Heart disease is a simple term that encompasses several coronary conditions. It includes high cholesterol, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, angina, stroke, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and heart attack. At the root of heart disease is the buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can occur as a result of high blood pressure and/ or high cholesterol. As the arteries become clogged, they become increasingly narrow, making it harder and harder for the heart to pump blood through the body. The final result can be a heart attack, in which the blood supply via an artery to the heart is cut off, or a stroke, when blood going to the brain is disrupted.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, for both men and women. It is a chronic problem that requires a great deal of medical treatment and maintenance. Although modern medicine provides myriad procedures that can open up narrowed heart arteries, the underlying disease remains, causing significant lifestyle changes and restrictions on activities you once enjoyed. In some people, heart disease eventually leads to disability or death.

Because thyroid hormone affects every cell in the body, a deficit or overabundance of it can have profound effects on the heart and provoke the onset of heart disease. Certain heart conditions become more likely if you are also dealing with thyroid disease.