The protrusion of her eyes is a condition called exophthalmos and it results from swelling in the muscles and adipose layer behind the eyeball. What is the best physiologic explanation for the nickname Aniyah's co-workers gave her?
Thirty-two-year-old Aniyah waited impatiently as Dr. Guffey reviewed Aniyah's test results. Aniyah had been feeling tired, stressed, and irritated. She was sweating so much that she stained several new blouses. She had frequent diarrhea and difficulty sleeping. She had a new job that demanded long hours, but she felt like something else was wrong. Aniyah's neck was swollen and her eyes seemed like they had doubled in size. When some of her co-workers started calling her “Pop Eyes” she decided to get checked out.
Dr. Guffey noted that Aniyah's thyroid hormone levels were elevated, but her level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was decreased. Dr. Guffey said that all of Aniyah's symptoms were consistent with a form of hyperthyroidism called Graves' Disease.
And because the thyroid hormones have widespread and varied effects, the range of symptoms Aniyah experienced was more consistent with Graves' Disease, and not just from the stress of the new job. The protrusion of her eyes is a condition called exophthalmos and it results from swelling in the muscles and adipose layer behind the eyeball.
There is good news for Aniyah. Her thyroid gland can be treated with surgery or radiation and even her eyes will retreat to the normal position in the eye orbit, so her co-workers will not be able to use the nick-name very much longer.
What is the best physiologic explanation for the nickname Aniyah's co-workers gave her?
Elevated levels of T3/T4 cause edema in the tissue behind the eyes
Receptors for thyroid hormone down-regulate causing inflammation and swelling in the connective tissue of the eyeball
Receptors for thyroid hormone up-regulate in the sclera of the eye, causing swelling
Hyperthyroidism causes an infection in the lens of the eyes
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