This is my first post on the forum as I was only diagnosed with paroxysmal AF a few months ago and am still trying to get my head around it! As far as I was concerned I was 55, a fairly fit runner and cyclist, low cholesterol/blood pressure, healthy eater with no apparent medical issues. However after feeling more and more exhausted while exercising and suffering what later became clear was an AF episode while out running I was checked out and diagnosed with AF. What also showed up on the blood test was a slightly underactive thyroid (TSH level 5.922).
It seems that hyperthyroidism can cause AF, but most of the info I can find on hypothyroidism seems to indicate that it would be unlikely to be an issue. Can anyone let me know what the current thinking is on any hypo/AF link?
Thanks
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Barny12
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You are going to get loads of responses about thyroid and af. I was surprised when diagnosed with both at the same time last summer. But I don't know which came first, what the connection is. My AF is permanent so is my underactive thyroid? I haven't had time to read up about it but will be interested in some of the responses you get.
hi Barny, I'm no expert on thyroid issues as they relate to AF but I'm due to see my GP later this week to discuss my blood tests which suggest I have an overactive thyroid. I was put in touch with the Thyroid UK forum here on Heath Unlocked and they are an extremely knowledgeable and helpful bunch so it might be worth trying them.
I was also diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and AF at the same time. No one seems to want to connect the two but I am convinced they are. But we have it and just have to get on with it. Would be nice to know though.
One of the triggers for AF is low as well as high HR - least it is for me. I wonder if this could be a trigger for people with Hypothyroidism?
Well, I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid about 18 years ago. I have taken thyroxine since. There is undoubtedly a link between an underactive thyroid and AF. See:
It mostly happens that an underactive thyroid leads to Afib.but there are exceptions. Because an underactive thyroid is often ignored by GPs they also can miss the Afib. Historically, getting good thyroid problem treatment has always been difficult but is slowly improving. There can also be complications .I had an undiagnosed hole in the heart as well .It took about 10 years to straighten things out a bit in my case.......and with ever grateful thanks to Dr. Barry Peatfield who took me seriously .
I have taken thyroxine for underactive thyroid 20years. Also developed PAF paroxysmal atrial fibrillation later (10 years maybe), treated with Verapamil.
It has to be added that I had an operation for cancer of the womb and resulting drugs and radioactive treatment at 50, now 83.
I am hypothyroid and have Atrial Flutters. Doctors in the ER said my Synthroid meds was too much and that caused the flutters. My endo has reduced my meds, I have had an ablation and I'm still having problems. Even the medication for thyroid can cause a fib
I am hypothyroid and on meds for 20yrs it has never been an issue. However when a stupid dr overdosed my thyroid med and sent me hyPERthyroid I ended up in ER with afib 10yrs ago
I have an underactive thyroid and af and have also found most references are to hyperthyroid. I was denied thyroxine for several years in case it made the af worse, until the levels were too extreme.
There is an academic article on the net somewhere re research that showed that a significant number of hypothyroid people have an af issue as a result. (Can't find it now as whalewatching several miles off the Santa Barbara coast.... F*** the af. I'm going for it!)
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