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HEART HEALTH Inside Heart Health:
Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Coronary Artery Disease
Heart Attack
Heart Failure
Heart Medications
Stroke
Featured Content:
Brushing up on heart health »
E-cigarettes: Hazardous or helpful? »
Fatty liver disease: An often-silent condition linked to heart
disease »
Salt sensitivity: Sorting out the science »
Smartphone apps for managing heart disease »
See AllIn Case You Missed It:
4 ways to eat your way to lower cholesterolMany people can lower
cholesterol levels simply by changing what they eat.
How much cardio should you do? The Physical Activity Guidelines issued
by the U.
7 ways to reduce stress and keep blood pressure downWhen it comes to
preventing and treating high blood pressure, one often-overlooked strategy is
managing stress. Get the latest news on health and wellness delivered to your
inbox! MIND & MOOD Inside Mind & Mood:
Addiction
Adult & Child ADHD
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Anxiety
Depression
Improving Memory
Mental Health
Positive Psychology
Stress
Featured Content:
Get the facts about memory loss »
Long-lasting grief when close friends pass »
Want to prevent dementia? Improve your everyday health habits »
What to do when reading gets harder »
Rehiring your business mind »
See AllIn Case You Missed It:
A sharper mind: tai chi can improve cognitive function There are lots
of jokes about forgetting where you put your keys, but as you get older, changes in
your mental function are no laughing matter.
Ways to support someone who is in griefIt can be hard to know how to
console a friend or relative who is grieving.
Six steps to cognitive health So how do you keep your brain healthy,
stay cognitively fit, and build your cognitive reserve? Get the latest news on
health and wellness delivered to your inbox! PAIN Inside Pain:
 Arthritis
Back Pain
Headache
Joint Replacement
Other Pain
Featured Content:
Chest pain that's not a heart attack »
Is exercise good for arthritis? »
Is fibromyalgia hereditary? »
Oh, my aching knees »
What could cause my sudden jaw pain? »
See AllIn Case You Missed It:
5 exercises to improve hand mobilityIf you find daily tasks difficult
to do because you suffer from stiffness, swelling, or pain in your hands, the right
exercises can help get you back in motion.
Taming carpal tunnel syndromeInside your wrist, a slick tunnel passes
through the carpal bones.
3 tips to prevent neck painWithout knowing it, you may be encouraging
neck pain by the way you perform everyday activities. Get the latest news on health
and wellness delivered to your inbox! STAYING HEALTHY Inside Staying Healthy:
Aging
Balance & Mobility
Diet & Weight Loss
Energy & Fatigue
Exercise & Fitness
Healthy Eating
Physical Activity
Screening Tests for Men
Screening Tests for Women
Sleep
Featured Content:
5 medications that can cause problems in older age »
CBD products are everywhere. But do they work? »
Counting on calories »
Maximizing home food delivery »
The state of gas »
See AllIn Case You Missed It:
The active ingredients of tai chiWhen Peter M.
The physical benefits of yogaYoga promotes physical health in multiple
different ways.
Motivational tips to work your coreA core workout is an essential
part of a fitness routine, but sticking with any exercise program isn't always
easy. Get the latest news on health and wellness delivered to your inbox! CANCER
Inside Cancer:
Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Other Cancers
Prostate Health & Disease
Skin Cancer
Featured Content:
Do all skin cancers have to be removed? »
Can you eat away at your cancer risk? »
A cancer researcher reflects on the evolution of lung cancer
therapies »
What is immunotherapy? »
Specialized diet gets high marks for preventing cancer »
See AllIn Case You Missed It:
4 tips for coping with an enlarged prostateWhen a man reaches about age
25, his prostate begins to grow.
 Can diet help fight prostate cancer?Can adopting a healthier diet help
fight prostate cancer?
