HEALTH TEACHING PLAN

HYPERTHYROIDISM

OBJECTIVES

1.)

2.)

3.)

MATERIALS NEEDED

1.

2.

3.

GENERAL HEALTH TEACHINGS SPECIFIC HEALTH TEACHINGS

 Prevention of Hyperthyroidism  Vitamin B6 - possibly used for

prevention of Vitamin B6 deficiency
 Methods of prevention of
Hyperthyroidism mentioned in various
sources include those listed below. This
prevention information is gathered
from various sources, and may be
inaccurate or incomplete. None of
these methods guarantee prevention
of Hyperthyroidism.
 Increased idopine intake

 Changes to behavior with insomnia  Avoid stress

 Avoid worrying about not sleeping
 Avoid caffeine
 Avoid nicotine - especially not smoking
near bedtime.
 Avoid alcohol - especially near
bedtime.
 Avoid using bed for non-sleep activity -
except perhaps sex.

 Diet
 Increase idodine intake foods that
contain or more idodine:

o Sea salt and iodized salt

o Seafood 9 (e.g. seaweeds)
o Eggs
o Dairy products (e.g. milk )
o Plants grown in soil rich with
iodine
 How Is Hyperthyroidism Treated?
 Radioactive iodine:Radioactive iodine
is taken by mouth. It gets into the blood
stream and is absorbed by overactive
thyroid cells. Radioactive iodine
damages the cells that have taken it up,
causing the thyroid to shrink and the
level of thyroid hormone in the body to
go down. Permanent low thyroid
activity (hypothyroidism) usually is the
final result, but this can be treated with
thyroid supplements. Despite concerns
about radioactive material, this
treatment has been used for over 60
years without causing any problems.
More than 70% of adults in the United
States who develop hyperthyroidism
are treated with radioactive iodine.
 Anti-thyroid medication: These drugs
gradually treat hyperthyroidism by
blocking the thyroid’s ability to
produce hormones. Symptoms begin to
improve in six to 12 weeks but
treatment usually continues for at least
a year.
 Surgery
(thyroidectomy):Hyperthyroidism can
be treated with a surgery in which your
doctor removes most of your thyroid
gland. After surgery, you will likely
develop hypothyroidism, or underactive
thyroid disease. You will then need to
take a thyroid hormone supplement to
restore your hormone levels to normal.
 Beta blockers: No matter what other
method of treatment you use, your
physician may prescribe a beta blocker
drug to slow your heart rate and reduce
palpitations, shaking and nervousness
until your thyroid levels are closer to
normal.