Hypothyroidism is a condition with which the thyroid gland is unable to produce enough thyroid hormones to help keep the body functioning optimally. However, severe hyperthyroidism is a case where there is extremely too little thyroid hormone in the blood. This may be caused by an autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or radiation treatment among other causes.
For the optimal and normal functioning of various body organs, there must be sufficient production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid glands. The hormone is secreted into the bloodstream where it is carried to different body tissues where it will be used to boost metabolism and energy use, as well as ensure vital body organs such like the heart, muscles, and brain among others function normally.
Hypothyroidism is said to be severe if proper treatment is not undertaken. Since this condition has no cure, affected people should be committed to lifetime treatment. This is the only way you can have the condition under control throughout the rest of your life. Otherwise, you will be experiencing various symptoms from time to time including, excessive fatigue, drying of the skin, depression, forgetfulness, and constipation.
The surest way to determine if you are suffering from severe hypothyroidism is visiting your doctor to get tested. First, the doctor will undertake a physical examination-checking the thyroid gland and analyzing the symptoms available like the swelling of the skin, slowed heart rate and drying of the skin. Afterward, the doctor may perform blood tests to diagnose the severity of the condition.
The first blood test is the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone test (TSH) which measures the amount of thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) the thyroid gland is required to make. Extremely or abnormally high TSH is a clear indication of severe hypothyroidism meaning the thyroid gland is needed to make a lot more T4 due to the deficit in the blood.
Though rare, patients with longstanding severe untreated hypothyroidism may are likely to experience an even more severe condition known as myxedema coma, in which the body’s functions almost get to a halt. This condition is common in elderly women patients and is life-threatening thus needs immediate medical attention. Some of the symptoms of this severe form of hypothyroidism include loss of brain function, swelling of the body, difficulty breathing, and low temperatures among other severe signs that call for emergency care.
It is argued that this condition may be as a result of the failure of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus part of the brain which is responsible for signaling the thyroid gland to perform its function of making thyroid hormone. Once this severe condition sets in, family and friends are advised not to give the person in myxedema coma thyroid medications, instead take them for emergency care.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMHT0025658/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5450818/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279007/
https://www.medicinenet.com/image-collection/pituitary_gland_picture/picture.htm
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