Could High Cholesterol be the Result of Hypothyroidism?
by Carolyn Berghuis, MS, ND, CTN
Have you or someone you love been diagnosed with high cholesterol? An under active thyroid gland may be to blame rather than the result of poor dietary habits. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), notes that after diet, thyroid disease is the most common secondary cause of high cholesterol. Clinically, I see a high percentage of individuals diagnosed with high cholesterol also exhibit many symptoms of hypothyroidism. Recent research estimates that somewhere between one-quarter and one-half of patients with underactive thyroids will have high cholesterol levels. Conversely, about 10% of persons with high cholesterol have underactive thyroids.
Unfortunately, many patients with high cholesterol are not checked properly for hypothyroidism. If your cholesterol is high despite following a healthy diet, then maybe your thyroid is to blame.
1. ______Fatigue
2. ______Muscle aches and pains
3. ______Joint pains
4. ______Fibromyalgia
5. ______Feelings of weakness
6. ______Lethargy, or loss of interest in daily activities
7. ______Memory loss
8. ______Concentration difficulties
9. ______Mental sluggishness
10. ______Low moods
11. ______Depression
12. ______Cold hands and feet
13. ______Sensitivity to cold
14. ______Tendency towards constipation
15. ______Weight gain
16. ______Low blood sugar / hypoglycemia
17. ______Menstrual problems
18. ______Heavy bleeding during menses
19. ______Repeated colds and flu
20. ______Skin problems (itching, eczema, psoriasis, acne, or coarse, dry, scaly skin)
21. ______Do not perspire easily
22. ______Hoarse voice
23. ______Feeling of fullness in neck
24. ______Swelling of the eyelids
25. ______Hair loss
26. ______Dry, coarse hair
27. ______Loss of outer 1/3 of eyebrows
28. ______I have about as many mental and emotional symptoms as physical symptoms
