Asking for a friend i didn't know the answer

[Destinyweathers]

My friend asked me if u can die from ur thyroid problems & i told her im not sure because idk much about thyroids im still trying to educate myself ... Can you all help me out? & tell her why she can or cant die?

[MaisieGray]

Very worst case scenario, if untreated, both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can ultimately cause death. With hyperthyroidism you can experience congestive heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest for instance; with hypothyroidism you can slip into 'madness' and then a coma, and die. So with either condition, getting a diagnosis and treatment, is very important. However, more routinely, it's not about the less likely extreme of dying to be concerned about, but about the serious non-fatal health problems that accrue with an untreated or undertreated dysfunctional thyroid - hence why getting the right treatment at the right level is critical.

[Cooper27]

Untreated hypo can also lead to other conditions, such as heart disease/heart failure.

[Angel_of_the_North]

In the days before thyroid hormone was discovered, so there was no treatment, people with underactive thyroid got dementia/went mad and heart disease, and died slowly

[NWA6]

Short answer is yes. When it’s Hypothyroid it’s just a very slow and miserable death lasting a few decades 😔

[Destinyweathers]

Thank you all so much ahe said shes always had her levels checked at her pcp appta but she thinks her hormones are out of wack dye to her thyroids and she made an appt but its a few weeks from now shes paranoid

[NWA6 in reply to Destinyweathers]

If it is her thyroid and she has to wait a few weeks or even months nothing ‘bad’ will happen, she’ll just feel lethargic and crappy. Everyday tasks feel like a lot of effort and even minor stress can feel overwhelming. If she then finds out she needs treatment then it usually resolves very quickly so no permanent harm done.