Hyperthyroidism is a disorder in which your thyroid gland makes
and releases more thyroid hormone than your body needs. Your
doctor may say you have an "overactive thyroid," or refer to the
condition as "overactive thyroid disease." Your thyroid gland is
located in the front of your neck. Hormones released by the
thyroid affect nearly every part of your body from your brain to
your skin and muscles. They play a crucial role in controlling
how your body uses energy, a process called metabolism. This
includes how your heart beats and even how you burn calories.
Through the hormones it produces, the thyroid gland influences
almost all of the metabolic processes in your body. Thyroid
disorders can range from a small, harmless goiter (enlarged
gland) that needs no treatment to life-threatening cancer. The
most common thyroid problems involve abnormal production of
thyroid hormones. Too much thyroid hormone results in a
condition known as hyperthyroidism. Insufficient hormone
production leads to hypothyroidism. Alt