What Happens When Hypothyroidism is Left Untreated
Hypothyroidism is generally a life long disease that requires endless medication using synthetic levothyroxine. The treatment assures that you have sufficient amounts of thyroid hormones. If the disease is left without treatment the low levels of thyroid hormone will take its toll on the body, causing sluggish general metabolic rate. Listed here are some of the outcomes of an unattended case of hypothyroidism.
The thyroid hormones are necessary in the operation of the heart as they help in controlling the heart rate and output. Thyroid hormones relaxes the heart muscles making sure that it is able to pump appropriate amount of blood throughout the body. Low levels of thyroid hormones is perilous to the heart as it could decrease the heart rate significantly. As a result, the blood vessel walls become rigid and blood pressure rises, and may result in hypertension.
For the brain, an under active thyroid can result in depression because of its debilitating consequences on those affected by it. Left without treatment, it may also lead to the deterioration of the brain and result in dementia, wherein the person has difficulty concentrating and remembering past events.
The reproduction system is also vulnerable when hypothyroidism is left with no treatment. For women, it can have an effect on the ovulation process leading to irregular menstrual cycles. Women that are pregnant with hypothyroidism faces a huge chance of miscarriage. It can also compromise the development of the fetus. Therefore, it may result in birth defects on children born to mothers with hypothyroidism and lead to their stunted developmental growth.
The worse case scenario for an untreated event of hypothyroidism is a serious, life-threatening condition called myxedema coma. The symptoms of this condition are hypothermia, fluid formation, decreasing functioning of the lung, seizures, constipation, stupor, delirium, slow heart rate, urine retention, and eventually coma. It is a uncommon state which can be triggered by enduring severe stress such as surgery, infections, heart failure, stroke, trauma and extreme cold. Other drugs like amiodarone, lithium, tranquilizers, and phenothiazines, and extented iodine exposure can also result in this condition. Myxedema coma is an emergency state and immediate treatment is extremely needed. Although it is a rare condition, fatality rates are very high, which range from 30% to 60% with older patients.
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