Thyroid Storm

One may have heard of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism that indicates an under or overactive thyroid gland. Hyperthyroidism is a condition when the thyroid gland works overtime and produces high thyroid levels. This can lead to speeding up of the metabolism of the body that may lead to nervousness, irritability, excessive perspiration, anxiety, sleeplessness, brittle hair, muscle weakness in upper arms and thighs, hand tremors, etc. When hyperthyroidism is in the over acceleration mode, it leads to thyroid storm. This is a life-threatening condition.

What is this Condition?
It is referred to as an overactive thyroid problem that is a very rare complication of hyperthyroidism. It is usually seen in patients that have not been treated or partially treated for thyrotoxicosis. The following symptoms will help you spot the condition easily.

Symptoms
It is an emergency that requires immediate medical attention. If you spot any of the symptoms, you need to rush to the emergency room of a hospital immediately. The symptoms include.

• Mental confusion
• Frequent loose bowel movements
• Heart failure
• Heart palpitations
• High fever of 100 to as high as 106 degrees
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pulmonary edema
• Tachycardia (rapid heart rate, as high as 200 beats per minute)
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Extreme weakness
• Breathing difficulty
• Mood swings
• Sudden weight loss in a short period
• Excessive sweating
• Stupor or coma

The body temperature increases to about 106 with very high blood pressure. The patient may suddenly feel extremely weak and will get fatigued quickly. Extreme mood swings or restlessness may be symptoms as well. In extreme cases, the person may go into a coma.

Risk Factors
This condition can occur as a complication of untreated Grave's disease or hyperthyroidism. This is especially a major risk factor in female patients. Grave's disease or hyperthyroidism, when left untreated or sometimes during the course of treatment, can lead to this condition. Some of these risk factors are mentioned below that one should always keep in mind and remain alert about if suffering from hyperthyroidism or Grave's disease.

• Lung infection, pneumonia or throat infections
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Insulin induced hypoglycemia
• Severe emotional stress
• Excessive manipulation, handling of thyroid
• Recent thyroid surgery
• Thyroid hormone overdose
• Toxemia due to pregnancy and labor

Treatment
The treatment is carried out using a combination of anti-thyroid drugs, blockade iodine drugs and beta blockers. It is an emergency condition that needs to be addressed immediately. The doctor may administer intravenous fluids and electrolytes. The fever is controlled using cooling towels, antibiotics and nutritional vitamin supplements. If you or someone you know experiences high fever, high heart rate, palpitations, confusion, high blood pressure, weakness, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating, breathing trouble, etc. you need to go to the emergency room of the hospital without wasting any time. If prompt medical help is not received, it may result in coma or death. The patient needs to be administered the drugs every 6 hours and needs to be carefully monitored in the intensive care unit.

One can prevent the condition by recognizing the symptoms and providing early aggressive treatment. After a patient is treated, he or she needs to visit the doctor regularly to get their health monitored. Proper treatment for hyperthyroidism is the key to prevent the condition. Early intervention is the most important part for a successful recovery.