Some of the symptoms of this condition are:
Myxedema coma is a medical emergency VSports最新版本. You can lose consciousness, and your organs may begin to shut down. Without quick treatment, it can lead to respiratory failure or death.
The most common cause is not receiving treatment for hypothyroidism — usually for a long period of time. This could be because you don’t know you have it or it’s not well-managed V体育平台登录.
Severe hypothyroidism deprives your body of thyroid hormone. You need this hormone to run your metabolism, heart, muscles, brain — almost every body system you have VSports注册入口. Without thyroid hormone, your body will start to shut down.
There are some known triggers of myxedema coma for people with hypothyroidism:
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The biggest risk factor for a myxedema crisis is having a long history of untreated hypothyroidism VSports在线直播. Other risk factors include:.
If you’re receiving treatment for a thyroid condition, regular checkups with your provider are important. They help make sure your treatment is working.
Healthcare providers can diagnose it based on your symptoms, a physical exam and your health history. They may ask if you have a history of thyroid disorders, thyroid surgery or if you are taking thyroid medications. If you’re confused, it might be hard to share information. So, healthcare providers may have to diagnose you based on your symptoms and a physical exam.
Since it’s a medical emergency, you’ll most likely go to the ICU for immediate treatment. They’ll use blood tests to confirm low thyroid hormone levels.
Your provider may order other tests like:
Treatment for myxedema crisis typically takes place in an ICU where your healthcare team will monitor you closely. You’ll receive:
Seek medical care right away if you believe your loved one is having a myxedema crisis. Symptoms could include confusion, swelling and shallow breathing.
If you have hypothyroidism, be sure to take your medication exactly as it’s prescribed. Attend all your appointments with your healthcare provider. They’ll run tests on your thyroid hormone levels to make sure you’re taking the right dose.
Myxedema coma is a serious condition that can turn fatal. Your healthcare team will need to recognize and treat it quickly. When this happens, the outcome is usually better. Even so, myxedema coma is fatal for about 2 to 6 out of 10 people.
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Recovering from a myxedema coma can take days or weeks (depending on how severe your condition is). Be patient with yourself as you recover. Your body has gone through a lot. You’ll need to take thyroid medication for the rest of your life and have frequent checkups with your healthcare provider.
The best way to prevent the condition is to get treatment for hypothyroidism. Visit your healthcare provider for checkups and take your thyroid medication as directed. This can prevent you from dangerously low thyroid hormone levels that can lead to myxedema crisis.
Telling your friends and family about the warning signs of myxedema coma is also a great prevention step to take. This can be beneficial if you become unconscious or have severe symptoms of the condition.
Myxedema coma is a scary complication of untreated hypothyroidism. Recognizing the signs and getting medical attention right away can make a huge difference. Taking medication for hypothyroidism and visiting your doctor regularly can prevent a myxedema coma. If you’ve survived a myxedema crisis, it’s normal to have lots of emotions and questions about what happened to you. Share these with your healthcare team so they can help support you.
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Cleveland Clinic’s experienced healthcare providers treat all kinds of thyroid disorders, including issues that cause hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Last reviewed on 06/16/2025.
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