Our biological functions are regulated by a number of hormones, each one of which has its own area of effect and is secreted in a specific gland. In today’s article, we will discuss the importance of the hormone thyroxine, produced in the thyroid. The thyroid is a gland located in our throats, and its primary function is to regulate our metabolism, which means, it controls how fast or how slow the chemical reactions and processes in our body take place.
By making sure that the pacing of our metabolism is right, the thyroid keeps the balance in our body and helps us achieve the much-desired homeostasis. However, in some cases, the amount of hormone produced isn’t right; it can be either deficient or excessive. In the latter case, we have a condition called hyperthyroidism. Our metabolism is too fast and we experience consequences in all our bodies. Here is a list of hyperthyroidism symptoms.
1. High heart rate and breath rate
High levels of thyroxine in general mean that our biological processes are accelerated. To some extent, the effect of hyperthyroidism is similar to that of stimulant drugs such as caffeine or cocaine.
For example, an excess of thyroxine in our bloodstream can make our heart pound faster. Rapid heartbeat is also known as tachycardia and is easy to detect with a stethoscope or by feeling our pulse on our neck, chest, or the inner side of our wrists. In some cases, tachycardia caused by hyperthyroidism can be over a hundred beats per minute, while a normal heartbeat is often between 60 and 80 beats per minute depending on our fitness.
Our breath rate can also increase and we might feel short of breath. Our heart might beat too fast or too strong, so we feel palpitations in our chest, and sometimes in our neck or throat.
