A major new 10-year study just dropped a bombshell: Women with fibroids have an 81% higher risk of heart disease (heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease) compared to women without them.
- At 10 years: 5.4% of women with fibroids had a cardiovascular event vs only 3% without
- The risk is highest in younger women (<40): over 3.5× more likely to develop heart disease
- This increased risk affects all racial/ethnic groups (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian)
Even bigger twist: Fibroids and heart disease may both be linked to thyroid problems (especially hypothyroidism). Studies show women with an underactive thyroid are up to 3× more likely to have fibroids, and hypothyroidism independently raises heart disease risk the same way fibroids do.
Bottom line: If you have fibroids → get your thyroid checked (TSH + free T4). Treating an underactive thyroid might help shrink fibroids AND protect your heart.
Share this with every woman you know who has fibroids — this is the kind of info doctors often miss!