What is Myxedema?
The medical term myxedema is most commonly used to describe the physical characteristics of a person who has untreated hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). One typical feature of myxedema is generalized puffiness, especially noticeable in the face around the lips, nose and eyes. Other findings include: • Dry skin • Slow heart rate • Subnormal body temperature • Thick tongue • Low-pitched “husky” voice • Lethargy • Mental confusion (in advanced cases) A diagnosis can be made with a simple blood test called a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Treatment with thyroid medication should result in dramatic improvement of the symptoms and physical characteristics over time.
The medical term myxedema is most commonly used to describe the physical characteristics of a person who has untreated hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). One typical feature of myxedema is generalized puffiness, especially noticeable in the face around the lips, nose and eyes. Other findings include: • Dry skin • Slow heart rate • Subnormal body temperature • Thick tongue • Low-pitched “husky” voice • Lethargy • Mental confusion (in advanced cases) A diagnosis can be made with a simple blood test called a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Treatment with thyroid medication should result in dramatic improvement of the symptoms and physical characteristics over time. Howard LeWine, M.D., is chief editor of Internet Publishing at Harvard Health Publications. He is recognized as an outstanding clinician and teacher and is a recipient of the Internal Medicine Teacher of the Year award at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Dr. LeWine continues to practice Internal Medicine; most recently he
Myxedema is a difficult skin condition, which can progress to even more severe symptoms when people have hypothyroidism or low thyroid hormone levels. The condition is known by several other names including Graves’ dermopathy, and when it is part of Graves’ it is associated with hyperthyroidism or very high thyroid levels. Usually the condition is due to hypothyroidism, and thyroid levels have to be notably low for long periods of time. The condition may be more common with certain types of thyroid disorders like Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition that causes the body to treat thyroid hormones as foreign. Other causes for this condition can include removal of the thyroid, called thyroidectomy, The skin symptoms of myxedema are usually present concurrently with other symptoms of low thyroid hormones, and both should be noted. With persistently low thyroid hormone levels, a person may have aches and pains, feel a strong sense of fatigue, have memory loss or confusion, and g
