Thyroid Storm
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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.
Next: Thyroid Storm Causes »
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Thyroid Storm »
Thyroid storm, also referred to as thyrotoxic crisis, is an acute, life-threatening, hypermetabolic state induced by excessive release of thyroid hormones (THs) in individuals with thyrotoxicosis.
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