Question

A 75-year-old woman is taken to the ER following an incident where she is diagnosed with myxedema. Doctors quickly move her to the ICU, where she is monitored continuously for heart rate changes, changes in cognition, and level of consciousness. She appears to be cold and has decreased respirations, hypotension, and hypoglycemia.

Question: Compare and contrast hypothyroidism/ hyperthyroidism and discuss the complications of each. Support your answer using specific facts, data, examples, and other information.

Answer 1

Answer - Myxedema is sign of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism means deficiency of T3, T4 hormone which cause decrease body metabolic rate, weakness, cold intolerance, generalised edema, puffiness arround face, bradycardia, weight gain, loss of memory, change in level of consciousness.

Complications of hypothyroidism - It includes various type of heart disease, heart failure, peripheral neuropathy, infertility, birth defects, loss of consciousness, myxedema coma, severe hypoglycemia, hypotension.

Compare to hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism have excess level of T3, T4 hormone, increase body metabolic rate, palpitations, Tachycardia, cardiac dysrythmia, enlarged thyroid gland(goiter), decrease weight, diarrhea, heat intolerance etc are seen .

Hyperthyroidism complications - Hyperthyroidism cause thyroid storm which is life threatening uncontrollable hyperthyroidism symptoms includes such as elevate body temperature, Tachycardia, systolic hypertension, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, agitation, confusion, irritability, seizure, delirium, coma.

Other complications involve congestive heart failure, increase risk for stroke, high blood pressure, Tachycardia, restlessness are seen.