Underactive #thyroid: a marker of heart disease
Underactive thyroid: a marker of heart disease
New Delhi, August 05, 2016: Men and women with underactive or overactive thyroid without any symptoms are at an increased risk of heart disease. Silent or “subclinical” thyroid dysfunction” represents a potentially modifiable –– risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Quoting a study from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, by Dr. Nicholas Rodondi and published in Annals of Internal Medicine, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Honorary Secretary General IMA said that the likelihood of coronary heart disease, heart–related death and death from any cause is higher by 20 percent, 18 percent, and 12 percent, respectively, in subjects with an underactive thyroid without symptoms –– also referred to as subclinical hypothyroidism.
Their findings are based on pooled data from 12 studies identified through a search of MEDLINE (1950 to 2008). Ten of the studies involved population-based groups that included 14,449 subjects.
People with an overactive thyroid but without symptoms (silent hyperthyroidism) also had 21 percent, 19 percent and 12 percent greater odds, respectively, of heart disease, heart–related death, and death from any cause.
The screening test for thyroid is TSH blood test. The normal values are 0.3 to 3 mIU/L.
A value between 3 and 10 is considered subclinical hypoactive thyroid and a value of less than 0.3 without symptoms is considered subclinical overactive thyroid
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About Heart Care Foundation of India
Initiated in 1986, the Heart Care Foundation of India is a leading National NGO working in the field of creating mass health awareness among people from all walks of life and providing solutions for India’s everyday healthcare needs. The NGO uses consumer-based entertainment modules to impart health education and increase awareness amongst people. A leading example of this is the Perfect Health Mela, an annual event started in 1993 that is attended by over 2-3 lakh people each year. The Mela showcases activities across categories such as health education seminars and check-ups, entertainment programs, lifestyle exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and competitions. In addition to this, the NGO conducts programs and camps to train people on the technique of hands only CPR through its CPR 10 mantra for revival after a sudden cardiac arrest. They currently hold three Limca book of world records for the maximum number of people trained in hands-only CPR in one go. Keeping article 21 of the Indian constitution in mind, which guarantees a person Right to Life, Heart Care Foundation of India has also recently initiated a project called the Sameer Malik Heart Care Foundation Fund to ensure that no one dies of a heart disease just because they cannot afford treatment.
