Thyroid issues can have a systemic impact, ranging from your cardiovascular system to your entire body. LDL cholesterol is one element of your blood chemistry that hypothyroidism can significantly affect.
Low thyroid hormone levels result in a decrease in LDL receptors, which increases LDL levels. This is because the body cannot clear the cholesterol from the blood as efficiently. The higher levels of LDL put you at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Other elements of blood chemistry like triglyceride levels and total cholesterol levels may also be affected by hypothyroidism.
It is essential to talk with your doctor about how thyroid disease can affect your LDL cholesterol level and other health issues. It would be best if you had an accurate understanding of the risks to make informed decisions about how to live your life.
There is some evidence that suggests drinking alcohol can worsen the symptoms of an overactive thyroid. Alcohol can also interact with the medications used to treat overactive thyroid. If you have an overactive thyroid and drinking alcohol, be sure to talk to your doctor first.
What Is Cholesterol?
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), cholesterol is a waxy substance that your body uses to make hormones and cells, among other critical processes. Your liver manufactures all the cholesterol your body requires, but you may also acquire cholesterol from animal products like meat and whole-fat dairy. HDL cholesterol, often known as good cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, known as bad cholesterol, are the two varieties.
HDL cholesterol (“good” cholesterol) transports cholesterol from other areas of your body to your liver, where it’s processed and eliminated from the body.
The term “bad” cholesterol refers to LDL cholesterol, which has been linked to atherosclerosis when present in excess amounts in the blood.
A buildup of plaque in your arteries can cause this condition, narrowing them and raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one-third of Americans have high LDL cholesterol levels now.
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The Relationship Between High Cholesterol and Hypothyroidism
Because cholesterol is secreted from your cells, it must be carried to them by LLDL particles. An individual suffering from hypothyroidism or low thyroid hormone levels may have high LDL cholesterol levels due to this condition.
A simple blood test is used to check for cholesterol levels. Your LDL levels should ideally be less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that everyone over 40 have their cholesterol checked. Individuals with total cholesterol levels above 220 mg/dL are considered in danger. A person’s cholesterol level should not exceed 200 mg/dL unless directed by a physician. Goiter, hypothyroidism and several other conditions might contribute.
Elevated levels of harmful LDL (low-density lipoprotein) have been linked to a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Untreated hypothyroidism has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. That’s one of the reasons the American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends treating overt hypothyroidism patients.
According to the ATA, thyroid hormone treatment for hypothyroidism helps to reduce cholesterol levels. However, it’s conceivable that standard therapy alone isn’t enough to keep all systems functioning properly.
A research review and meta-analysis in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism in August 2018 revealed that even those with apparently appropriate treatment for their hypothyroidism did not completely restore their LDL and total cholesterol levels. Individuals with hypothyroidism who took levothyroxine to obtain optimal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels had higher LDL and total cholesterol than those without hypothyroidism.
What Happens When You Have High Cholesterol?
If you have high levels of LDL cholesterol in your blood, it means that you have an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
When plaque builds up in your arteries, it can cause a condition called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis narrows the arteries and raises the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
The AHA recommends that everyone over the age of 40 have their cholesterol checked. Individuals with total cholesterol levels above 220 mg/dL are considered in danger. A person’s cholesterol level should not exceed 200 mg/dL unless directed by a physician.
A simple blood test can detect high cholesterol levels. Your LDL levels should ideally be less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
What You Can Do to Lower Your Cholesterol Levels
If you have high cholesterol, there are several things you can do to lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease:
Eat a healthy diet that is low in saturated and unhealthy fats.
Modifying your diet and lifestyle is the most crucial step you can take to improve your cholesterol levels. Patients with thyroid problems and high cholesterol should eat a healthy diet limiting cholesterol and saturated fat.
Foods advised for this condition include :
- Cheese and other calcium and vitamin D-rich foods (milk, yogurt, etc.)
- Soyfoods such as tofu
- Your favorite fruits and vegetables.
In addition, patients should include healthy fats in their diets. Heart-healthy fats found in regular food sources include:
- Monounsaturated fat from olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocado, and nuts
- Omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, and herring
- Polyunsaturated fat from sunflower oil and corn oil.
Limit your intake of foods that are high in cholesterol and saturated fat. These include red meat, egg yolks, and high-fat dairy products.
Quit smoking.
If you smoke, quit or talk to your doctor about ways to help you kick the habit for good. According to a study by Tower Clinic in Jakarta, Indonesia, smokers have lower HDL cholesterol levels than nonsmokers do. In addition, smokers are at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
Exercise regularly.
Regular exercise can help improve your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart disease. Exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight, another important factor in reducing your risk for heart disease.
If you have high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about how you can lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you achieve healthy cholesterol levels. In addition, they may recommend lifestyle changes that can help improve your overall health.
Take the medication prescribed by your doctor to lower your cholesterol levels.
