What Happens When You Have Hypothyroidism?
Your thyroid gland is located in your neck and produces hormones that regulate bodily functions such as body temperature, mood, metabolism, heart rate, and blood pressure. If you have hypothyroidism, you don’t produce enough of these hormones. This can disrupt numerous metabolic processes and have a negative effect on your energy and cardiovascular health.
Low levels of these hormones can slow down enzymes that work with folic acid to perform essential tasks, as well. In addition to helping make red blood cells, folic acid breaks down the amino acid homocysteine. If your body doesn’t break down enough homocysteine, it can damage the lining of your arteries.
Research published in Frontiers in Endocrinology indicates that hypothyroidism, low levels of folic acid, and high levels of homocysteine are often linked. Having too much homocysteine can increase your risk of numerous health issues, according to Cleveland Clinic, including:
- Atherosclerosis
- Stroke
- Heart attack
People with subclinical hypothyroidism, who lack overt symptoms of disease, have an even greater risk of these health conditions, according to research published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine. This often may be because they haven’t been diagnosed or treated.
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