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	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck, in front of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus (tube that connects the mouth with the stomach). The thyroid produces thyroid hormone, which helps to regulate many body functions. In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid is overactive and produces more thyroid hormone than the body needs. Women are more likely than men to have hyperthyroidism, and it affects younger persons more than elderly persons. The July 6, 2005, issue of JAMA includes an article about hyperthyroidism and the long-term effects of radioactive iodine treatment for hyperthyroidism.

CAUSES

More than 70% of cases of hyperthyroidism are related to Graves disease, an autoimmune disorder in which the body produces antibodies to its own tissues. These antibodies cause the thyroid to make too much thyroid hormone. Some persons with Graves disease develop an eye condition called exophthalmos, in which the eyes begin to . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Janet M. Torpy, MD, Writer; Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator; Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor

RELATED ARTICLE

Thyroid Function and Mortality in Patients Treated for Hyperthyroidism
Jayne A. Franklyn, Michael C. Sheppard, and Patrick Maisonneuve
JAMA. 2005;294(1):71-80.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT