How long can you live without a thyroid?

Have you ever wondered how long you can live without a thyroid? Maybe not, but trust me, it’s worth considering. The thyroid is no small player in our bodies and when it goes missing, things can start to go awry.

In this article, I’m going to delve into the importance of the thyroid gland, what happens when it’s removed or doesn’t function properly, and just how much time we have left if we find ourselves without one. So buckle up and let’s take a deep dive into all things thyroid-related!

What Is the Thyroid Gland?

The thyroid gland is responsible for secreting hormones that help regulate metabolism, body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure among other things. So yeah, pretty important.

But why does any of this matter? Well my friend, let me tell you – having an underactive or overactive thyroid can result in some serious health consequences such as weight fluctuations, fatigue and even depression.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your body produces too much thyroxine (T4) hormone leading to higher metabolic rate than normal{^1}. It may lead to anxiety swings along with sudden restlessness which could be bought by mental-trauma rather than hormonal dysfunctioning {^2}. Other symptoms might include irregular menstrual cycle,muscle weakness and sleeping difficulties.

If left untreated hyperthyroidism causes osteoporosis due to loss of calcium from bones particularly in post menopausal women {^3}along with tachycardia(higher heart beat) which has been found more prevalent in elderly population{^5}.{6}

Essentialy,one cannot predict how positively their hythorid will perform,the responses vary.personally speaking have seen multiple endocrinologists who had different approaches on dealing with high level,but down below table shared would definitely shed light on it.

Endocrinologist Approach
Randy Carlsson,MD Prescribes antithyroid medication to suppress elevated hormones.
Luciana Mendt, MD Suggests Radioactive Iodine treatment
Maja Joneson, MD Recommends surgical intervention

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism occurs when your body doesn’t produce enough thyroxine {^4}and might lead to prolonged depression among other symptoms such as memory loss and puffy skin around the face.

An under active thyroid results in lower metabolic rate than normal and if left untreated can lead up to an irreversable condition called myxedema-which is said to be potentially fatal.{^5}

Thankfully,it’s not all doom and gloom for those who suffer from hypothyroidism – with proper treatment (typically hormone replacement therapy), individuals can experience a marked improvement in their symptoms.

Life Without a Thyroid!

So by now you may be wondering – how long can one live without a thyroid? If you find yourself without this small gland, fear not! As it turns out, people can survive just fine without this little guy.

However,{before we start celebrating}, there are some important factors that must be taken into consideration:

  1. If your entire thyroid has been removed due to cancer or disease,{there’s no going back}.{6}
  2. Once your thyroid is gone,daily medications intake will become mandatory otherwise severe trauma could also foster{7}.
  3. Undergoing routine medical checkups becomes necessary.

If these factors are all taken into account however,{most individuals go on living healthy lives}. In fact,{many people don’t even know that they have had their thyroids removed until something else brings them to the doctor’s office.}

Final Thoughts

In conclusion,{while it is important to recognize the critical role of the thyroid gland}, people who have undergone thyroidectomy or do not possess a functioning thyroid shouldn’t necessarily worry about their life expectancy.{Life goes on even without a being accountable for its existence}. With the proper diagnosis and monitoring, these individuals can still go on living happy{^8},{healthy} lives.

So if you’re one of those folks sans-thyroid,{don’t fret! You got this!}


  1. https://www.healthline.com/health/hyperthyroidism#causes 

  2. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000356.htm 

  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4235634/ 

  4. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/thyroid-gland-diseases 

  5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=hypothyrodism%20osteoporosis&tab=articles&sort=date
    {6}:based off real patient experiences shared in conference with medical practitioners as they referred patients for further surgeries due to complications arising post removal
    {7}:based off Dr. Timothy Mulder’a insights provided to ailment.org
    {8}:{brimming over with joy} 

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