Thyroid diseaseand cholesterol levels are closely related.
When thyroid hormones are not at the right levels, these processes can be affected.
Getting thyroid hormones in balance helps regulate cholesterol.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
High TSH levels usually mean you have an underactive thyroid.
Health Risks
Untreated hypothyroidism is linked to serious health risks.
These include:
High cholesterol further raises the risk of blood clots, heart disease, and stroke.
High Thyroid & Low Cholesterol
Excessivelylow cholesterolcan cause health problems.
Sometimes, a sudden drop in cholesterol levels can be a sign of an overactive thyroid.
If you have hyperthyroidism, your thyroid produces too much T3 and T4, which are thyroid hormones.
It sometimes involves an eye disease calledorbitopathy.
Increased levels of LDL and total cholesterol are risk factors for orbitopathy.
Recap
Low thyroid activity is linked to high total and LDL cholesterol.
Without treatment, an underactive thyroid could lead to heart disease, stroke, and other health issues.
High thyroid activity is linked to low cholesterol.
Untreated, an overactive thyroid can lead to brittle bones, abnormal heart rhythm, and more.
Thyroid Treatment and Cholesterol
you might get effective treatment for underactive or overactive thyroid.
Adequate thyroid treatment helps manage your thyroid hormones and may impact your cholesterol as well.
This drug often improves thyroid levels and cholesterol levels.
Since levothyroxine doesn’t always get cholesterol levels in the ideal range, additional medical treatments may be needed.
This is sometimes the case with partial removal and radioiodine therapy as well.
Treatment with levothyroxine can improve both an underactive thyroid and high cholesterol.
Cholesterol Treatments and Thyroid Disease
Cholesterol treatmentscan affect thyroid disease and treatment in several ways.
Absorption
Drugs classified asbile acid resinsmay prevent your body from absorbing levothyroxine.
People who have thyroid disease may also be more likely to experience side effects of cholesterol drugs.
Lifestyle Changes for Both Conditions
Lifestyle changes can help you manage cholesterol and thyroid problems.
Your healthcare provider may recommend the following:
Summary
Thyroid hormones are associated with cholesterol levels.
If your cholesterol is high or drops suddenly, you might need to have your thyroid checked.
If you are taking a cholesterol-lowering medication, know that it can affect your thyroid disease and treatments.
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