Cardiac arrhythmia and thyroid gland
The thyroid gland can always cause cardiac arrhythmia when it is overactive and produces too many thyroid hormones, resulting in an oversupply of these in the blood system (hyperthyroidism). A benign lump in the thyroid tissue also leads to hyperthyroidism. This also affects the function of the heart.
This is usually the case in the context of certain thyroid diseases, such as the autoimmune disease Graves’ disease or an autonomy of thyroid tissue. However, excessive use of drugs that contain thyroid hormones can also lead to an oversupply. The effects of thyroid hormones are manifold in the body, so that they increase the basal metabolic rate, increase the excitability of nerve and muscle cells and boost the phosphate and calcium metabolism, among other things.
At the heart, they also increase the sensitivity of the ß1 receptors for stress hormones, thus increasing the effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline on heart activity. An excess supply of thyroid hormones therefore means that the heart is made overexcitable, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmia such as tachycardia (highly accelerated heartbeat, >100 beats/minute), extra beats or even atrial fibrillation. This is usually the case in the context of certain thyroid diseases, such as the autoimmune disease Graves’ disease or thyroid tissue autonomy.
However, excessive intake of medications that contain thyroid hormones can also lead to an oversupply.The effects of thyroid hormones are manifold in the body, so that they increase the basal metabolic rate, increase the excitability of nerve and muscle cells, and boost phosphate and calcium turnover, among other things. At the heart, they also increase the sensitivity of the ß1 receptors for stress hormones, thus increasing the effect of adrenaline and noradrenaline on heart activity. An excess supply of thyroid hormones therefore means that the heart is made overexcitable, which can lead to cardiac arrhythmia such as tachycardia (highly accelerated heartbeat, >100 beats/minute), extra beats or even atrial fibrillation.
