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Hyperactivity is a behavior in which a person is excessively or constantly active. Hyperactivity can be a symptom of a variety of conditions, including excessive caffeine intake, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHA), stimulant drug use and hyperthyroidism.
A frequent cause of hyperactivity is ADHD, a common neurobehavioral developmental disorder. ADHD is sometimes referred to as hyperactivity or hyper. Other symptoms that occur with ADHD include problems with inattention and impulsivity. These behaviors coupled with hyperactivity can result in further symptoms and complications, such as difficulties with school and work and in relationships.
Hyperactivity caused by hyperthyroidism is caused by a variety of thyroid disorders that overstimulate the thyroid gland and increase production of thyroid hormone. Increased production of thyroid hormone results in a stimulation or quickening of the body's metabolism. This results in additional symptoms, such as nervousness, anxiety and hypertension. Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to serious, potentially life-threatening complications.
Stimulant drug use can also cause hyperactivity. Stimulant drugs include certain diet pills, and foods, beverages and supplements that contain caffeine. Overuse of stimulants can also result in hyperactivity and other symptoms, such as insomnia, diarrhea and nervousness. Complications are also possible. In some sensitive people, even moderate use of stimulants can result in hyperactivity and other symptoms and complications. For more information about complications and symptoms of hyperactivity, refer to symptoms of hyperactivity.
Making a diagnosis of hyperactivity and its underlying cause begins with taking a thorough medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination.
A variety of tests may be done to help determine the underlying cause of hyperactivity. Blood tests include tests that determine levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Low levels of TSH and high levels of thyroxine indicate hyperthyroidism. If hyperthyroidism is present, other tests are done to determine the underlying cause, such as Graves' disease or thyroid nodules.
Other tests may be performed to check for potential complications of hyperthyroidism, such as heart disease. These can include blood tests that can reveal hypercholesterolemia, increased liver enzymes, or anemia. A chest X-ray may be done to evaluate the size of the heart.
There is no single test that is used to diagnose ADHD, and a diagnosis of the disorder is based partly on symptoms. Only a full evaluation by a licensed health care professional can truly diagnose or rule out ADHD. It is generally accepted that person must exhibit symptoms to an extent greater than the average person of the same age for six months or more.
It is also important that a person who is exhibiting symptoms of ADHD be evaluated for other medical conditions in addition to hyperthyroidism that might be affecting behavior. These include petit mal seizures, diabetes, learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and conditions that can affect hearing or vision, such as ear infections or a need for glasses.
Because hyperactivity is a general behavior as well as a symptom of a variety of diseases or disorders, a missed or delayed diagnosis is possible. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of hyperactivity.
Treatment of hyperactivity varies greatly depending on the underlying cause. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of hyperactivity....more »
A diagnosis hyperactivity caused by ADHD may missed because coexisting symptoms can mimic symptoms of many other disorders and diseases, such as anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, petit mal seizures, learning disabilities, diabetes, and conditions that can affect hearing or vision.
It is not uncommon for adults with ADHD to have struggled most of their lives with the disorder ...more misdiagnosis »
The following medical conditions are some of the possible
causes of Hyperactivity.
There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor
about your symptoms.
See full list of 273 causes of Hyperactivity
» Review Causes of Hyperactivity: Causes | Symptom Checker » | Assessment Questionnaire »
Home medical tests possibly related to Hyperactivity:
Review the causes of these more specific types of Hyperactivity:
Review causes of types of Hyperactivity in more specific categories:
Review causes of more specific types of Hyperactivity:
See full list of 62 types for Hyperactivity
Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Hyperactivity, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.
See full list of 501 Symptom Checkers for Hyperactivity
Treatment plans for hyperactivity are individualized based on the underlying disease or disorder, the patient's age, medical condition and other factors.
When hyperactivity is caused by stimulant drug use, reduction and/or discontinuation of the stimulant is generally prescribed. With some stimulant medications or excessive caffeine use, a gradual tapering off of ...Hyperactivity Treatments
Some of the possible treatments listed in sources for treatment of Hyperactivity may include:
Review further information on Hyperactivity Treatments.
Real-life user stories relating to Hyperactivity:
Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Hyperactivity or relevant symptoms:
Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Hyperactivity. Some of these are listed below :
See full list of 5
diagnostic tests for Hyperactivity
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Hyperactivity as a symptom.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 34
medications causing Hyperactivity
Some of the comorbid or associated medical symptoms for Hyperactivity may include these symptoms:
See all associated comorbid symptoms for Hyperactivity
Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:
Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Hyperactivity:
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Hyperactivity. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.
Create your printable checklist here.
See Hyperactivity Assessment Questionnaire (17 listings)
Read more about causes and Hyperactivity deaths.
