Thyroid storm is an uncommon condition in which massive excesses of thyroid hormones push the body to the brink of collapse. This condition usually occurs when a triggering event causes an immense release of thyroid hormones in a person who already has an overactive thyroid gland. Excess thyroid hormones markedly accelerate metabolic functions throughout the body. Symptoms of thyroid storm reflect the metabolic hyperactivity of the body. Thyroid storm is a life-threatening medical emergency.
Fever and Sweating
The markedly increased rate of metabolism that occurs with thyroid storm causes a vast increase in the amount of heat generated by the body. Fever is a hallmark symptom of thyroid storm. In a 2006 review article published in Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America, Drs. Bindu Nayak and Kenneth Burman emphasize that the level of fever serves as in important indicator of the severity of a thyroid storm. People with thyroid storm typically sweat profusely as the body attempts to cool itself.
Tremors
As noted by the University of Maryland Medical Center, profoundly high levels of circulating thyroid hormones cause tremors---unintentional rhythmic shaking. The hands and head typically shake uncontrollably. Although tremors in other locations are less noticeable, the person experiencing a thyroid storm may relate feeling that she is "shaking all over."
Agitation and Restlessness
The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals reports that thyroid storm causes flagrant agitation and restlessness. Broad, rapid, intense emotional swings typically accompany the distressing agitation that befalls the sufferer of a thyroid storm.
Confusion, Paranoia and Psychosis
Thyroid storm profoundly compromises higher brain function, which includes reason, comprehension, perception and judgment. People experiencing a thyroid crisis often progress from agitation to confusion and paranoia, note Drs. Nikolaos Stathatos and Leonard Wartofsky in "Thyroid Emergency: Are You Prepared?" published in the electronic journal Emergency Medicine. Psychosis, a mental state in which a person loses touch with reality, may develop. The level of mental disturbance observed during a thyroid storm correlates with the severity of the crisis. Hence, the presence of paranoia or psychosis signifies a dire medical emergency. Seizures and coma routinely develop without urgent treatment to reduce the level of circulating thyroid hormones.
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea and Abdominal Pain
Nayak and Burman note in their review article that thyroid hormones increase the muscular activity of the gastrointestinal tract. Nausea, vomiting, profuse diarrhea and cramping abdominal pain are characteristic symptoms of thyroid storm. Fluid losses occurring through the gastrointestinal tract often contribute to the development of shock, which frequently occurs with thyroid storm.
Heart Palpitations
Thyroid hormones stimulate the heart to pump harder and faster than it does normally. Under the influence of significant excesses of thyroid hormones, people with thyroid storm experience an awareness of the heart pounding within the chest. The heart cannot sustain the level of activity commanded by the concentration of hormones present with thyroid storm. Eventually, the heart begins to fail, which proves a common cause of death with this dangerous condition.
References
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Hyperthyroidism, Thyroid Storm
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Thyroid Storm
- MedlinePlus: Thyroid Storm
- "Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America"; Thyrotoxicosis and Thyroid Storm; Bindu Nayak, M.D., Kenneth Burman, M.D.; 2006
- Emergency Medicine: Thyroid Emergency: Are You Prepared?
