If left untreated, though, hypothyroidism can lead to many complications. These include heart problems, nerve injury, infertility and in severe cases, death. Your thyroid hormone level can impact your cardiovascular health. You may have a slow pulse, abnormal heartbeats, and weakened pulse. One study found that hypothyroidism can decrease the volume of blood pumped out by the heart in each beat by 30 to 50 percent.
Low levels of the triiodothyronine T3 thyroid hormone are also associated with heart failure. Fortunately, most cardiac complications related to hypothyroidism can be treated. This involves using the proper medication to correct your thyroid function.
This is often due to decreased blood flow to the kidneys. You may have less ability to excrete water and absorb sodium. As a result, blood levels of sodium may be unusually low. Replacing thyroid hormones can fix these complications. But if extremely low hormone levels persist, recovery from these renal problems can take longer. Hypothyroidism can cause problems with the nervous system, such as muscle weakness or nerve injury.
These can lead to:. People with untreated hypothyroidism may also be more prone to carpal tunnel syndrome. Hypothyroidism reduces fertility in both men and women. In a study published in January in the Endocrine Journal , 69 infertile women with subclinical hypothyroidism were given thyroid hormone treatment.
After this, Myxedema is a rare but life-threatening complication of severe hypothyroidism that involves extreme fatigue and impaired cognition, followed by loss of consciousness.
In someone with untreated hypothyroidism, a myxedema coma can be triggered by stress on the body, an infection, or taking sedatives , according to the Mayo Clinic. Both myxedema and certain other cases of severe hypothyroidism require intravenous IV delivery of thyroid hormone, since fluid in the gut lining may prevent absorption of oral drugs.
But Tylee emphasizes that doctors should check for hypothyroidism well before severe symptoms develop. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: August 15, Medically Reviewed.
As the disease progresses, infants are likely to have trouble feeding and may fail to grow and develop normally. They may also have:. When hypothyroidism in infants isn't treated, even mild cases can lead to severe physical and mental retardation. In general, children and teens who develop hypothyroidism have the same signs and symptoms as adults do, but they may also experience:.
See your doctor if you're feeling tired for no reason or have any of the other signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as dry skin, a pale, puffy face, constipation or a hoarse voice. If you're receiving hormone therapy for hypothyroidism, schedule follow-up visits as often as your doctor recommends. Initially, it's important to make sure you're receiving the correct dose of medicine.
And over time, the dose you need may change. When your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones, the balance of chemical reactions in your body can be upset. There can be a number of causes, including autoimmune disease, hyperthyroidism treatments, radiation therapy, thyroid surgery and certain medications. Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland situated at the base of the front of your neck, just below your Adam's apple.
Hormones produced by the thyroid gland — triiodothyronine T3 and thyroxine T4 — have an enormous impact on your health, affecting all aspects of your metabolism. These hormones also influence the control of vital functions, such as body temperature and heart rate.
Hypothyroidism results when the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones. Hypothyroidism may be due to a number of factors, including:. Autoimmune disease. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disorder known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Autoimmune disorders occur when your immune system produces antibodies that attack your own tissues. Sometimes this process involves your thyroid gland.
In very rare cases, a severe underactive thyroid may lead to a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma. This is where the thyroid hormone levels become very low, causing symptoms such as confusion, hypothermia and drowsiness.
Myxoedema coma requires emergency treatment in hospital. It's usually treated with thyroid hormone replacement medicine given directly into a vein. In some cases, other treatments such as breathing support, antibiotics and steroid medicine corticosteroids are also required.
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