Which symptoms would likely be present in a client with suspected Graves' disease?

Study for the UWorld Endocrine Test. Dive into flashcards and multiple choice items with explanations and hints. Prepare yourself thoroughly!

In a client with suspected Graves' disease, anxiety is a highly relevant symptom due to the hyperthyroid state that characterizes this condition. Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder, leads to excessive production of thyroid hormones. These hormones increase the metabolism and can significantly affect the nervous system, heightening anxiety levels in affected individuals.

Anxiety can manifest as nervousness, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating, all of which are commonly reported by those experiencing hyperthyroid symptoms. In the context of Graves' disease, this is due to an increased sympathetic nervous system activity, which can lead to feelings of unease and tension.

Other symptoms associated with this condition may include increased heart rate, weight loss, heat intolerance, and tremors. However, the selection of anxiety as a symptom highlights its direct connection to the heightened metabolic and neuropsychological effects of excess thyroid hormone production in Graves' disease.

While other symptoms like heart palpitations are indeed associated with hyperthyroidism, they are more indicative of the cardiovascular effects rather than the psychological aspects described by anxiety.

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