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Symptoms and Manifestations of Thyroid Storm

The Hyperthyroid Condition Requiring Emergency Care

Sep 1, 2009 Jim Lowrance

Thyroid Storm is a condition in which a thyroid patient experiences sudden, severe hyperthyroidism that requires emergency treatment to prevent injury or death.

This disorder of extremely severe hyperthyroid symptoms is rare but due to its potential to cause bodily injury through damage to organs and possible coma or death, all thyroid patients should have general knowledge about signs and symptoms of Thyroid Storm.

Symptoms

The symptoms of Thyroid Storm will occur suddenly and with extreme force. They are the symptoms of hyperthyroidism but some of the manifestations of the condition are not typical of common overactive thyroid conditions. The general symptoms of severe hyperthyroidism include very rapid heart (tachycardia), extreme nervousness and anxiety, chronic diarrhea, uncontrollable energy, severe hypertension and muscle weakness.

The non-typical symptoms of Thyroid Storm that occur with other severe hyperthyroid symptoms include mental confusion, psychosis (hallucinations and delusions), severe vomiting, unusual behaviors, a sudden high fever, heart arrhythmias that can progress to cardiac arrest and fainting spells. These less common symptoms are likely the ones that would point to something beyond a phase of typical hyperthyroidism. When these signs and symptoms appear, the patient should be taken into emergency medical care immediately, to prevent coma and/or death from occurring.

Is Thyroid Storm Exclusive to Hyperthyroid Patients?

No, the condition can also occur in hypothyroid patients although it is more common in those with hyperthyroidism, especially the autoimmune-caused type called Graves’ disease. Patients with hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroiditis) have also been known to experience Thyroid Storm and those patients who experience intermittent phases of hyperthyroidism referred to as “Hashitoxicosis” are at higher risk for having a Thyroid Storm.

Causes and Triggers

When Thyroid Storm occurs, the T3 and T4 thyroid hormones elevate to very high levels, causing severe thyrotoxicity (toxic levels). Graves’ disease patients and others who are being treated for hyperthyroidism can experience Thyroid Storm if they suffer a heart attack or a severe infection in their bodies. Any traumatic experience can result in this condition of severe hyperthyroidism, including accidents that cause severe physical trauma. Patients treated for hypothyroidism can experience the condition, if they are given excessively high levels of thyroid hormone replacement that causes their T4 and/or T3 levels to elevate far above normal values.

Treatments

The treatments for Thyroid Storm include those that are typical for treating hyperthyroidism but in this case the drugs that are administered must be done at higher doses until symptoms are brought under control. If a hyperthyroid patient has already received treatments to shut down their own thyroid hormone production (thyroid removal) and they are taking thyroid hormone therapy, the replacement hormone must be discontinued while treatment is given.

The treating physician will increase or begin administering levels of anti-thyroid drugs (to reduce thyroid hormone levels) and beta-blocker medications that calm hypertensive and cardiac arrhythmia symptoms. Anti-inflammatory drugs may also be needed to reduce inflammation and fever levels. This may include powerful corticosteroids (steroid anti-inflammatory) and/or over-the-counter drugs that reduce inflammation. Patients are closely monitored until symptoms of Thyroid Storm have diminished and there is no danger of relapse.

The copyright of the article Symptoms and Manifestations of Thyroid Storm in General Medicine is owned by Jim Lowrance. Permission to republish Symptoms and Manifestations of Thyroid Storm in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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