What is myxedema?

Myxedema is a difficult skin condition that can proceed to even more serious symptoms when people have hypothyroidism or low levels of thyroid hormones. The condition is known by several other names, including Graves dermopathy, and when Graves is part of it, it is associated with hyperthyroidism or very high thyroid levels. The condition is usually due to hypothyroidism and thyroid levels must be significantly low for a long time. The condition may be more common in some types of thyroid disorders, such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition that causes the body to treat thyroid hormones as foreign. Other causes of this condition may include thyroid removal, called thyroidectomy,

Symptoms of myxedem are usually present in parallel with other symptoms of low thyroid hormones, and both should be recorded. With a permanently low level of thyroid hormones, a person can have pain and pain, feel a strong feeling of fatigue, have a memory loss or confusion, and easily increaseson the weight. In older people, the symptoms of hypothyroidism can be confused with diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Getting the right diagnosis is essential because eventually the inability to have enough thyroid hormone can cause people to fall into a coma.

In this sense, myxedema may help to make it possible to make the diagnosis of hypothyroidism, but the symptoms may be difficult to bear. The skin can be stronger and coarser. Usually there is a dryer and water can hold. The skin can also occupy yellow or orange color. In addition, there are areas under the skin that have deposits of a material called "jelly", and these areas cause swelling of the skin. Occasionally this condition affects only legs and can be called partial, but more often affects the whole body with significant swelling and roughness of the skin, especially around palms, knees, elbows and foot feet.

Myxedema can be compared to lymphedema, but there are several differences. Swelling is causedBoth conditions, but in the lymphedema, swelling is asymmetrical and can be controlled but not cured. In fact, the regulation of thyroid hormones can cure myxedema and all symptoms of the condition may be correct if hormone levels are correct. Another comparison that is used is that lymphedema can usually rule out if blood tests to control the thyroid stimulating hormone and the actual hormone levels return as abnormal.

The treatment of myxedem involves supplementation with thyroid hormone. This usually causes swelling. When people have autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, they may require relatively constant blood monitoring to ensure that thyroid hormones remain to the normal range.