HYPOTHYROIDISM is a medical condition that occurs when your THYROID gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormone. In this article we will discuss HYPOTHYROIDISM LOW BLOOD PRESSURE – RISKS AND SOLUTIONS because one of the potential health risks of hypothyroidism is its impact on BLOOD PRESSURE.
Interestingly, BOTH HIGH and LOW blood pressure are associated with hypothyroidism.
BLOOD PRESSURE is essential to bring OXYGEN, NUTRIENTS, HORMONES and other vital compounds to every cell of your body.
If too HIGH, this strains the delicate blood vessels.
If too LOW, insufficient blood saturates tissues and cells, especially in your hands, feet and BRAIN, depriving them of sufficient OXYGEN and NUTRIENTS.
So, BOTH HIGH and LOW blood pressure can impair BRAIN FUNCTION and increase your risk of death.
Fortunately, the problem of LOW (and HIGH) BLOOD PRESSURE can be addressed if you understand ROOT, underlying causes of poor THYROID HEALTH.
So, let’s examine the far-reaching consequences of UNRESOLVED BLOOD PRESSURE and how a safe, natural and science-based approach to restoring THYROID HEALTH can restore your blood pressure and WHOLE BODY HEALTH.
Hypothyroidism and HIGH Blood Pressure:
High blood pressure, or HYPERTENSION, is a common, potentially life-threatening health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Several studies have shown that HYPOTHYROIDISM is associated with an increased risk of hypertension.
Hypothyroidism-induced hypertension is more common in older individuals, women, and individuals with a history of high blood pressure.
The exact mechanism of how hypothyroidism causes high blood pressure is not fully understood. However, researchers believe that hypothyroidism can lead to an increase in PERIPHERAL VASCULAR RESISTANCE.
Peripheral vascular resistance refers to the RESISTANCE OF BLOOD FLOW in the blood vessels and ultimately to the resistance of blood flow throughout the body, affecting ANY and ALL organs, tissues and cells since blood eventually nourishes EVERY cell of your body.
When the thyroid gland does not produce enough THYROXIN (thyroid hormone), it can lead to an increase in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). The RAAS is an important part of your hormone system (also referred to as your ENDOCRINE SYSTEM) that regulates blood pressure and the BALANCE OF FLUIDS in the body.
Therefore, an increase in the RAAS can lead to an increase in blood pressure.
Other Heart-Related Affects
In addition, hypothyroidism can cause an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. LDL cholesterol is also known as “bad” cholesterol, and high levels of LDL cholesterol are a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease.
Hypothyroidism and LOW Blood Pressure:
While hypothyroidism-induced HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE is a well-known health risk, hypothyroidism can also cause LOW blood pressure, or HYPOTENSION. Low blood pressure is defined as blood pressure that is lower than normal, which is typically considered to be a systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure of less than 60 mm Hg.
The exact mechanism of how HYPOTHYROIDISM CAUSED LOW BLOOD PRESSURE is not fully understood. However, researchers believe it leads to a decrease in CARDIAC OUTPUT, which refers to the amount of blood that the heart pumps out each minute.
Hypothyroidism can also cause a condition characterized by a slow heart rate. This is known as BRADYCARDIA. Bradycardia can lead to a decrease in blood pressure. Lastly, hypothyroidism can cause a decrease in PLASMA VOLUME, which can also cause blood pressure to drop.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism-Induced High and Low Blood Pressure:
Although SEVERITY of the condition plays a big role, common symptoms of hypothyroidism-induced HIGH blood pressure include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Chest pain
- Irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism-induced LOW blood pressure include:
- Fainting or feeling faint
- Weakness or fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cold Extremities
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
HYPOTHYROIDISM and your ADRENAL GLANDS
The ADRENAL glands are another part of your endocrine system that can be negatively affected by LOW thyroid function.
This is another way that BLOOD PRESSURE can be altered.
Your ADRENAL glands produce hormones, including CORTISOL and ALDOSTERONE, both of which play a role in regulating blood pressure, too.
When thyroid function is suppressed, the ADRENALS overproduce CORTISOL.
You may have heard CORTISOL referred to as the STRESS hormone.
So, overstimulation of CORTISOL can be a direct cause of HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
Now, sometimes individuals with HYPOTHYROIDISM may also have adrenal INSUFFICIENCY, which is a condition where the adrenal glands do NOT produce enough CORTISOL.
Since CORTISOL is necessary for maintaining blood pressure, this can lead to LOW blood pressure.
Lastly, HYPOTHYROIDISM can lead to a decrease in the hormone ALDOSTERONE, which can cause a DECREASE in blood pressure as well.
Treatment Options:
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
If blood pressure irregularity (either HIGH or LOW) is a direct result of THYROID dysfunction, then treating the thyroid may be enough to normalize blood pressure levels.
Typically, conventional treatment for hypothyroidism, for example, involves HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY with SYNTHETIC thyroid hormone. This may lead to improvements in blood pressure.
