Hypothyroidism linked to increased heart disease risk

Hormones produced by the thyroid gland have a significant effect on your health, particularly on your metabolism -- from the rate at which your heart beats to how quickly you burn calories.

As long as the proper amount of hormones are released by your thyroid, everything is as cool as school and your system function remains status quo. But sometimes your thyroid decides to become a bit derelict in its duties and fails to produce enough hormones, resulting in the disruption of the balance of chemical reactions in your body. This condition is known as hypothyroidism.

This problem -- even if the thyroid is only mildly underactive -- is certainly worth paying attention to. A study published in the American Journal of Medicine suggests that even a slight aberration in the activity of the thyroid can raise the risk of heart disease by as much as 65 percent. If you or someone you know is showing signs and symptoms of what may be an underactive thyroid, speak to a doctor about having a blood test done.