Final answer:
Symptoms of thyroid storm are similar to those of severe hyperthyroidism, with intense manifestations like rapid heartbeat, high fever, and potential heart failure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Symptoms of thyroid storm are similar to those of severe hyperthyroidism. Thyroid storm is a life-threatening condition characterized by an extreme overproduction of thyroid hormones, leading to a significant acceleration of the body's metabolism. Symptoms include rapid and irregular heartbeat, high fever, heart failure, shock, and even coma. These are more intense manifestations of the symptoms seen in hyperthyroidism, which can include rapid heartbeat, weight loss, increased sweating, and heat intolerance.
For instance, in Graves' disease, the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, the body produces an antibody that stimulates the thyroid beyond its normal function. This excess stimulation can sometimes trigger a thyroid storm, especially if it is not adequately managed or in the presence of stress or infection.
Comparatively, symptoms of hypothyroidism are the opposite, as the thyroid gland is underactive, causing sluggish metabolism. Patients may experience fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, and a low heart rate due to a lack of thyroid hormones. Both conditions fundamentally involve an imbalance of thyroid hormone production but result in vastly different symptom presentations.