A new study from Boston University has revealed important findings about how different treatments for hyperthyroidism affect long-term health—especially heart health. Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland becomes overactive and produces too much thyroid hormone.
These extra hormones can speed up the body’s metabolism, which may lead to problems like weight loss, anxiety, sweating, and most importantly, a higher risk of heart disease.
For many years, doctors have treated hyperthyroidism using three main methods: anti-thyroid drugs (which lower hormone levels), radioactive iodine therapy (which damages the overactive thyroid cells), and surgery (to remove the thyroid gland).
But until now, there hasn’t been enough large-scale data to show which of these treatments offers the best long-term results, especially when it comes to preventing serious heart issues or reducing the risk of death.
In this new study, researchers looked at the health records of more than 114,000 people in Taiwan who were treated for hyperthyroidism between 2011 and 2020. The results showed that surgery and radioactive iodine were linked to better outcomes than medication alone.
Patients who had surgery had a 47% lower risk of dying and a 24% lower chance of experiencing serious heart problems compared to those who only took anti-thyroid drugs. People who received radioactive iodine treatment also did better, with a 55% lower risk of major heart events compared to the medication group.
These findings are important because they suggest that treating hyperthyroidism more aggressively—by either removing the thyroid gland or using radioactive iodine—might lead to better long-term health for many patients, especially those with heart problems.
The reason for these improved outcomes may be that surgery and radioactive iodine work faster and more completely to stop the thyroid from being overactive. In contrast, medications can take longer to control the disease and might not always bring hormone levels down enough.
Dr. Elizabeth Pearce, one of the study’s lead researchers, pointed out that while the results are promising, more studies are needed to confirm them. She emphasized the need for treatment decisions to be based on each patient’s individual health, particularly their risk for heart disease.
This research, published in JAMA Network Open, could influence how doctors choose treatments for people with hyperthyroidism in the future. It highlights the importance of considering heart health when deciding how to manage this condition.
If you are interested in heart health, there are other studies worth checking out. Some research shows that certain herbal supplements might harm your heart rhythm. On the other hand, other studies suggest that eating eggs or yogurt may help protect against heart disease. Drinking apple juice might also have benefits for your heart, according to recent findings.
Overall, this new study helps patients and doctors make better choices when treating hyperthyroidism, especially for those at higher risk of heart disease. Choosing the right treatment could not only improve symptoms faster but also help people live longer, healthier lives.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
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