Aaron Hartman, MDFunctional Medicine Specialist | Clinical Researcher

Subclinical Hypothyroidism Raises Heart Disease Risk 68% — 10% of Women Have It #shorts

20 Aug 2026 · 2 min

Watch on YouTube

1:31

In this YouTube short, Dr. Aaron Hartman explains that subclinical hypothyroidism—defined by a TSH level between 5.5 and 10—has traditionally been considered asymptomatic and not requiring treatment. He challenges that view by citing that roughly 10% of women have this condition, and it raises their risk of heart disease by about 60%. Dr. Hartman lists a range of symptoms that many patients experience despite the “subclinical” label, including hair loss, weight gain, depression, anxiety, cognitive fog, menstrual irregularities, and infertility. He advocates for a full thyroid panel (TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, thyroid antibodies, thyroid globulin) to uncover these nuanced cases. Treating the condition, he says, leads to marked improvement in patients’ well‑being. He frames subclinical hypothyroidism as a “normal abnormal”—a condition that appears normal by standard lab ranges but is clinically abnormal and frequently missed. He ends by inviting viewers who have been misdiagnosed or benefited from treatment to share their stories.

Chapters

Subclinical or normal abnormal thyroid issues is not something. That's what I was told in my training back in 1996. I was told this thing called subclinical hypothyroidism, which is your TSH is over 5.5 to 10, people don't have symptoms and you don't really have to do anything about it. Here's the fact: about 10% of women actually are dealing with subclinical hypothyroidism, and it increases your risk for heart disease 60. So, does that sound like something inconsequential? Absolutely, positively not. Yet, 10% of women have this and they're overlooked. So, many times I'll see people who've had hair loss, weight gain, depression, anxiety, loss of concentration, focus. They just don't feel right, abnormal period cycles, infertility. And you do a full thyroid panel, TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, thyroid antibodies, thyroid globulin level, you find these nuanced Subclinical, quote unquote, subclinical hypothyroidism. You address it and people feel so much better. This is an example of a blind spot, a normal abnormal in our healthcare system. We have lots of those actually. It's normal, but really abnormal. Normal by the system, by normal ranges, but actually not normal that we overlook all the time. So I'd be curious if you're someone who suffered with this for years, got misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, and after you were treated, you felt tons better. I'd be curious what you did to feel better. Please share below. This is something that is really, really common. Again, 10% of the population is dealing with this and it's commonly overlooked. Take care.