Question

The nurse is reviewing the history and physical examination of a client diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. Which of the following would the nurse expect to find?

Thick hard nails
Inability to tolerate cold Complaints of sleepiness
Reports of increased appetite

Answer 1

A nurse would expect to find an increased appetite as a symptom in a patient diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid condition, among the options given. Thick nails, cold intolerance, and sleepiness are associated with hypothyroidism, not hyperthyroidism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse reviewing the history and physical examination of a client diagnosed with hyperthyroidism would expect to find symptoms indicative of an overactive thyroid gland. Key features associated with hyperthyroidism can include a number of symptoms such as increased appetite, weight loss, heat intolerance, restlessness, protruding eyes (exophthalmos), heart palpitations, excessive sweating, and difficulty sleeping. Thick hard nails, inability to tolerate cold, and complaints of sleepiness are more common in hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland is underactive. In contrast, patients with hyperthyroidism often present with opposite symptoms such as thin nails, heat intolerance (rather than cold), and increased restlessness or insomnia rather than sleepiness. Thus, increased appetite is the symptom the nurse would expect to find in a patient with hyperthyroidism from the options provided.