BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuThyroid stormThyrotoxic storm; Thyrotoxic crisis; Hyperthyroid storm; Accelerated hyperthyroidism; Thyroid crisis; Thyrotoxicosis - thyroid stormThyroid storm is a rare life-threatening condition of the thyroid gland. It develops in cases of untreated hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid (thyrotoxicosis).HyperthyroidismHyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called overactive thyroid.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The thyroid gland is located in the neck, just above where your collarbones meet in the middle. Causes Thyroid storm occurs in people with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism due to a major stress such as:Trauma Heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article InfectionRarely, thyroid storm can be caused by radioactive iodine therapy for Graves disease. This can occur even a week or more after treatment.Graves diseaseGraves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms are severe and may include any of the following:Agitation Change in alertness (consciousness) Confusion Diarrhea Increased temperature Pounding heart (tachycardia) TachycardiaA bounding pulse is a strong throbbing felt over one of the arteries in the body. It is due to a forceful heartbeat.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Restlessness RestlessnessAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Shaking Sweating Bulging eyeballs Exams and Tests The health care provider may suspect thyrotoxic storm based on:A high systolic (top number) blood pressure reading with a lower diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure reading (wide pulse pressure) A very high heart rate A history of hyperthyroidism An exam of your neck may find that your thyroid gland is enlarged (goiter)GoiterA simple goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is usually not a tumor or cancer.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests are done to check thyroid hormones TSH, free T4 and T3.TSHA TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It prompts the thyroid g...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article T3Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone. It plays an important role in the body's control of metabolism (the many processes that control the rate...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other blood tests are done to check heart and kidney functions and to check for infection. Liver function tests provide added diagnosis and treatment information. Treatment Thyroid storm is a medical emergency. It is life threatening. Often, the person needs to be admitted to the intensive care unit. Treatment may include:Oxygen therapy for breathing problems Fluids for dehydration Cooling blankets to return the body temperature to normal Monitoring any excess fluid in older people with heart or kidney disease Medicines to manage agitation Medicine to slow the heart rate Vitamins and glucoseThe goal of treatment is to decrease thyroid hormone levels in the blood. Sometimes, high doses of iodine is given to try and stun the thyroid. Other drugs known as thionamides may be given to lower the hormone level in the blood. Beta blocker medicines are often given by vein (IV) to slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and block the effects of the thyroid hormone excess. In some severe cases, glucocorticoids (steroids) are given.Antibiotics are given in case of infection. Possible Complications Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) may occur. Heart failure and fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) can develop rapidly and cause death.Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pulmonary edemaPulmonary edema is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the lungs. This buildup of fluid leads to shortness of breath.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional This is an emergency condition. Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have hyperthyroidism and experience symptoms of thyroid storm. Prevention To prevent thyroid storm, hyperthyroidism should be treated.Open ReferencesReferencesJonklaas J, Cooper DS. Thyroid. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 213.Marino M, Vitti P, Chiovato L. Graves' disease. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 82.Tallini G, Giordano TJ. Thyroid gland. In: Goldblum JR, Lamps LW, McKenney JK, Myers JL, eds. Rosai and Ackerman's Surgical Pathology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 8.Thiessen MEW. Thyroid and adrenal disorders. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 120.AllVideoImagesTogThyroid gland - illustration The thyroid gland, a part of the endocrine (hormone) system, plays a major role in regulating the body's metabolism.Thyroid glandillustrationThyroid gland - illustration The thyroid gland, a part of the endocrine (hormone) system, plays a major role in regulating the body's metabolism.Thyroid glandillustrationRelated Information Hyperthyroidism(Condition)Pulse - bounding(Symptoms)Fever(Symptoms)Sweating(Symptoms)Agitation(Symptoms)Heart failure(Condition)Pulmonary edema(Condition)Heart failure - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 2/1/2022 Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Thyroid stormThyrotoxic storm; Thyrotoxic crisis; Hyperthyroid storm; Accelerated hyperthyroidism; Thyroid crisis; Thyrotoxicosis - thyroid stormThyroid storm is a rare life-threatening condition of the thyroid gland. It develops in cases of untreated hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid (thyrotoxicosis).HyperthyroidismHyperthyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The condition is often called overactive thyroid.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article The thyroid gland is located in the neck, just above where your collarbones meet in the middle. Causes Thyroid storm occurs in people with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism due to a major stress such as:Trauma Heart attack Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article InfectionRarely, thyroid storm can be caused by radioactive iodine therapy for Graves disease. This can occur even a week or more after treatment.Graves diseaseGraves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms Symptoms are severe and may include any of the following:Agitation Change in alertness (consciousness) Confusion Diarrhea Increased temperature Pounding heart (tachycardia) TachycardiaA bounding pulse is a strong throbbing felt over one of the arteries in the body. It is due to a forceful heartbeat.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Restlessness RestlessnessAgitation is an unpleasant state of extreme arousal. An agitated person may feel stirred up, excited, tense, confused, or irritable.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Shaking Sweating Bulging eyeballs Exams and Tests The health care provider may suspect thyrotoxic storm based on:A high systolic (top number) blood pressure reading with a lower diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure reading (wide pulse pressure) A very high heart rate A history of hyperthyroidism An exam of your neck may find that your thyroid gland is enlarged (goiter)GoiterA simple goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It is usually not a tumor or cancer.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Blood tests are done to check thyroid hormones TSH, free T4 and T3.TSHA TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It prompts the thyroid g...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article T3Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone. It plays an important role in the body's control of metabolism (the many processes that control the rate...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other blood tests are done to check heart and kidney functions and to check for infection. Liver function tests provide added diagnosis and treatment information. Treatment Thyroid storm is a medical emergency. It is life threatening. Often, the person needs to be admitted to the intensive care unit. Treatment may include:Oxygen therapy for breathing problems Fluids for dehydration Cooling blankets to return the body temperature to normal Monitoring any excess fluid in older people with heart or kidney disease Medicines to manage agitation Medicine to slow the heart rate Vitamins and glucoseThe goal of treatment is to decrease thyroid hormone levels in the blood. Sometimes, high doses of iodine is given to try and stun the thyroid. Other drugs known as thionamides may be given to lower the hormone level in the blood. Beta blocker medicines are often given by vein (IV) to slow the heart rate, lower blood pressure, and block the effects of the thyroid hormone excess. In some severe cases, glucocorticoids (steroids) are given.Antibiotics are given in case of infection. Possible Complications Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) may occur. Heart failure and fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) can develop rapidly and cause death.Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pulmonary edemaPulmonary edema is an abnormal buildup of fluid in the lungs. This buildup of fluid leads to shortness of breath.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional This is an emergency condition. Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have hyperthyroidism and experience symptoms of thyroid storm. Prevention To prevent thyroid storm, hyperthyroidism should be treated.Open ReferencesReferencesJonklaas J, Cooper DS. Thyroid. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 213.Marino M, Vitti P, Chiovato L. Graves' disease. In: Jameson JL, De Groot LJ, de Kretser DM, et al, eds. Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 82.Tallini G, Giordano TJ. Thyroid gland. In: Goldblum JR, Lamps LW, McKenney JK, Myers JL, eds. Rosai and Ackerman's Surgical Pathology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 8.Thiessen MEW. Thyroid and adrenal disorders. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 120.