Rare epilepsy misdiagnosed as ADHD: The less common disorder of temporal lobe epilepsy is a type of epilepsy without physical seizures. Some patients suffer from ...read more »
Various conditions misdiagnosed as ADHD: The hyperactivity type symptoms that are often diagnosed as ADHD, can also be caused by a number of physical conditions, as reported in the book A...read more »
ADHD diagnosis overlooked hidden nutritional disorder: The book "A Dose of Sanity" reports on a case of a boy diagnosed with ADHD and receiving Ritalin. His symptoms included tiredness, irritability, poor growth, and eating dirt and unusual...read more »
Undiagnosed stroke leads to misdiagnosed aphasia: BBC News UK reported on a man who had been institutionalized and treated for mental illness because he suffered from sudden inability to speak. This was...read more »
Dementia may be a drug interaction: A common scenario in aged care is for a patient to show mental decline to dementia. Whereas this can, of course,...read more »
ADHD under-diagnosed in adults: Although the over-diagnoses of ADHD in children is a well-known controversy, the reverse side related to adults. Some adults can...read more »
Bipolar disorder misdiagosed as various conditions by primary physicians: Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive disorder) often fails to be diagnosed correctly by primary care physicians. Many patients with bipolar...read more »
Eating disorders under-diagnosed in men: The typical patient with an eating disorder is female. The result is that men with eating disorders often fail to...read more »
Depression undiagnosed in teenagers: Serious bouts of depression can be undiagnosed in teenagers. The "normal" moodiness of teenagers can cause severe medical depression to be overlooked. See misdiagnosis of depression or ...read more »
Undiagnosed anxiety disorders related to depression: Patients with depression (see symptoms of depression) may also have undiagnosed anxiety disorders...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Hyperactivity
Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:
Research extensive quality ratings and patient safety measures for hospitals, clinics and medical facilities in health specialties related to Hyperactivity:
Research Hospital & Clinic Quality Ratings »
Rare types of medical conditions and diseases in related medical categories:
Conditions that are commonly undiagnosed in related areas may include:
The list of organs typically affected by Hyperactivity may include, but is not limited to:
The list below shows some of the causes of Hyperactivity mentioned in various sources:
See full list of 273 causes of Hyperactivity
This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Hyperactivity. Of the 273 causes of Hyperactivity that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:
See the analysis of the prevalence of 273 causes of Hyperactivity
The following list of conditions have 'Hyperactivity' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Hyperactivity or choose View All.
The following list of medical conditions have Hyperactivity or similar listed as a medical complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Ask or answer a question about symptoms or diseases at one of our free interactive user forums.
Medical story forums: If you have a medical story then we want to hear it.
See a list of all the medical forums
This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Hyperactivity based
on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:
Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Hyperactivity, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.
Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :
Subtypes of Hyperactivity:
Acute hyperactivity in adults (7 causes), Acute hyperactivity in the workplace (5 causes), Chronic hyperactivity in adults (8 causes), Chronic hyperactivity in the workplace (5 causes), Episodic hyperactivity (10 causes), Adhd (4 causes), Hyperactive behavior in adults (17 causes), Hyperactive behavior in children (12 causes), Hyperactive behavior in teens (14 causes), Hyperactive behavior in toddlers (8 causes), Hyperactivity in children (19 causes), Hyperactivity in the workplace (8 causes), Intermittent hyperactivity in adults (6 causes), Intermittent hyperactivity in the workplace (4 causes), Intermittent Psychomotor hyperactivity (8 causes), Mild hyperactivity in adults (3 causes), Mild hyperactivity in the workplace (6 causes), Recurring hyperactivity (6 causes), Recurring hyperactivity in adults (5 causes), Recurring hyperactivity in the workplace (5 causes), Severe hyperactivity (10 causes), Severe hyperactivity in adults (11 causes), Severe hyperactivity in the workplace (8 causes), Unusual overactivity in children (13 causes), ADHD-like symptoms (11 causes), Mild episodic adhd-like symptoms (3 causes), Recurring adhd-like symptoms in adults (5 causes), Recurring adhd-like symptoms (7 causes), Severe adhd-like symptoms in adults (11 causes), Acute adhd-like symptoms in adults (6 causes), Severe adhd-like symptoms (11 causes), Chronic adhd-like symptoms in adults (7 causes), Acute adhd-like symptoms (7 causes), Chronic adhd-like symptoms (9 causes), Recurring adhd-like symptoms in children (1 cause), Recurring episodic adhd-like symptoms (6 causes), Severe adhd-like symptoms in children (2 causes), Acute adhd-like symptoms in children (1 cause), Intermittent adhd-like symptoms in adults (5 causes), Severe episodic adhd-like symptoms (11 causes), Chronic adhd-like symptoms in children (1 cause), ADHD-like symptoms in adults (11 causes), Acute episodic adhd-like symptoms (4 causes), Intermittent adhd-like symptoms (8 causes), Mild adhd-like symptoms in adults (5 causes), Chronic episodic adhd-like symptoms (8 causes), Mild adhd-like symptoms (5 causes), Intermittent adhd-like symptoms in children (2 causes), ADHD-like symptoms in children (2 causes), Intermittent episodic adhd-like symptoms (5 causes), Mild adhd-like symptoms in children (1 cause), Episodic adhd-like symptoms (11 causes)
Medical Conditions associated with Hyperactivity:
Society problems (1785 causes), Behavioral symptoms (4608 causes), Personality symptoms (4029 causes), Movement symptoms (6001 causes), Brain symptoms (2787 causes), Neurological symptoms (9575 causes), Muscle symptoms (7251 causes), Nerve symptoms (9132 causes), Psychiatric symptom (971 causes), Musculoskeletal symptoms (6264 causes), Head symptoms (10192 causes)
Symptoms related to Hyperactivity:
Irritability (783 causes), Restlessness (380 causes), Aggression (192 causes), Normal child, Normal teenager, Boredom, Gifted child, Psychological conflicts, Problematic family home life, Puberty, Attention deficit disorder, ADHD (4 causes), Hearing problems (1100 causes), Vision problems (2526 causes)
Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:
These general medical articles may be of interest:
See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis
Our news pages contain the following medical news summaries about Hyperactivity and many other medical conditions:
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