Thyroid-induced cardiac disorders.

Signs and symptoms of thyroid disease are varied and often vague. ICU patients may have cardiac disorders directly related to altered levels of thyroid hormone rather than inherent cardiac disease. Cardiac manifestations of thyroid disease result from a decrease or an increase in circulating hormone and are usually reversible with treatment. Accurate, ongoing assessment, especially after treatment has begun, is important to help guide safe and effective therapy. Patient education is another priority of nursing care and can be a major factor in helping the patient to achieve and maintain a euthyroid state.