Risk Factors & Warning Signs of Crisis in Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland, is usually treated with medications. However, if someone’s hypothyroidism isn’t being managed properly, certain medical conditions and environmental factors can prompt a hypothyroid crisis that can threaten someone’s life.

Myxedema

• Myxedema is hypothyroidism at its most extreme. Although rare, it occurs when thyroid hormones—which help regulate our body temperature, breathing, brain functioning and digestion—become so low that immediate medical attention is needed.

Warning Signs

• The warning signs of myxedema include an intolerance to cold, low blood pressure, shortness of breath, lethargy and seizures. Someone suffering from untreated myxedema can become comatose and die.

Risk Factors

• Myxedema is usually the result of untreated hypothyroidism. Specifically, when a person with unmanaged hypothyroidism is also exposed to physical stressors myxedema can result. These stressors include extreme cold, infection, injury, surgery or drugs which decrease brain function.

Treatment

• Someone who seeks medical care for myxedema will most likely be given intraveneous thyroid hormones. A person with diminished breathing could be given oxygen therapy. Extensive monitoring and nursing care may be needed during recovery.

Precaution

• The National Institutes of Health emphasize that an underactive thyroid is usually not a self-correcting condition. Hypothyroid sufferers need to continue taking their medication throughout their lives, unless their doctor instructs them otherwise.