Hi, thank you for your question. One possible cause is hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). This happens when the thyroid gland makes too much thyroxine hormone. Hyperthyroidism can speed up your body’s metabolism, leading to many signs and symptoms. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include unintentional weight loss, increased appetite, heat intolerance, tremor, sweating, palpitations, rapid or irregular heartbeat, irritability, anxiety, change in bowel pattern, fatigue and eye problems like protruding eyeballs and dry eyes.

Hyperthyroidism can be caused by a number of reasons. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system is faulty and produces antibodies stimulating your thyroid to produce too much thyroxine. This is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

Another cause of hyperthyroidism is hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules, which comprises of thyroid adenoma (non-cancerous overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue) and toxic multinodular goitre (multiple nodules are formed, causing enlargement of the thyroid gland). Both thyroid adenoma and toxic multinodular goitre causes hyperthyroidim by the production of too much T4.

Sometimes you can also have thyroiditis (inflammation of your thyroid gland) after pregnancy, because of an autoimmune condition or for some unknown reasons. This inflammation can cause excess thyroid hormone stored in the thyroid gland to leak into your bloodstream.

Risk factors of hyperthyroidism are your sex, age, history of other autoimmune disorders (type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis), pregnancy or recent childbirth, you have a family history of thyroid disease, and emotional or physical stress. Women are more likely to develop hyperthyroidism. People below the age of 40 or above the age of 60 also have increased risk.

There are a few treatment options for hyperthyroidism. Doctors may use anti-thyroid medications or radioactive iodine to reduce the production of thyroid hormones. Some patients may also need surgery to remove all or part of their thyroid gland.

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