Thyroid storm
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Thyroid storm
Thyroid storm (thyroid crisis) is a potentially life-threatening condition for people with hyperthyroidism. Thyroid storm happens when your thyroid gland suddenly releases large amounts of thyroid hormone in a short period of time. If you have thyroid storm, you will need emergency medical treatment.
Thyroid storm is more likely to develop when a person has a serious health problem in addition to hyperthyroidism or in people who have untreated or undertreated Graves' disease. The problem usually happens after a stressful event or a serious illness, such as a major infection. It may also be triggered by surgery or by using iodine for a CT scan or in radioactive iodine therapy.
Symptoms of thyroid storm include:
- Feeling extremely irritable or grumpy.
- High systolic blood pressure, low diastolic blood pressure, and fast heartbeat.
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- High fever.
- Shock and delirium.
- Feeling confused.
- Feeling sleepy.
- Yellow skin or eyes.
- Symptoms of heart failure, such as breathing problems or feeling very tired.
Thyroid storm can lead to coma, heart failure, or death.
Credits
| Author | Colleen Cronin |
| Author | Christine Wendt, R.D., L.D. |
| Editor | Renée Spengler, RN, BSN |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Lisa Shaw |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism |
| Last Updated | December 20, 2005 |
| Last updated: | December 20, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Christine Wendt, R.D., L.D. |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, David C.W. Lau, MD, PhD, FRCPC - Endocrinology & Metabolism |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Lisa Shaw |
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