Diseases

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) occurs when your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine.

Persons most commonly affected: All age groups and both sexes.
Organ or part of body involved: Thyroid Gland
Symptoms and indications: Unintentional weight loss, even when your appetite and food intake stay the same or increase; Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) — commonly more than 100 beats a minute; Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia); Pounding of your heart (palpitations); Increased appetite
Nervousness, anxiety and irritability
Tremor — usually a fine trembling in your hands and fingers; Sweating; Changes in menstrual patterns; Increased sensitivity to heat; Changes in bowel patterns, especially more frequent bowel movements; An enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), which may appear as a swelling at the base of your neck; Fatigue, muscle weakness; Difficulty sleeping
Skin thinning; Fine, brittle hair