Myxedema coma is a rare and life-threatening condition resulting from severely low levels of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream, leading to a coma due to loss of brain function. Prior to the onset of a myxedema coma, individuals often exhibit signs of hypothyroidism that may have gone undetected for an extended time. These symptoms include fatigue, sensitivity to cold, mental and mood alterations, headaches, depression, weight gain, constipation, and menstrual irregularities. When a myxedema coma occurs, the individual's body temperature usually drops to dangerously low levels, and widespread swelling (edema) is observed along with critical impairments in brain function.Myxedema coma is considered a medical emergency. Treatment generally involves supporting crucial bodily functions such as respiration and circulation, warming the body to restore normal temperature, and administering thyroid hormone replacement.
