A high blood cholesterol level may be an indication that the thyroid gland in the neck is underactive, rather than the result of poor dietary habits. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), notes that after diet, thyroid disease is the most common secondary cause of high cholesterol. Somewhere between one-quarter and one-half of patients with underactive thyroids will have high cholesterol levels. The cholesterol level responds just by diagnosing and treating the thyroid disease. Conversely, about 10% of persons with high cholesterol have underactive thyroids. A survey released by the AACE shows that fewer than half of the adults who had been diagnosed with high cholesterol knew if they had ever been tested for thyroid disease. Everyone with a high cholesterol level should be screened for thyroid disease.

COMMENT: Many traditional doctors forget to check the thyroid in patients with high cholesterol. If your cholesterol is high despite following the diet I advocate, then you should definitely have your thyroid checked. You can also check recommendations on how to screen for thyroid function.

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