Question

What is the difference between hyperthyroidism and Thyrotoxicosis?

Answer 1

Both these diseases attribute to more or less the same clinical manifestations. The thyroid hormone is secreted from the thyroid gland. It is a very important hormone that has many physiological roles in the body’s metabolism, growth and development. Any increase or decrease in its secretion or efficiency affects the body’s normal state of function.

Complete answer:
The basic conceptual difference between the two are:

HYPERTHYROIDISM	THYROTOXICOSIS
Hyperthyroidism is mainly caused due to increased secretion of Thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland. This may happen for a variety of reasons. The most probable and common cause is deficiency of iodine in the body.	Thyrotoxicosis is defined as the increased reception or sensitivity to thyroid hormone by the body cells.
Due to lack of taking a sufficient amount of diet rich in iodine. Eventually the thyroid gland swells up (hypertrophy) and secretes excess levels of Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3) or both.	This is not the same as hyperthyroidism. It is not characterised by increase in serum thyroid hormone levels. The cells of the body become hyper-sensitive to the hormone. Thus, the same normal levels of thyroid hormone now show increased activity or hyperactivity.
Another cause may be hyperactivity of TSH hormone. This hormone is secreted from hypothalamus and regulates the number of Thyroid hormones in serum.	This hypersensitivity is probably believed to be associated with genetic factors, and the main cause is yet to be known.
The chances of occurrence of this disease increases with age and is more predominant among females than male.	This disease may occur in any age group.

Note:
Whether or not the affected individual is suffering from hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, the clinical symptoms of both the diseases are more or less same. Common symptoms include anxiety, tremor, palpitations, more frequent bowel movement, heat intolerance, increased perspiration, and weight loss with normal or increased appetite. Furthermore, women may present with menstrual irregularities and men with erectile dysfunction and gynecomastia. In older patients, symptoms may be more subtle or may include mainly tachycardia or atrial fibrillation and dyspnoea on exertion. Thyrotoxicosis is believed to have been commonly caused by Grave’s disease which is in turn a disease associated with hyperthyroidism. Thus, both the terminologies are interrelated.