A woman comes to the clinic and states, "I've been sick for so long! My eyes have gotten so puffy, and my eyebrows and hair have become coarse and dry." For what condition should the nurse assess for other signs and symptoms?

Question

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Myxedema (hypothyroidism) is a deficiency of thyroid hormone that, when severe, causes a nonpitting edema or myxedema. The patient will have a puffy edematous face, especially around the eyes (periorbital edema); coarse facial features; dry skin; and dry, coarse hair and eyebrows. Cachexia, or cachectic appearance, accompanies chronic wasting diseases such as cancer, dehydration, and starvation. Features included sunken eyes, hollow cheeks, and exhausted, defeated expression. Graves disease is an autoimmune disease with increased production of thyroid hormones which is manifested by goiter, eyelid retraction, and exophthalmos (bulging eyeballs) and other symptoms. The facial features characteristic of Parkinson syndrome are a flat and expressionless, "masklike," with elevated eyebrows, staring gaze, oily skin, and drooling. The signs and symptoms of this patient are characteristic of myxedema, or hypothyroidism.

A Woman Comes to the Clinic and States, "I've Been