Our Holy Miracle of the Infallible TSH Test

A LITTLE KNOWN WAY TO CHECK AND REDUCE YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND DEMENTIA

Most of us are screened from time to time for high blood pressure and raised cholestrol. The reason for this is preventative medicine–although neither condition usually has any symptoms, both dramatically increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as dementia (through atherosclerosis and ISAs.) When our levels are found to be high, doctors will prescribe drugs to attempt to reduce them, in order to safeguard our future health.

Two pieces of recent research show that a raised TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level–anything above 1–is linked with massively higher risk of developing coronary heart disease (including stroke) as well as Alzheimer’s, (although also the dementias that can arise from ISAs and atherosclerosis.) It has been shown that when the TSH is reduced to between 1 and 2, risk levels return to normal.

As people age, the thyroid gland (in common with many of the glands of the body), can start to run down, releasing less hormones than the body needs.  This is a particular problem in women, starting around the time of peri-menopause and menopause (in fact many of the symptoms blamed on the menopause are actually caused by lowered thyroid production, and not by the drop in female hormones.)  In some women, thyroid levels can also drop at puberty or following pregnancy (an often overlooked trigger for post-natal depression.) 

Our systems are very sensitive to any hormone imbalance, and if we start to become low on thyroid hormones,  the pituitary gland kicks in, releasing excessive quantities of TSH, in an attempt to flog the thyroid back to work.  In many cases, this seems to work. The thyroid starts to pump out more hormone, and we continue to feel well. Doctors may note that we have a “borderline” thyroid issue, but rarely bother to suggest any treatment.  This all seemed fine–a case of the body regulating itself–until medical researchers found that those with slightly raised TSH levels were suffering an epidemic of heart disease and Alzheimer’s.  It has now been proven that just as it is  dangerous to have high blood pressure or raised cholestrol, it is equally dangerous to be walking around with an unhealthy level of TSH.

The TSH level can be measured by your physician through a simple blood test.  The way you and your doctor can then lower the TSH is by replacing the thyroid hormone your body originally lacked.  When you do this, the TSH will drop back to a safe level, with your risks of heart disease and Alzheimer’s returning to normal.  Furthermore,  thyroid replacement will also relieve the strain on your thyroid gland, which otherwise places you at risk of adrenal problems, goitre (unsightly swelling of the neck) and even thyroid cancer.

* Another way to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by 35%, as well as improving your cognitive ability and memory, is to wean yourself off elavil, amitriptyline, or any similar antidepressant your doctor may have prescribed. For depression or insomnia try a regular dose St. John’s Wort at 900mg a couple of hours before bedtime.