heart and hypothyroid

[genelady]

I just posted this on Heart Forum, but would appreciate any input from all you knowledgeable people on this forum. Had an echocardiogram last week that showed bradycardia and mild left ventricular hypokinesis. My ejection fraction was 71% (ref >55%)and all other values were also in range. My GP is sending me for another echo with a specialist. I have been hypothyroid for many years, but just 2 weeks before the echo I had my med dose increased, so probably on the day of the echo I was still hypo.

Today I was stunned to read on the Heart forum that hypo can cause heart problems. In particular, there was a quote posted by abl in response to MT327 that outlined the interaction. ABL I know that you post often on this Thyroid forum. Can you tell me where you got the quote so that I can take it to my doctor? Also, I would welcome comments from others on the heart/hypo connection.

[GravesLady]

For people with almost any type of heart disease, disorders of the thyroid gland can worsen old cardiac symptoms or cause new ones, and can accelerate the underlying heart problem.

Slow heart rate (bradycardia.) The heart rate is modulated by thyroid hormone, so that in hypothyroidism the heart rate is typically 10 - 20 beats per minute slower than normal

Long-Term untreated or improperly  treated Hypothyroidism can cause
Heart issues - Thyroid hormone is very important for normal cardiovascular function, so when not enough thyroid hormone is present neither the heart nor the blood vessels function normally. In hypothyroidism the heart muscle is weakened in both its contraction phase, and also its relaxation phase. This means that the heart cannot pump as vigorously as it should, and the amount of blood it ejects with each heart beat is reduced. In addition, because the heart muscle does not relax normally in between heart beats, a potentially serious condition called diastolic dysfunction may result.  Furthermore, hypothyroidism reduces the amount of nitric oxide in the lining of the blood vessels, causing them to stiffen.
Cholesterol and Lipid Levels -  Hypothyroidism is significantly associated with unhealthy lipid levels. There's a link to cholesterol but it usually starts with elevated TSH -- at least 5, but usually much higher to be the only cause of a cholesterol.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Hypothyroidism  may slow the heart rate to less than 60 beats per minute, reduce the heart’s pumping capacity, and increase the stiffness of blood vessel walls.  Studies are also finding that hypothyroidism is associated with elevated levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is increasingly becoming a major suspect in heart diseases.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=1605145&dopt=medline

http://www.mythyroid.com/heartdisease.html

Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!

Hope your question was answered.

Just my personal opinion and/or experience. Always discuss your health issue with your doctor , always adhere to your doctors advise and, you always have the right to a second opinion. Nothing is a 100% or a 100%, 100% of the time. However, we are not all alike!

GL,
1990 - Hyper/Graves'
1997 - Dia/RAI
1997 - MVP - Mitral Valve Prolapse
1999 - TED - slight Thyroid Eye Disease
1999 - Visible Nodule (suspect Marine-Lenhart-Syndrom/hyperfunctioning nodule)
2000 - SAS  - Short Attention Span (short, spaced paragraphs, sweet and to the point helps)
2002 -  IED  - Intermittent Explosive Disorder (Graves' Range)
2007 -  A/ITP (suspect)

[abl]

Hi you!

Here's the link that I think you are talking about.  

http://heartdisease.about.com/od/lesscommonheartproblems/a/thyroidheart.htm

Also, if you just google teh words "thyroid and heart problems" you will see a lot of info come up.  Sorry to be brief, but husband is waiting for me to go for a run!

Any other questions, feel free to write again!

Take care!

abl

[genelady]

Thank you both for your comments, especially the link for your quote, abl. I have been googling as you suggested and discovered lots of info. I guess that I was never aware of the heart-thyroid link before because I never had to be, as my hypo was well controlled for 30 years. Thanks everyone for support as I wait to find out what this new development means for me. Does anyone here have heart problems as well as hypothyroid? I'd be interested in learning about your experiences.

[gabbymom]

I have palpitations and hypothryoid. I have no idea why it causes that and sometimes at night I have my heart race to 90 beats per minute. This was all before I was on meds for my thyroid so it couldn't be too much thyroid medicine. It is very odd.