Underactive thyroid
Several complications can occur if you have an underactive thyroid that isn't treated.
If you have an untreated underactive thyroid, your risk of developing Cardiovascular disease is increased.
This is because having low levels of the hormone thyroxine can lead to increased levels of cholesterol in your blood. High cholesterol can cause fatty deposits to build up in your arteries, restrictingthe flow of blood.
Contact your doctor if you're being treated for an underactive thyroid and you develop chest pain , so that any problems can bedetected and treated, if necessary.
A goitre is an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland that causes a lump to form in the throat. Goitres can develop in people with an underactive thyroidwhen the body tries tostimulate the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones.
If an underactive thyroid isn't treated during pregnancy, there's a risk of problems occurring. Theseinclude:
These problems can usually be avoided with treatment under the guidance of a specialist in hormone disorders (an endocrinologist). Therefore, tell your GP if you have an underactive thyroid and you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
In very rare cases, a severe underactive thyroid may lead to a life-threatening condition called myxoedema coma. This is where the thyroid hormone levels become very low, causing symptoms such as confusion, hypothermia and drowsiness.
Myxoedema coma requires emergency treatment in hospital. It's usually treated with thyroid hormone replacement medication given directly into a vein. In some cases, other treatments such as breathing support, antibiotics and steroid medication ( corticosteroids ) are also required.
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) is where your thyroid gland doesn't produce enough hormones.
Read more about the symptoms of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), including tiredness, weight gain, depression and increased sensitivity to cold.
Read about the causes of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), including the immune system attacking the thyroid gland and previous thyroid treatment.
Read about the importance of correctly diagnosing an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) using a specialised type of blood test called a thyroid function test.
Read about how an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) is treated. The first line treatment is a daily hormone replacement tablet called levothyroxine.
Read about the complications of an untreated underactive thyroid, including heart problems, goitre and pregnancy-related complications.