Connection between Hypothyroidism and Slowed Heart Rate: Revealing the Relationship
In the human body, the thyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating the metabolism, heart rate, and overall cardiovascular function. When the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones, a condition known as hypothyroidism arises. This article explores the long-term effects of hypothyroidism on the heart.
Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to a host of cardiovascular complications. The most significant among them are bradycardia (a slow heart rate), decreased cardiac output, dilated cardiomyopathy, and elevated cholesterol levels. These factors contribute to atherosclerosis and heart disease, increasing the risk of heart attacks.
The reduced basal metabolic rate and sympathetic activity associated with hypothyroidism lead to decreased heart rate and contractility. This can result in heart muscle dysfunction and myxedematous heart disease. Moreover, low thyroid hormone levels impair the metabolism of cholesterol, causing increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides that promote plaque buildup in coronary arteries.
If left untreated, these cardiac effects may worsen, increasing morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease. However, early diagnosis and treatment with thyroid hormone replacement, such as levothyroxine, can improve heart function, reduce cholesterol levels, and lower the risk of heart attacks, particularly in overt hypothyroidism.
In some cases, even subclinical hypothyroidism may benefit from treatment, although the data in this context are somewhat conflicting. The decrease in cardiac output is related to reduced expression of sarcolemmal genes (calcium ATPases), which impair the heart muscle's ability to contract effectively.
It's important to note that a slow heart rate can be caused by various factors, including certain heart medications, heart disease or a heart attack, congenital heart defects, obstructive sleep apnea, problems with the heart's natural pacemaker, or issues with the heart's electrical impulses between the atria and ventricles.
Hypothyroidism can also cause heart arrhythmias, high diastolic blood pressure, heart failure, swelling, and worsening coronary artery disease. Symptoms such as weight gain, tiredness, depression, and fertility problems are also common.
Diagnosing hypothyroidism involves a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests that measure thyroid hormones. Once diagnosed, doctors aim to reduce or prevent cardiac symptoms in people with hypothyroidism by replacing the hormones that the thyroid gland does not make, typically with levothyroxine pills.
It's crucial for a person not to stop taking their medication without first consulting a doctor. Taking too much of a medication can cause serious health problems. Most people can control their hypothyroidism by taking thyroid hormone medication, provided they follow the doctor's instructions.
According to recent statistics, approximately 4.6% of people aged 12 years and older in the United States live with hypothyroidism. If you experience any symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, such as fatigue, weight gain, intolerance to cold, musculoskeletal pain, dry skin, dry, thinning hair, fertility problems, heavy menstrual periods, depression, or any other symptoms, it's advisable to speak with a doctor.
Doctors use the TSH test and the T4 test to diagnose hypothyroidism. They typically test a person's blood around 6 weeks after they begin taking replacement thyroid hormones. The diagnosis depends on a person's symptoms, medical and family history, results of a physical exam, and blood tests.
In conclusion, long-term hypothyroidism can lead to significant cardiac dysfunction, including bradycardia, decreased cardiac output, dilated cardiomyopathy, and accelerated atherosclerosis due to lipid abnormalities. Proper thyroid hormone replacement therapy is crucial to mitigate these effects and protect heart health.
- Proper management of hypothyroidism through thyroid hormone replacement therapy, such as levothyroxine, can improve cardiac function, lower cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart attacks.
- Untreated hypothyroidism can lead to a range of chronic medical conditions, including COPD, type-2 diabetes, migraine, chronic kidney disease, and neurological disorders.
- In the pursuit of workplace-wellness, it's essential to recognize the long-term effects of untreated hypothyroidism on heart health and overall cardiovascular function.
- With hypothyroidism, impaired eye-health, mental-health, skin-care, and fitness-and-exercise may also occur due to the reduced metabolic rate and sympathetic activity associated with the condition.
- Therapies-and-treatments that address a variety of chronic diseases, such as those impacted by hypothyroidism, are instrumental in preserving health-and-wellness.
- CBD, a compound derived from the cannabis plant, may potentially benefit people with hypothyroidism by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid system, helping to improve metabolism and cardiovascular health.
- Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease causing pain and swelling in the joints, may be exacerbated by untreated hypothyroidism, necessitating integrated treatment approaches.
- In some instances, the Medicare program covers the costs of diagnostic tests and treatments for hypothyroidism, as part of its commitment to maintaining the health-and-wellness of its beneficiaries.
- Skin-conditions like dry skin and thinning hair are common symptoms of hypothyroidism, and addressing these early can help prevent more severe complications down the line.
- The inability to effectively contract the heart muscle due to reduced expression of sarcolemmal genes (calcium ATPases) is a concerning consequence of hypothyroidism that can worsen over time, necessitating prompt intervention.
- Pregnant women should be closely monitored for hypothyroidism, as it can lead to a range of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and developmental delays in the child.
