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Thyroid disease is a medical condition that affects the function of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and produces thyroid hormones [ 1] that travel through the blood to help regulate many other organs, meaning that it is an endocrine organ. These hormones normally act in the body to regulate energy use ...
Thyroid storm is characterized by an acute onset of symptoms of hyperthyroidism ( fast heart rate, restlessness, agitation) accompanied by other features such as fever (temperatures often above 40 °C/104 °F), hypertension, mental status changes, diarrhea, and vomiting. [ 11]
Myxedema coma is an extreme or decompensated form of hypothyroidism and while uncommon, is potentially lethal. [ 1][ 2][ 3] A person may have laboratory values identical to a "normal" hypothyroid state, but a stressful event (such as an infection, myocardial infarction, or stroke) precipitates the myxedema coma state, usually in the elderly.
Graves disease, also known as toxic diffuse goiter or Basedow’s disease, is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. [ 1] It frequently results in and is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. [ 5] It also often results in an enlarged thyroid. [ 1] Signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism may include irritability, muscle weakness ...
The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is confirmed by blood tests that show a decreased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level and elevated T 4 and T 3 levels. TSH is a hormone made by the pituitary gland in the brain that tells the thyroid gland how much hormone to make. When there is too much thyroid hormone, the TSH will be low.
At the cellular level, T 3 is the body's more active and potent thyroid hormone. [2] T 3 helps deliver oxygen and energy to all of the body's cells, its effects on target tissues being roughly four times more potent than those of T 4. [2] Of the thyroid hormone that is produced, just about 20% is T 3, whereas 80% is produced as T 4.
These symptoms include weight loss, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, fast heart rate, and fatigue. Elevated levels of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream cause both conditions, but thyrotoxicosis is the term used with thyroiditis since the thyroid gland is not overactive, as in the case of hyperthyroidism. [1]
In most cases AIT is characterized by onset of pain, firmness, tenderness, redness or swelling in the anterior aspect of the neck. [4] Patients will also present with a sudden fever, difficulty swallowing and difficulty controlling the voice. [5] Symptoms may be present from 1 to 180 days, with most symptoms lasting an average of about 18 days.