Most melanomas start as new spotsMost melanomas come in the form of a
new spot on the skin, not changes to an existing mole. Get the latest news on
health and wellness delivered to your inbox! DISEASES & CONDITIONS Inside Diseases
& Conditions:
Adult & Child ADHD
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Diabetes
Digestive Health
Heart Disease
More Diseases & Conditions
Osteoporosis
Stroke
Thyroid Diseases
Featured Content:
Are sunstroke and heatstroke the same? »
Be alert to an increasingly common threat - tick-borne illnesses »
Fatty liver disease: An often-silent condition linked to heart
disease »
Is fibromyalgia hereditary? »
Poor sense of smell may predict risk of death in older adults »
See AllIn Case You Missed It:
5 ways to dodge incontinenceMost people take bladder control for
granted — until the unintended loss of urine interrupts the ability to carry on an
ordinary social and work life.
Simple tips to fight inflammationThe awareness of the intersection
between inflammation and chronic disease has spawned a plethora of diet plans,
nutritional supplements, and lifestyle programs, many implying they offer new ways
to improve your health by quelling inflammation.
Alcohol and age: A risky combinationMost people drink less as they grow
older. Get the latest news on health and wellness delivered to your inbox! MEN'S
HEALTH Inside Men's Health:
Birth Control
Erectile Dysfunction
Exercise & Fitness
Healthy Eating
Men's Sexual Health
Prostate Cancer
Prostate Health & Disease
Screening Tests for Men
Featured Content:
Big jump in active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer »
Can blood pressure medications interfere with my sex drive? »
The growing problem of an enlarged prostate gland »
What could cause my breasts to become larger? »
What exercises are best for bone health? »
See AllIn Case You Missed It:
Tips for talking to your doctor about EDIf you've been having
difficulty getting or sustaining erections, talk about it with your doctor.
5 natural ways to overcome erectile dysfunctionCan you run as fast as
you did when you were 20 years old?
In search of better ways to find and treat prostate cancerBiomarkers
are molecular signatures of both normal and abnormal processes in the body. Get the
latest news on health and wellness delivered to your inbox! WOMEN'S HEALTH Inside
Women's Health:
Birth Control
Breast Health & Disease
Exercise & Fitness
 Healthy Eating
Menopause
Osteoporosis
Pregnancy
Screening Tests for Women
Women's Sexual Health
Featured Content:
Winning the weight battle after menopause »
Does your vagina really need a probiotic? »
FDA takes some surgical mesh products off the market »
How can I prevent recurrent UTIs? »
What is a submucosal uterine fibroid? »
See AllIn Case You Missed It:
Hypothyroidism symptoms and signs in an older personSome people over
age 60 have few, if any, classic hypothyroidism symptoms, while others experience
the same symptoms younger people do.
What's your t-score? Bone density scans for osteoporosisSeveral
technologies can assess bone density, but the most common is known as dual energy
x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
5 ways to boost bone strength earlyThe best prevention for bone-
thinning osteoporosis begins early — during the first two decades of life, when you
can most influence your peak bone mass by getting enough calcium and vitamin D and
doing bone-strengthening exercise. Get the latest news on health and wellness
delivered to your inbox! LICENSING
Thyroid Diseases
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that site in the neck under the Adam's
apple. It regulates the body's metabolism by sending thyroid hormone to the organs
through the blood. Two conditions, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism)
and an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) can result when the thyroid isn't
working right.
An overactive thyroid gland generates too much thyroid hormone, which speeds up
metabolism. Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:
· rapid heart rate
· frequent bowel movements, even diarrhea
· excessive perspiration
· weakness
· insomnia
· irritability and anxiety
· increased appetite
· weight loss
The first line of treatment for an overactive thyroid gland is drug therapy. If
that doesn't resolve the problem, a dose of radioactive iodine may fix the problem
by destroying thyroid cells. Sometimes the treatment damages so much of the gland
that it can't produce enough thyroid hormone and it becomes necessary to take
thyroid hormone. Surgery to remove some of the thyroid gland can be an option when
other treatments don't work or aren't advisable.
