Question

A middle-aged woman is complaining of feeling anxious and irritable for several months. She reports weight loss and a fine tremor in her hands that bothers her even when she is at rest. She has lost weight without changing her usual diet or activity. The patient reports that her appetite has increased. Her menstrual cycles have become irregular. Which of the following conditions is best described?

Answer 1

The middle-aged woman's symptoms suggest she is experiencing hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid condition with symptoms like weight loss, increased appetite, and anxiety.

Step-by-step explanation:

The condition best described by the symptoms of a middle-aged woman who is feeling anxious and irritable, with a weight loss despite an increased appetite, a fine tremor, irregular menstrual cycles, and no changes in her usual diet or activity level is hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is characterized by an overactive thyroid gland that releases excessive amounts of hormones, leading to various physiological effects.

Some common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, anxiety, increased heart rate, profuse sweating, and difficulty sleeping. Since the patient's symptoms align with these, it is likely that she is experiencing hyperthyroidism rather than hypothyroidism, which typically presents with opposite symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, cold sensitivity, and reduced mental activity.