Several medications can help lower your cholesterol levels, including statins, fibrates, and bile acid sequestrants. Your doctor will work with you to find the best medication for you.
Early detection and treatment are vital in preventing heart attack, stroke, and other serious health problems when it comes to high cholesterol. Make sure you get your cholesterol checked regularly and follow your doctor’s recommendations for treatment and lifestyle changes.
Now that you know the importance of cholesterol levels be sure to get your cholesterol checked at least once a year. If you have high cholesterol, work with your doctor to develop a treatment plan that is right for you. Remember, a healthy diet and regular exercise are two of the most important things you can do to improve your cholesterol levels.
It’s critical to get your thyroid and cholesterol levels checked.
If you’re concerned about thyroid symptoms and your cholesterol levels are high or low, see a doctor. You’ll be given blood tests to assess your TSH and thyroxine levels. Your doctor will do some blood tests to determine whether your thyroid functions correctly.
Thyroid hormone replacement tablets (levothyroxine, Synthroid) can assist in the lowering of cholesterol levels by taking them to treat an underactive thyroid.
If your thyroid hormone level is merely somewhat reduced, you may not require thyroid hormone supplementation. Instead, your physician may prescribe a statin or another cholesterol-lowering medication.
A radioactive iodine treatment or medicines to decrease thyroid hormones production are used on an overactive thyroid. A tiny number of people who can’t tolerate antithyroid medications may require a total thyroidectomy.
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Thyroid treatment decreases cholesterol levels.
Treating your thyroid condition usually brings your cholesterol levels down to normal. If your cholesterol is persistently high, you may need other treatment as well.
If the TSH test shows that you have hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease, pills called antithyroid drugs might bring down your thyroid hormone production enough for your cholesterol levels to come down as well.
How is Hypothyroidism Treated?
If you are diagnosed with hypothyroidism, your doctor will likely prescribe a synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid). This medication replaces the thyroxine that your thyroid gland is no longer producing.
You will need to take it every day for the rest of your life.
Your doctor will also likely recommend that you have regular blood tests to monitor your thyroid hormone levels. This will help ensure that you are taking the correct dosage of medication.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and have hypothyroidism, you will need to take a higher levothyroxine dosage. Talk to your doctor about how much you should take.
There are also some natural treatments for hypothyroidism that your doctor may recommend. These include:
– taking selenium supplements
– taking iodine supplements
– eating foods high in selenium and iodine
– taking probiotics
– drinking detox teas
Can Becoming a Vegetarian Help With My Cholesterol Problems?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to lower your cholesterol may vary depending on your situation. However, adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet can be a great way to help reduce your cholesterol levels and improve your overall health.
A vegetarian or vegan diet is low in unhealthy saturated and trans fats and high in fiber.
A vegetarian diet focuses on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and plant-based proteins such as tofu or meat substitutes. A vegan diet cuts out all animal-based products, including eggs and dairy.
There are several reasons that a vegetarian or vegan diet can help to lower your cholesterol levels. Plant-based foods are typically high in fiber, which can help to reduce harmful cholesterol levels (LDL) and increase good cholesterol levels (HDL).
Plant-based proteins also tend to be low in unhealthy saturated fats and are a great source of antioxidants, which can help to protect the heart from damage.
If you consider converting to a vegetarian or vegan diet, be sure to speak with a healthcare professional first. They can help you create a diet tailored to your individual needs and help you lower your cholesterol levels.
Managing Your Hypothyroid Condition in Everyday Life
How to Manage Your Health in the Day-to-Day” is not just a catchy title that makes for good reading. It is a mantra to live by for people with hypothyroidism. Properly managing this condition is critical to maintaining optimal health and preventing long-term health complications.
Here are some tips for managing your health in the day-to-day:
- Make sure you take your medication as prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor, which can cause serious health complications.
- Make sure you are eating a balanced and healthy diet. Eating nutritious foods will help keep your body functioning optimally.
- Make sure you are getting enough exercise. Exercise helps keep the body healthy and energized.
- Make sure you are staying up-to-date with regular doctor visitations. Visiting the doctor regularly lets your doctor monitor your health and track any changes.
- Make sure you manage stress well by practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. Stress hurts the immune system and can contribute to illness, so it is crucial to managing it well.
- Make sure you stay up-to-date with regular testing, such as lab tests for thyroid function, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels. Keeping track of these numbers will allow your doctor to monitor how your system is working and spot any potential problems that may occur over time.
- Make sure you are drinking enough water and getting enough sleep. Both of these are essential for keeping the body healthy and functioning correctly.
Following these tips will help you manage your health daily and help keep your body functioning optimally. By working your health in this way, you can help prevent long-term health complications.
Conclusion
It can be challenging to manage your hypothyroidism and cholesterol levels in the day-to-day. The tips we’ve provided should help with this task, but you may also want to speak with a healthcare professional specializing in these conditions. They can help you create a personalized plan to help you manage your health and keep your cholesterol levels in check.
