A 57-year-old female complains of fatigue, muscle weakness, palpitations, nervousness, and insomnia for the last few weeks. She thought she was just experiencing stress from her husband's recent stroke 1 month ago. There are no current medications. Past medical history includes cholecystectomy at age 45; D&C at age 50. On physical examination, the patient is afebrile, pulse 102 beats/min, respirations18 breaths/min, blood pressure 156/98. Physical examination reveals tremulousness and quadriceps weakness bilaterally +4/5. Which of the following diagnostic tests is a priority in the work-up?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's symptoms of fatigue, muscle weakness, palpitations, nervousness, and insomnia, along with physical findings of tremulousness and tachycardia, suggest hyperthyroidism. The first step in diagnosing hyperthyroidism is measuring the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level.

A 57-Year-Old Female Complains of Fatigue, Muscle Weakness, Palpitations, Nervousness