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It should be no secret that heart disease is inextricably linked to thyroid disease, especially hypothyroidism caused by such maladies as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (a condition I suffer from).
A recent study of 25,000 people recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has confirmed...
There are better, more natural ways to lower cholesterol than statin drugs. the key is to raise HDL, don't worry about other cholesterol levels. Vitamin D, Fish oil, excercise, niacin. All raise HDL, and thus prevent heart disease. Statin drugs, most derived from red yeast rice, are unnatual molecules that have many negative side effects. Avoid them at all costs. reduce carbohydrate intake, especially sugar, and grains like wheat and corn. This is what really works to control heart disease.
I am hypothyroid and my doctor preferred to add statins rather than up my thyroid suppliment when tests showed my both THS and cholesterol were high. Within 3 weeks suddenly had headaches, severe all-over body pain, bloating, and was unable to urinate for about 2 days. As we were away from medical help on vacation when symptoms suddenly started, I quit taking the statin and within 24 hours worst symptoms were gone. Still suffering from muscle pains and even more tiredness and other thyroid symptoms than before and it has been about 2 months. I wonder now if I went through a lifethreatening hell because she heard of one of these phony drug company studies. Statins and hypothyroidism do not mix!
Elizabeth:
Glad you are feeling better. Your case exemplifies why we cannot allow the practice of medicine to be a "one size fits all," "everyone gets a statin" proposition. There are indeed some powerful non-drug methods to treat heart disease promoters like high LDL amd low HDL. Sadly, there are other factors such as Lipoprotein(a) which are often completely resistant to everything but drug strategies.
Everyone responds differently. Remember, even natural supplements are chemicals. Even simple OTC products like aspirin and simple foods like peanuts kill people every year. Calling a chemical a drug (like high-dose niacin for example) does not make it bad or good. It is how you use it and how each of us uniquely responds to it.
HeartHawk
My mother was also hypothyroid. My doctor (or maybe it is that computer of hers) considers the fact mom died of sudden heart failure to be proof I am "high risk." But she was in her mid 80s, no history of any kind of heart disease ever, still healthy, active and independent. Her own doctor had given her a clean bill of health about 3 weeks before she simply died in her sleep.
Elizabeth:
The best way to determine your risk for heart disease at an early age is with a heart scan (calcium score) and to then determine a root cause via lipoprotein analysis (LipoScience NMR, Atherotech VAP, Berkely HeartLab, etc). Hyporthyroidism can also be a factor among others.
Regards,
HeartHawk
P.S. I agree, a mid-80's death is not a concern.