Hypothyroidism
A person with underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism is prone to high cholesterol levels, typically due to genetic or medical factors and an unhealthy diet. According to studies, a person with hypothyroidism also has high levels of bad cholesterol. Furthermore, the individual is likely to have a high level of triglycerides, and these two conditions are culprits in the risk of stroke and heart disease.
The body produces cholesterol, but it can also be found in various animal-based food. High-density-lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol that the body utilizes. On the other hand, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is bad cholesterol, and when it accumulates in the lining of the arteries, the passageway for the blood becomes narrower. Triglycerides are fatty substances that also circulate in the body. But these are not soluble fats. Thus they are stored in the body’s fat cells.
The thyroid produces hormones that help regulate metabolism. If the thyroid is under-functioning, the hormone production becomes lower. The liver needs the thyroid hormones in processing blood. When the thyroid levels decrease, the liver’s process slows down, spiking the levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream and increasing their buildup in the arteries.
