Myxedema coma is a complication of long-term hypothyroidism. Patients with myxedema coma can experience mental disorders and organ function.
Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone. In fact, this hormone has many important functions, including helping regulate body temperature and heart rate.
Myxedema coma occurs when hypothyroidism is undiagnosed or untreated. This condition is very dangerous and can be life threatening for the sufferer. Myxedema coma can be prevented by treating hypothyroidism early.
Symptoms of Myxedema Coma
Myxedema coma is a complication of hypothyroidism. Therefore, before the symptoms of myxedema coma appear, the patient will experience symptoms of hypothyroidism in the long term. When hypothyroidism gets worse, sufferers will experience symptoms of myxedema coma, such as:
- Hypothermia or low body temperature
- Breathing rate becomes slow
- Hard to breathe
- Decreased (low) levels of oxygen in the blood
- Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood (high)
- Dry, scaly and thickened skin
- Slow to speak
- Mental disorders, such as hallucinations and confusion (delirium)
- Accumulation of fluid throughout the body, including the lungs and heart
- Decreased ability of the heart to pump blood
- Decreased blood pressure (hypotension)
- Digestive tract dysfunction
- Seizures
- Shock
- Loss of consciousness and coma
When to go to the doctor
Go to the hospital emergency room immediately if you experience the symptoms mentioned above. Myxedema coma can be life threatening and requires immediate treatment.
If you have hypothyroidism, have regular checkups and checkups with your doctor. The sooner treatment is given, the lower your risk of developing a myxedema coma.
Causes of Myxedema Coma
Myxedema coma is caused by undiagnosed and untreated hypothyroidism. This condition occurs when people with hypothyroidism do not see a doctor or stop taking drugs to treat the disease.
Myxedema coma can also be triggered by any of the following factors:
- History of thyroid surgery
- History of treatment with radioactive iodine
- Disorders of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus
- Hypothermia due to exposure to low temperatures
- History of taking drugs that depress central nervous system function.
- Infections, especially of the lungs and urinary tract
- Metabolic and electrolyte disturbances, such as hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, and acidosis
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Burns
- brain injury
- Stress
Myxedema Coma Diagnosis
Doctors can suspect a person is experiencing myxedema coma if they find the symptoms and signs of this condition after performing a physical examination and asking the patient's complaints, medical history, and previous medical history. However, to further confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will perform the following supporting tests:
- Blood tests, to measure levels of thyroid hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone, and to check the function of the liver and adrenal glands.
- Examination of blood gas analysis, to measure the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
- Chest X-ray, to see if there is an enlarged heart, fluid buildup in the chest, and heart failure.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG), to see if there is a problem with the heart.
Myxedema Coma Treatment
Myxedema coma is an emergency that must be treated immediately. Without proper treatment, myxedema coma can be life-threatening. Some of the treatment steps that doctors can take are:
- Placing the patient in a warm room and equipped with a blanket so that his body temperature returns to normal
- Provide a breathing apparatus to help the patient breathe
- Administer antibiotics to myxedema coma patients who have an infection
- Give fluids through an IV to treat sodium and glucose deficiency
- Provide synthetic thyroid hormone infusion to normalize thyroid hormone levels in the body
Complications of myxedema coma
Myxedema coma is an emergency that must be treated quickly. If treatment is given too late, it can lead to the following complications:
- Kidney failure
- Heart failure
- Coma
- Death
If it occurs in pregnant women, myxedema coma also has the potential to cause complications such as:
- Miscarriage
- Fetal death
- Congenital abnormalities in babies
Myxedema Coma Prevention
Prevention of myxedema coma is to treat hypothyroidism early.
If you suffer from hypothyroidism, undergo hypothyroidism treatment as recommended by your doctor and have regular check-ups with your doctor. Recognize and be aware of the symptoms of myxedema coma, so you can immediately see a doctor if these symptoms appear.
