NCLEX Examination.
Practice Question # 751.
NCLEX Examination.
HYPERTHYROIDISM:
Hyperthyroidism is the second most prevalent endocrine disorder, after diabetes mellitus. Graves’ disease, the most common type of hyperthyroidism, results from an excessive output of thyroid hormones caused by abnormal stimulation of the thyroid gland by circulating immunoglobulins. It affects women eight times more frequently than men, with onset usually between the second and fourth decades (Tierney et al., 2001). It may appear after an emotional shock, stress, or an infection, but the exact significance of these relationships is not understood. Other common causes of hyperthyroidism include thyroiditis and excessive ingestion of thyroid hormone.