How Does Hypothyroidism Affect the Heart?
Hypothyroidism happens when the thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones. This can affect many parts of the body, including the heart. The thyroid gland, found in the neck, is important for controlling your metabolism, energy, and how well your body’s organs work. When it doesn’t work well, everything slows down, including your heart.
The heart is very sensitive to changes in thyroid function. When the thyroid doesn’t make enough hormones (T3 and T4), it can cause problems for the heart, like slower heartbeats and a higher risk of heart disease. In this article, we’ll look at how hypothyroidism affects the heart, what signs to watch for, and why it’s important to manage this condition to keep your heart healthy.
1. How Hypothyroidism Slows Down Your Heart
Hypothyroidism can slow down your heart rate, which is one of its main effects on the heart. Thyroid hormones directly control how fast and strong your heart beats. When these hormones are low, the heart works slower and with less power. This results in less blood, rich in oxygen, being sent around your body, causing symptoms like tiredness, weakness, and trouble breathing.
A slower heart rate can make you feel tired all the time or lack energy. Some people might also feel dizzy or lightheaded, especially if they stand up too fast. If your heart keeps beating slower than normal, it could lead to serious problems over time, like heart failure.
2. Impact on Blood Pressure
Hypothyroidism can also impact your blood pressure. Many individuals with an underactive thyroid have low blood pressure (hypotension) due to the weaker and slower pumping action of the heart. Conversely, hypothyroidism can cause your arteries to become stiffer and less flexible, resulting in higher blood pressure over time.
This stiffening of the arteries makes it more difficult for blood to flow, which forces your heart to work harder. Over time, this extra effort on the heart can lead to problems such as left ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of the heart walls), increasing the risk of heart disease.
3. Cholesterol Levels and Heart Health
Another way hypothyroidism impacts the heart is by affecting cholesterol levels. Thyroid hormones help control how your body handles cholesterol. When these hormones are low, it’s harder for your body to get rid of extra cholesterol in the blood. This causes more “bad” LDL cholesterol, which can block your arteries and raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.
High cholesterol is common in people with hypothyroidism. If not treated, this can cause plaque to build up in the arteries (atherosclerosis). This buildup reduces blood flow to the heart, making you more likely to have coronary artery disease and other heart problems.
4. Heart Failure Risk
Hypothyroidism is associated with a greater chance of heart failure, particularly in older individuals. Heart failure happens when the heart can’t pump blood efficiently anymore, causing symptoms such as swollen legs, difficulty breathing, and severe tiredness.
In those with untreated hypothyroidism, a slow heart rate, high cholesterol, and extra stress on the heart can gradually weaken the heart muscle. This can eventually lead to heart failure, a severe condition that needs immediate medical attention.
5. Arrhythmias and Irregular Heartbeats
Hypothyroidism usually makes the heart beat slower, but it can also lead to irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias. These unusual heart rhythms can be risky, especially if they are not noticed or treated. Arrhythmias can cause heart flutters and chest pain, and in serious cases, they might raise the chance of having a stroke or sudden heart attack.
Sometimes, hypothyroidism can cause a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, which affects the upper parts of the heart. Atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of blood clots, which might move to the brain and cause a stroke.
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6. Edema and Fluid Retention
Hypothyroidism can cause the body to hold onto extra fluid, which can affect the heart and lead to a condition called edema. Edema happens when too much fluid collects in the tissues, especially in the legs, ankles, and feet. When your thyroid hormones are low, your kidneys might not work as well, causing your body to keep more water and salt.
This extra fluid can make your heart work harder, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood properly. Over time, this can lead to congestive heart failure, where fluid builds up in the lungs and other parts of the body, causing trouble breathing and other serious health problems.
7. Coronary Artery Disease
The link between hypothyroidism and coronary artery disease is mainly due to cholesterol problems. As mentioned before, hypothyroidism can cause high levels of LDL cholesterol, which contributes to the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Over time, this plaque can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart, leading to coronary artery disease.
Coronary artery disease is a major cause of heart attacks. When the heart doesn’t receive enough oxygen-rich blood, it can result in angina (chest pain), a heart attack, or even death. Managing hypothyroidism is very important to prevent this serious progression of heart disease.
8. Pericardial Effusion
In very serious cases of untreated hypothyroidism, some individuals might experience a condition known as pericardial effusion. This happens when fluid builds up in the sac surrounding the heart (the pericardium), which can press on the heart and affect its ability to pump blood properly.
Pericardial effusion may cause symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, and tiredness. If not treated, it can lead to more serious problems like cardiac tamponade, a dangerous condition that needs urgent medical care.
9. Treating Hypothyroidism and Protecting Your Heart
Luckily, hypothyroidism can be treated, and by managing it well, you can lower the chances of heart problems. The usual treatment for hypothyroidism is taking a synthetic thyroid hormone, often in the form of a daily pill called levothyroxine. This medicine helps bring your thyroid hormone levels back to normal, so your heart and other organs work correctly.
Besides taking medicine, making lifestyle changes like eating a diet good for your heart, exercising often, and keeping an eye on your cholesterol levels can help protect your heart from the effects of hypothyroidism.
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Conclusion
So, how does hypothyroidism impact the heart? It can do several things, like making your heart beat slower, raising your cholesterol, and increasing your chances of getting heart disease. It’s really important to take care of hypothyroidism to prevent these problems. Although it can be a long-term condition, some treatments can help you live a healthy, normal life.
And, as we’ve learned, discoveries about what causes hypothyroidism give us hope that it might not be a lifelong issue as many people once believed.
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This article contains affiliate links, where you will get your products. This means I will get a small commission when you make a purchase, which I greatly appreciate. However, your purchase cost will still be added. I wish you good luck as you chase your goal.
