BIOS 252 Week 7 Case Study: Thyroid

BIOS 252 Week 7 Case Study: Thyroid

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Chamberlain University

BIOS-252: Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab

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Week 7 Case Study: Thyroid

The thyroid gland and its hormones play a critical role in regulating the body’s metabolic processes, impacting every cell and organ. These hormones control the rate at which the body burns energy, influencing weight changes, and can also affect heart rate by either slowing it down or speeding it up. An abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, known as a goiter, occurs when the thyroid becomes damaged and cannot produce adequate thyroid hormone. In response to low hormone levels, the pituitary gland secretes more thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to compensate, causing the thyroid gland to grow and potentially develop into a goiter.

Based on the patient’s presentation, it appears they may be experiencing hypothyroidism, which results from an underactive thyroid gland. When the thyroid produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormone, the gland is overstimulated, leading to swelling. The observed symptoms align with the characteristics of hypothyroidism, including an enlarged thyroid.

The patient also exhibits signs suggesting the possibility of Graves’ disease. These symptoms include the sensation of the triage room feeling excessively hot (despite it being cold for others), as well as visual disturbances like blurred vision and occasional double vision. These manifestations are consistent with the hyperactive thyroid function typically associated with Graves’ disease, a condition that stimulates excessive thyroid hormone production.

Thyroid Conditions Overview (Table Format)

References

MacGill, M. (2020, November 11). Everything you need to know about a goiter. Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/file/113965311/Week-7-Case-Study-Thyroiddocx/

BIOS 252 Week 7 Case Study: Thyroid