A new study from Ruhr University Bochum and other research teams has found that even mild thyroid issues can raise the risk of serious heart disease.
This discovery is important because thyroid problems are quite common, especially among older adults and women.
The thyroid is a small gland in your neck. It makes hormones that help control many parts of the body, like energy, temperature, weight, and mood. When the thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can make too little hormone (hypothyroidism) or too much (hyperthyroidism).
Doctors have known for over 200 years that serious cases of hyperthyroidism can cause irregular heartbeats, a condition known as cardiac arrhythmia. This heart problem is dangerous and can lead to sudden death. But until now, no one knew how milder thyroid problems might affect the heart.
In this new research, scientists looked at data from 32 studies, including more than 1.3 million people. They found that even small changes in thyroid hormone levels were linked to higher risks of heart problems.
One hormone they studied is called free T4 (FT4). People with higher levels of FT4 were more likely to have heart-related illnesses and even die from them.
The researchers also studied another hormone, TSH, which helps control how the thyroid works. They found that both very high and very low levels of TSH were linked to a higher risk of heart disease, forming a U-shaped pattern.
The researchers believe there are two main ways that thyroid problems can affect the heart. First, if the thyroid gland is damaged, it may produce too many hormones, which can stress the heart. Second, other factors like genetics, stress, or emotional strain might affect how the brain controls the thyroid, leading to high FT4 levels that harm the heart.
This study shows that doctors need to pay more attention to even slight changes in thyroid function. If someone has mild thyroid problems, it might still put their heart at risk.
With this new understanding, doctors could start offering more personalized care. For example, they might use thyroid hormone levels as a sign—or biomarker—of hidden heart problems. This could help doctors pick the best medicines for each patient and improve their chances of recovery.
The study, led by Dr. Johannes Dietrich, was published in the journal Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. It suggests that we need to be more aware of how the thyroid and heart are connected.
Watching thyroid hormone levels closely—even if they are only slightly off—could help prevent heart problems before they become serious. Early checks and treatments might save lives in people who otherwise look healthy but have mild thyroid issues.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
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