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An underactive thyroid can cause a dangerously slow heart rate - a symptom patients rarely notice
Millions of people in Britain live with an underactive thyroid, many of whom have no idea due to hard-to-pin-down symptoms.
But an NHS GP has urged people to pay closer attention to the subtle signs of the condition, which in some cases can prove fatal.
ITV’s resident doctor Amir Khan recently addressed the issues on his podcast No Appointment Necessary, explaining that hypothyroidism causes bodily functions to slow down.
Among the lesser-recognised symptoms is a slowed heartbeat, which reflects a shortfall in the hormones that regulate it.
But rather than noticing a change in heart rate, most patients are rather to consult their GP over hair loss, persistent fatigue or dry skin - which in most cases are put down to stress and ageing.
It’s also the cumulative nature of the condition that makes it easy to dismiss, Dr Khan added, noting that the condition disproportionately affects women - a pattern linked to differences in how hormones regulate the immune system between the sexes.
Dr Khan stressed that while it’s uncommon, a slow heart rate should not be ignored.
The warning also extends to anyone already being treated, as anyone taking levothyroxine - the synthetic hormone replacement prescribed for an underactive thyroid - can still experience a slowed heart rate if their dose is too slow or if the treatment has just begun.
Because the body cannot adjust a fixed dose the way a healthy thyroid naturally would, Dr Khan stressed that regular blood tests are essential - even for patients who otherwise feel well.
