High cholesterol, a condition that can remain undetected for years, often results in cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association estimates an average of one death every 38 seconds from cardiovascular disease. To avoid becoming part of this astonishing statistic, it is necessary to explore all avenues of prevention. There has been a lot of emphasis on the role of diet in increasing blood cholesterol levels, but the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists labels hypothyroidism as a close second to diet as a cause of high cholesterol.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, a condition most likely to affect women over age 50, can be asymptomatic in the early stages of the disease. The condition develops when the thyroid gland does not produce sufficient amounts of hormones.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Symptoms of hypothyroidism develop slowly and are often ignored as being natural results of aging. The Mayo Clinic lists the following symptoms: fatigue, sluggishness, increased sensitivity to cold, unexplained weight gain; muscle weakness, aches, stiffness and tenderness; pain, stiffness or swelling of the joints; hoarseness, facial puffiness, constipation, brittle hair and fingernails, abnormally heavy menstrual periods and elevated blood cholesterol levels.
Thyroid Function Testing
The most accurate measure of thyroid function is a thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH test. The pituitary gland produces TSH, which in turn instructs the thyroid to manufacture hormones called thyroxine or T4 and triiodothyronine, or T3, which are then released into the blood. Increased levels of TSH indicate hypothyroidism. This occurs because the pituitary gland produces higher than normal amounts of TSH in response to the thyroid gland's low hormone production. The extra TSH is meant to stimulate the thyroid gland to increase production. Low levels of TSH also point to hypothyroidism, stemming from a malfunction in the pituitary gland. The lower amounts of TSH from the pituitary gland will decrease the production command to the thyroid gland, resulting in less hormone being made.
Thyroid and Cholesterol
Metabolism in the body is regulated by the hormones produced by the thyroid gland. The decreased amounts of hormones associated with hypothyroidism slows down metabolism. This has an adverse effect on the efficiency with which the body removes cholesterol from the blood stream, leading to increased cholesterol levels. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists states that "ninety percent of patients with overt hypothyroidism have increased cholesterol" and that "the average blood cholesterol levels of patients with under-active thyroid are often 30 to 50 percent higher than desirable."
Prevention/Solution
Over 13 million Americans are said to have a thyroid disorder. With the direct correlation between hypothyroidism and increased cholesterol, impaired thyroid function could contribute to your risk of heart disease. Hypothyroidism can be treated with thyroid replacement hormone. Once the TSH levels go back to normal, most patients have a corresponding drop in cholesterol levels of about 20 to 30 percent. A simple blood test will tell you if you are at risk.
