Thyroid Function and Heart Attacks Washington DC

Closer to Your Heart Than You Think - The Connection Between Thyroid Function and Heart Attacks

Heart attack is a popular term used by regular people to refer to what medical science specifically calls a myocardial infarction. It could also be used to denote any of several types of acute episodes of ischemic heart disease.

What Causes Ischemic Heart Disease?

In atherosclerosis, there is an accumulation or formation of deposits of yellowish plaques called atheromas containing cholesterol, lipoid material, and lipophages in the walls of the arteries. These deposits cause the diameter of the artery to narrow as they accumulate until only little or no amount of blood flows through the lumen at all, causing ischemia or deprivation of the arteries.

The thyroid gland, located just below the larynx or the voicebox, secretes two hormones called thyroxine or T4 and triiodothyronine or T3. These two hormones raise almost all aspects of fat metabolism in the body, especially T3. Lipids, especially, are mobilized from fat tissue rapidly so that fat stores in the body are depleted to a certain extent.

Hypothyroidism and Atherosclerosis

Hypothyroid patients usually develop atherosclerosis because of their decreased levels of thyroid hormone. This condition, in turn, could result in coronary artery disease, leading to heart attack, and possibly, early death.

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