Signs and Symptoms of Hyperthyroid and Hypothyroid (MUST-KNOW NCLEX® POINTS)

28 Jan 2025 · 1 min

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In this concise nursing review, the speaker emphasizes that thyroid function directly influences metabolism, which determines the contrasting clinical picture of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. A slowed metabolism in hypothyroidism produces fatigue, weakness, cold intolerance, and reduced heart and respiratory rates. Conversely, a heightened metabolism in hyperthyroidism leads to irritability, shakiness, heat intolerance, and cardiac manifestations such as palpitations. The segment highlights these opposite symptom patterns to aid NCLEX preparation.

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Let's walk through the key points that you need to know for hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in nursing school. Now, anytime you think thyroid, think metabolism, because that's what's happening here. In hypothyroidism, the metabolism is slowing down. In hyperthyroidism, it's speeding up. Now, what you'll see with hypothyroidism, because that metabolism is decreased, you'll see fatigue and weakness. But with hyperthyroidism, because it's speeding up, you'll see irritability, shakiness, and some moodiness, possibly. Now, hypothyroidism can lead to an intolerance to cold because they want to be warmer, their body is already slowed down, that metabolism is already slowed down. And in hyperthyroidism, they have an intolerance to heat because their metabolism is revved up. Now, opposites again. Hypothyroidism have a decrease in heart rate and respiratory rate because of that metabolism slowing down. With hyperthyroidism, heart palpitation.