Temporarily, at least.
Other accepted conventional treatments for HYPERTENSION include medication to suppress blood pressure, such as DIURETICS, BETA-BLOCKERS or Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
There are prescription medications to RAISE blood pressure, for hypothyroidism-induced LOW blood pressure (HYPOTENSION).
These include MIDODRINE and FLUDROCORTISONE.
Simple lifestyle changes include increasing fluids (and SALT).
UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM (AKA FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE)
In contrast to the traditional medical approach that addresses BLOOD PRESSURE as a CAUSE of poor health, in Functional Medicine, alterations in blood pressure is understood as the RESULT of poor health.
In other words, HIGH and LOW blood pressure is an EFFECT, which always has a cause or causes that must be addressed.
What exactly is FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE?
Functional Medicine is best defined as a HOLISTIC approach to healthcare that aims to address the ROOT, UNDERLYING CAUSES of health problems, rather than simply suppressing or managing symptoms with drugs or surgery.
One of the thought leaders and pioneers of this exciting, NEW field of medicine, 12-time New York Times Best Selling Author, Mark Hyman states it best:
“Functional Medicine is SUPER-SCIENCE, the NEW science of biology, the REAL understanding of how our bodies work, WHY they break down and how to RESTORE FUNCTION and OPTIMAL health. It goes beyond the symptoms to uncover the ROOT causes of your health issues by looking at your ENTIRE BODY and your ENVIRONMENT. It is the future of medicine, available NOW.”
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE, HYPOTHYROIDISM AND BLOOD PRESSURE
A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE approach to solving the problem of altered blood pressure involves several strategies to help address ROOT, UNDERLYING CAUSES.
- DETECTION AND CORRECTION OF NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES.
Many nutritional deficiencies contribute to HIGH and LOW blood pressure. Key nutrients to focus on include, MAGNESIUM, POTASSIUM, CALCIUM, VITAMIN D and OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS. Ensuring that these nutrients are consumed in adequate amounts through diet or ADVANCED WHOLE-FOOD SUPPLEMENTATION can help support cardiovascular health and regulate blood pressure.
- EXTINGUISH THE RAGING FIRE OF INFLAMMATION.
CHRONIC inflammation is a common cause of high blood pressure. A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits and vegetable, whole grains and HEALTHY FATS can reduce inflammation.
- CELLULAR TOXICITY
The detection and correction of ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS, including HEAVY METALS, ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS, MOLD, PARASITES and other infections can greatly help fight inflammation.
- BALANCE HORMONES.
As discussed, imbalances such as THYROID and ADRENAL dysfunction can contribute to poor blood pressure regulation. Lifestyle modifications such as food and supplemented can help support healthy hormone levels and regulate blood pressure.
- HERBS, BOTANICALS AND WHOLE FOOD SUPPLEMENTS.
Some of the best include GARLIC, HAWTHORN, MAGNESIUM, COENZYME Q-10, and healthy fats.
- EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT EXERCISE.
CONSISTENT exercise improves cardiovascular health and helps regulate blood pressure. A good starting point is moderate intensity movement for a minimum of 30 minutes per day at least 4-5 days a week.
- STRESS MANAGEMENT
Utilizing STRESS management techniques such as MEDITATION, DEEP BREATHING, YOGA or JOURNALIZNG can help reduce emotional or psychological stress and promote healthy blood pressure.
CONCLUSION
Poor BLOOD PRESSURE, whether too HIGH or too LOW, is often a consequence of UNRESOLVED THYROID FUNCTION.
Fortunately, the exciting, emerging field of FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE offers many safe, natural solutions to address the underlying causes of unhealthy BLOOD PRESSURE.
By focusing on NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES, cooling INFLAMMATION, ADDRESSING HORMONAL IMBALANCES, nourishing the body with HERBS and WHOLE FOOD supplements, EXERCISING regularly, and managing STRESS, you can support your CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH and promote healthy BLOOD PRESSURE.
So, if you’ve ever asked “What is my doctor missing?” and suspect that NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES or TOXICITY may be a part of YOUR persistent, unresolved health challenges, (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HIGH OR LOW BLOOD PRESSURE) do NOT give up.
This is where ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTATION with WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION, (never SYNTHETIC VITAMINS) can be helpful.
It’s important to work with an experienced FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE practitioner who can recommend the right supplements designed to solve problems of DEFICIENCY as well as remove TOXICITY in the body directly.
The good news is that there are doctors with specialized knowledge who are ready with a science-backed action plan to do BOTH.
Addressing this will take you from DEFICIENCY to SUFFICIENCY and from TOXICITY to PURITY, and allow you to not only NORMALIZE BLOOD PRESSURE, but just as important, to get back to looking, feeling and functioning at your best.
Dr. Bob was born and raised in Florham Park, New Jersey.
He loved the philosophy of vitalism, which teaches about the incredible, innate intelligence of our bodies and its power to self-heal when given the opportunity.
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