An under active thyroid may be a red flag for heart disease risk

Hypothyroidism

An under active thyroid may be a red flag for heart disease risk.

In a recent study that appeared in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland evaluated data culled from 14 different observational studies that included thousands of hypothyroid patients without symptoms, a condition known as subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH).

Three results stood out in the Swiss team’s analysis:

• Overall, SCH subjects had a 65 percent increased risk of coronary heart disease (CAD)
• In studies that matched SCH subjects to subjects without hypothyroidism, SCH was shown to increase CAD risk by more than 80 percent
• In studies that specifically took into account CAD risk factors, CAD risk was more than doubled among SCH subjects

The lead researcher for the University of Lausanne study, Dr. Nicolas Rodondi, told Reuters Health that further evidence is needed before heart disease screening for SCH patients could be recommended. From a researchers point of view, that’s an appropriate response to the study. But for hypothyroid patients, erring on the side of caution might lead to beneficial discussions with their doctors about heart disease risk.

For more information about hypothyroidism treatment and dietary tips, see the e-Alert “In the Balance” (6/20/06), which you can find at this link:

http://www.hsionline.com/ealerts/ea200606/ea20060620.html

Sources:
“Hypothyroidism May be Linked to Heart Disease” David Douglas, Reuters Health, 7/28/06, reutershealth.com