Hypothroidism
An underactive thyroid gland doesn't generate enough thyroid hormone. This
condition, which slows metabolism, is increasingly common with age. It can also be
caused by Hashimoto's disease, a condition in which the body's immune system
attacks the thyroid gland, or by thyroiditis, an inflammation of the gland.
Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
· fatigue
· constipation
· dry skin
· muscle pain
· hair loss
· weight gain
Hypothyroidism is usually treated by taking thyroid hormone.
Read More
Thyroid Diseases Articles
Hypothyroidism and your heart
A low thyroid hormone level (hypothyroidism) can harm the heart and requires
treatment. Treating borderline cases of hypothyroidism (known as subclinical
hypothyroidism) is common but controversial. Many other things, including
insufficient sleep and lack of exercise, can cause the most common symptoms of low
thyroid hormone: fatigue and weight gain. Levothyroxine, the treatment for
hypothyroidism, must be taken an hour before eating or taking supplements. Failing
to follow those rules or skipping doses can lead to dosage adjustments and possible
overtreatment. Overtreatment can raise thyroid levels too high, increasing the risk
of atrial fibrillation.
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More »
Why do I “almost” have an underactive thyroid?
A recent study suggests that the average person with subclinical hypothyroidism
does not benefit from taking thyroid hormone pills.
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More »
Overactive thyroid and afib
An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can cause a fast heartbeat, trouble
sleeping, and weight loss. In some people, the condition may trigger the heart
rhythm disorder known as atrial fibrillation.
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More »
Thyroid disorders and heart conditions: What’s the connection?
Thyroid disorders are often overlooked as the cause of heart problems. An
underactive thyroid may cause blood pressure problems, a slow heart rate, an
increase in cholesterol, an increase in fluid around the heart, and heart failure.
An overactive thyroid can cause the heart to beat faster, which can lead to
palpitations or an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (afib).
Treating the thyroid may help relieve symptoms and may reverse some heart
conditions. However, it’s very difficult to reverse afib in someone with ongoing
hyperthyroidism.
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More »
Do you need a thyroid test?
About one-fourth of women over 60 have low levels of thyroid hormone, which might
not cause symptoms yet still raise “bad” cholesterol and the risk of cardiovascular
disease. A thyroid test is a good idea for women at risk. More »
Is thyroid hormone causing my recent mood changes?
Hyperthyroidism can cause anxiety, irritability, and agitation. It can also raise
blood pressure, increase the risk of heart failure, and accelerate bone loss.
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More »
Thyroid hormone: How it affects your heart
Located at the base of the throat, the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland releases
hormones that affect every organ in the body—especially the heart. Too little
thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) slows the heart rate and may boost blood pressure
and cholesterol levels. Too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) can cause the
heart to beat harder and faster and may trigger abnormal heart rhythms and high
blood pressure. A simple blood test can diagnose thyroid problems, and treatment
may improve heart-related problems.
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More »
The lowdown on thyroid slowdown
Low thyroid hormone production, or hypothyroidism, can bring on a range of symptoms
that may easily be confused with aging. A guide to hypothyroidism and how to treat
it. More »
Could those common symptoms be thyroid trouble?
Sluggishness, fuzzy thinking, and unexplained weight gain are often missed as
symptoms of an underactive thyroid. Harvard experts say it’s because the symptoms
are often nonspecific, and since older adults generally have more of these
nonspecific symptoms, they are even more likely to miss the problem. An underactive
thyroid is diagnosed by measuring the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in
the blood. The condition is treated with synthetic thyroid hormones called
levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid, Levoxyl).
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More »
How thyroid hormone affects the heart
The thyroid gland secretes hormones that regulate metabolism and energy levels.
When it produces too little thyroid hormone, the heart can lose pumping strength,
and cholesterol and blood pressure rise. Too much thyroid hormone can cause the
heart to race and raises the risk of developing heart failure. Anyone with heart
disease who has the symptoms of thyroid trouble should see their cardiologist or
primary care doctor for simple blood test.
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More »
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Food before supplements
Eat healthy foods instead of turning to a multivitamin. Recent studies have shown
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