The most life-threatening condition from thyroid disease is Thyroid Storm (or Thyrotoxic Crisis), a severe exacerbation of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) causing extreme fever, rapid heart rate, vomiting, delirium, and potentially coma or cardiovascular collapse, requiring immediate hospital care. While hypothyroidism can lead to a severe state called myxedema coma, thyroid storm is generally considered the most acutely dangerous, with significant mortality even with treatment.
Symptoms of a thyroid storm include:
Thyroid storm is a rare and life-threatening condition that can affect people with hyperthyroidism. Common symptoms include having a high fever and a rapid heart rate. Thyroid storm is a medical emergency and needs to be treated in a hospital.
Is dizziness a symptom of a thyroid problem? Yes, dizziness is a symptom of a thyroid problem. Thyroid diseases³ or thyroid abnormalities sometimes manifest as dizziness. A high heart rate, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness are all possible symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Thyroid storm, also referred to as thyrotoxic crisis, is an acute, life-threatening, hypermetabolic state induced by excessive release of thyroid hormones (THs) in individuals with thyrotoxicosis. Thyroid storm may be the initial presentation of thyrotoxicosis in undiagnosed children, particularly in neonates.
Myxedema coma and thyroid storm are thyroid emergencies associated with increased mortality. Prompt recognition of these states—which represent the severe, life-threatening conditions of extremely reduced or elevated circulating thyroid hormone concentrations, respectively—is necessary to initiate treatment.
For optimal thyroid health, the one key nutrient to focus on daily is iodine, found in foods like dairy, eggs, and seafood, but also selenium, provided by just a few Brazil nuts, is vital for hormone conversion, making eggs or Brazil nuts great morning choices, alongside a balanced breakfast with protein, healthy fats, and fiber for overall function.
Common symptoms
For example, hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity can damage the inner ear through hormonal, immune, and vascular mechanisms. Vestibular disorders like Ménière's disease (MD) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) also show possible associations with thyroid dysfunction.
Daily habits such as irregular sleep, skipped meals, and stress can harm thyroid function. Improving your routine can offer significant relief and support hormonal recovery.
Thyroid dysfunction, even in the subclinical range, is a known risk factor for coronary heart disease, but the association with sudden cardiac death (SCD) is unknown.
Thyroid storm, also known as thyrotoxic crisis, is an acute, life-threatening complication of hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms
When the levels of thyroid hormones become very low, the symptoms get worse and can result in a serious condition called myxedema coma. Myxedema coma is a rare but life-threatening condition. People with hypothyroidism who are in or near a coma should be taken to an emergency department immediately.
Thyroid disease can cause multiple eye problems. These include redness and swelling, double vision, decreased vision, eyelid retraction (inability to close the eyes), and a bulging of the eye itself.
The afternoon crash means your blood sugar has dropped too low for your brain and body to function normally, causing you to become drowsy, mentally foggy, tired, and unmotivated. Unstable blood sugar is notorious for making it difficult to manage an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto's hypothyroidism.
On the other hand, it is important to remember that some berries and citrus fruits like strawberries and peaches contain goitrogens. Since it can interfere with the thyroid glands' iodine uptake, eating these fruits of a larger quality can lead to hyperthyroidism.
For some people, hypothyroidism that hasn't been treated can lead to joint and muscle problems. Specifically, hypothyroidism may cause: Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness. Joint pain and stiffness, particularly in the hands and knees in adults.
Get Smart About Sleep
You might feel run down, even if you're taking medication. Yet all too often, “people with hypothyroidism don't get enough sleep, or the sleep they're getting isn't good quality,” Hatipoglu says. To ensure your body has a chance to rest and recover: Aim for 8 hours of sleep every night.
Those symptoms most commonly related to thyroid deficiency include forgetfulness, fatigue, mental slowness, inattention, and emotional lability. The predominant affective disorder experienced is depression. Perceptual changes may develop with alterations of taste, hearing, and vision.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause sleep issues. In patients with hyperthyroidism, the nervousness and arousal associated with the condition can prevent patients from falling asleep normally. Increased perspiration caused by the condition can lead to night sweats, waking the patient during the night.
Instead, symptoms of thyroid dysfunction range from insomnia, constipation, and hair loss to fluid retention, fatigue and temperature intolerances. They can even negatively affect your heart function and menstrual cycle.
Nuts: Another great source of selenium, nuts make a handy snack that you can take anywhere. They also go well in salads or stir-fries. Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, and hazelnuts are all particularly high in selenium, which helps the thyroid function properly.
Non-starchy Vegetables: Opt for nutrient-rich options like spinach, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, zucchini, cucumber, and bottled gourd. These vegetables are low in carbohydrates and high in antioxidants, making them an important addition to your hypothyroidism diet plan.
The cinnamon extract promoted a lower serum total T3 concentration but did not affect the serum total T4 and TSH concentrations. In addition, there was no alteration in thyroid mass, consistent with the unaltered TSH level, which is the main active trophic hormone of the thyroid.