Myxedema – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Tuesday, May 22, 2018 by Michelle Simmons

Myxedema is another term for severely advance hypothyroidism. It is a condition that develops when the body does not make enough thyroid hormone. The thyroid is a small gland that is located at the front of the neck. It releases hormones that help the body regulate energy and control a wide variety of functions.

Myxedema is the result of having undiagnosed or untreated severe hypothyroidism. The term myxedema can also be used to describe skin changes in someone with severely advanced hypothyroidism. These skin changes include swelling of the face, including the lips, eyelids, and tongue; and swelling and thickening of skin anywhere the body, particularly in the lower legs.

Myxedema crisis can occur due to severely advanced hypothyroidism. The term “myxedema coma” was used to describe this life-threatening situation. However, it was replaced because a comatose state is no longer needed to diagnose the condition.

Known side effects of myxedema

Before myxedema, hypothyroidism usually occurs. The known side effects of hypothyroidism include the following:

Change in menstrual cycles
Cold intolerance
Constipation
Depression
Dry skin
Fatigue
Headaches
Hoarseness
Lethargy
Mental impairment
Weight gain

The known side effects of myxedema crisis include the following:

Coma
Confusion or mental slowness
Decreased breathing
High blood carbon dioxide levels
Hypothermia
Low blood oxygen levels
Lower than normal blood sodium levels
Seizures
Shock

Myxedema can also lead to other health complications, such as hypothermia, swelling and fluid accumulation, decreased drug metabolism leading to overdosing of medications, pregnancy issues, heart failure, kidney problems, depression, coma, and death.

Body systems harmed by myxedema

The body system harmed by myxedema is the endocrine system.

List of foods or nutrients that prevent myxedema

There is no information on what foods or nutrients prevent myxedema. However, there are some foods you can eat to improve thyroid health. These include cruciferous vegetables, Brazil nuts, sea vegetables, chlorophyll, maca, gluten-free foods, and soy-free foods.

Treatments, management plans for myxedema

Treatment for myxedema is the same for hypothyroidism treatment. Natural treatments for myxedema include eating citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables; cooking with coconut oil; having some apple cider vinegar; avoiding gluten; eating whole grains like brown rice, wild rice, and quinoa; increasing iodine in diet by eating kelp or seaweed; incorporating ginger to your meal; having a daily dose of vitamin D; trying relaxation therapy; and trying Ayurvedic remedies like eranda oil, ashwagandha, guggul, and brahmi.

Where to learn more

Summary

Myxedema is the result of having undiagnosed or untreated severe hypothyroidism.

Myxedema causes coma, confusion, decreased breathing, high blood carbon dioxide levels, hypothermia, low blood oxygen levels, lower than normal blood sodium levels, seizures, and shock.

Myxedema can also result in other health complications, such as hypothermia, swelling and fluid accumulation, decreased drug metabolism leading to overdosing of medications, pregnancy issues, heart failure, kidney problems, depression, coma, and death.

Myxedema harms the endocrine system.

Foods that improve thyroid health include cruciferous vegetables, Brazil nuts, sea vegetables, chlorophyll, maca, gluten-free foods, and soy-free foods.

Natural treatments for myxedema include eating citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables; cooking with coconut oil; having some apple cider vinegar; avoiding gluten; eating whole grains; increasing iodine in the diet; incorporating ginger to your meal; having a daily dose of vitamin D; trying relaxation therapy, and trying Ayurvedic remedies.

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