changes in menstrual cycle
Changes in bowel patterns
Difficulty sleeping
Goiter (enlarged thyroid)
Thinning of the skin or hair
Anxiety or irritability
Decreased bone density

Nutritional supplements which may help relieve the symptoms include:
Adrenal adaptogens such as ashwagandha
Probiotics
Zinc
Vitamin D
Fish Oil/Borage Oil
Magnesium