I didn't realise there were people who couldn't exercise!

I’d never heard of hyperthyroidism before, so it hadn’t even crossed my mind to look into what it actually was.

It wasn’t until I was working out with some friends that I realised just how much it can mess with your exercise. If you’re not careful, you could end up in a spot of bother.

My friend’s wife was just having a gentle stroll on a treadmill set to an incline. It was only 40 minutes—hardly a marathon—but her heart rate hit 160-plus, and she felt properly dizzy afterwards.

I had to suggest she knock the exercise on the head for now and go back to the doctor to see if they could get her heart rate under control with some medication before she tries to get back into a routine.

The irony is that hyperthyroidism speeds up your metabolism, so losing weight is usually the only silver lining. It’s a shame, really; my friend started exercising because she wanted to slim down, and while she’s managed to experience every other symptom of the condition, the weight loss hasn't bothered to show up yet.