Thyroid Storm

Hyperthyroidism Slideshow

• Thyroid Storm Overview
• Thyroid Storm Causes
• Thyroid Storm Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Exams and Tests
• Thyroid Storm Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment
• Next Steps
• Follow-up
• Prevention
• Outlook
• For More Information
• Web Links
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Thyroid Storm Overview

The thyroid gland, located at the front part of the neck, is responsible for making substances (thyroid hormones) that are important for all body cells to work properly.

In certain conditions, the thyroid becomes over-active and produces too much of its hormones, a situation called hyperthyroidism. People with hyperthyroidism have problems that reflect over-activity of the organs of the body, resulting in symptoms such as sweating, feeling hot, rapid heartbeats, weight loss, and sometimes eye problems. When the levels of thyroid hormones become very high in a patient who has hyperthyroidism, the symptoms get worse and can result in a serious condition called thyroid storm. One major sign of thyroid storm that differentiates it from plain hyperthyroidism is a marked elevation of body temperature, which may be as high as 105-106 ºF. Thyroid storm is unusual, but when it occurs, it is a life-threatening emergency. People experiencing symptoms of thyroid storm should be taken to an emergency department.