A client has just undergone a diagnostic cardiac angiogram. As part of their ordered labs, the physician has ordered a thyroid panel. The physiological principle behind ordering this lab tests includes which of the following correlations?

Question

Hyperthyroidism can cause: Select all that apply.
A) Rise in oxygen consumption
B) Sharp decrease in heart rate and blood pressure
C) Increase in cardiac output
D) Vasoconstriction of all arteries

Answer 1

Ans: A, C
Feedback:
Cardiovascular and respiratory functions are strongly affected by thyroid function. With an increase in metabolism, there is a rise in oxygen consumption and production of metabolic end products, with an accompanying increase in vasodilation. Blood volume, cardiac output, and ventilation all are increased as a means of maintaining blood flow and oxygen delivery to body tissues. Heart rate and cardiac contractility are enhanced as a means of maintaining the needed cardiac output, whereas there is little change in blood pressure because the increase in vasodilation tends to offset the increase in cardiac output.