Hypothyroidism is generally a life long illness that requires continuous treatment using synthetic levothyroxine. The medication guarantees that you have sufficient amounts of thyroid hormones. If the disease is left without treatment the low levels of thyroid hormone will hurt the body, causing sluggish overall metabolic rate. Listed below are a number of of the outcomes of an untreated instance of hypothyroidism.

The thyroid hormones are essential in the functioning of the heart as they help in regulating the heart rate and output. Thyroid hormones relaxes the heart muscles ensuring that it is capable to pump appropriate volume of blood around the body. Low levels of thyroid hormones is dangerous to the heart as it could slow down the heart rate considerably. Because of this, the blood vessel walls become rigid and blood pressure rises, and can lead to hypertension.

For the brain, hypothyroidism can result in depression due to its incapacitating consequences on those suffering from it. Left with no treatment, it can also result in the deterioration of the brain and result in dementia, wherein the patient has trouble focusing and remembering past events.

The reproduction system is likewise at risk when hypothyroidism is left with no treatment. For women, it can have an effect on the ovulation process resulting to unpredictable menstrual cycles. Women that are pregnant with hypothyroidism confronts a huge chance of miscarriage. It may also compromise the growth and development of the fetus. As a result, it may result in birth defects on babies born to mothers with hypothyroidism and lead to their stunted developmental growth.

The worse case scenario for an neglected case of hypothyroidism is a serious, life-threatening condition called myxedema coma. The symptoms of this condition are hypothermia, decreasing functioning of the lung, constipation, delirium, urine retention, slow heart rate, stupor, seizures, fluid formation, and eventually coma. It is a unique condition which can be induced by encountering severe stress such as extreme cold, trauma, stroke, heart failure, infections, and surgery. Other prescription drugs like phenothiazines, amiodarone, lithium, and tranquilizers, and extented iodine exposure may also induce this condition. Myxedema coma is an emergency state and immediate medical treatment is very required. Even though it is a rare condition, death rates are very high, which range from 30% to 60% with older patients.