What happens to your body during a thyroid storm?

What happens to your body during a thyroid storm?

Thyroid storm is a life-threatening health condition that is associated with untreated or undertreated hyperthyroidism. During thyroid storm, an individual’s heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature can soar to dangerously high levels. Without prompt, aggressive treatment, thyroid storm is often fatal.

What can trigger a thyroid storm?

Thyroid storm occurs due to a major stress such as trauma, heart attack, or infection in people with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism. In rare cases, thyroid storm can be caused by treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine therapy for Graves disease.

How fast does thyroid storm happen?

Thyroid storm can be brought on by a number of ailments. One of them, Graves’ disease, causes the thyroid to overproduce hormones (hyperthyroidism). When it happens suddenly, you can have a thyroid storm. It can come on within hours and may require immediate hospitalization.

How common is a thyroid storm?

Thyroid storm is rare. Its incidence in the United States is between 5.7 and 7.6 per one million people. However, thyroid storm can lead to acute heart failure and a buildup of fluid in the lungs. When it does occur, it can be life-threatening in around 10–25 percent of people with the condition.

Can thyroid storm resolve on its own?

You’ll usually begin to improve within 1 to 3 days. Once the crisis has passed, you should be evaluated by an endocrinologist (gland doctor) to determine if more treatment is needed. Thyroid storms don’t have to be a long-term concern. They can usually be prevented from happening again with medication and therapy.

How to diagnose thyroid storm?

To diagnose thyroid storm, the doctor will look to identify any common symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as high temperature, fast heart rate, nausea and vomiting, or confusion. A doctor will likely order blood tests as part of the evaluation to look for high levels of thyroid hormones (free T4 and free T3) in the blood.

What is a thyroid storm or thyroid crisis?

Thyroid Storm or Thyroid Crisis is a potentially serious and at times fatal complication that arises due to untreated hyperthyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid starts producing and releasing excessive hormones which impact the metabolic rate of the body.