Question Easy: A 25-year-old woman comes to the GP with complaints of feeling tired, constipated, and experiencing weight gain despite a decreased appetite. She has also noticed her skin feels dry. What is the most likely diagnosis? 🌿
A) Grave’s disease
B) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
C) Addison’s disease
D) Polycystic ovary syndrome
E) Cushing’s syndrome
Question Medium: You are reviewing a 50-year-old man with recurrent headaches that are unilateral, sharp, and are associated with tearing and nasal congestion on the same side. The headaches occur at the same time every day and last about 1 hour. Which condition is he most likely suffering from? 🧠
A) Tension-type headache
B) Migraine with aura
C) Cluster headache
D) Temporal arteritis
E) Trigeminal neuralgia
Question Hard: A patient presents with severe hyponatraemia. Further investigation reveals high plasma renin activity, low plasma aldosterone concentration, and high urinary sodium. His blood pressure is low. What is the most likely cause? ⚡
A) Conn’s syndrome
B) Cushing’s syndrome
C) Addison’s disease
D) Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
E) Bartter syndrome
Explanations & Answers:
Question Easy Answer: B) Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Question Easy Explanation: The symptoms of tiredness, constipation, weight gain, and dry skin are classic for hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in adults and leads to the underproduction of thyroid hormones.
Question Medium Answer: C) Cluster headache
Question Medium Explanation: Cluster headaches are characterised by severe unilateral pain, often with autonomic symptoms like tearing and nasal congestion. The regular timing and relatively short duration of the headaches are also indicative of this condition.
Question Hard Answer: C) Addison’s disease
Question Hard Explanation: Addison’s disease leads to adrenal insufficiency, resulting in low cortisol and aldosterone levels. This causes hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia, low blood pressure, high renin, and sodium retention due to high urinary sodium loss.
Medical fact of the day: Did you know that about 1 in 10 people in the UK have a thyroid disorder, making it one of the most common endocrine problems? Ensuring proper thyroid function is key for maintaining overall health and energy levels!
Quote of the day: “The art of medicine is not only to cure but also to comfort and inspire, even in the smallest of interactions.”