High TSH levels can mean
your thyroid is not making enough thyroid hormones
, a condition called hypothyroidism. Low TSH levels can mean your thyroid is making too much of the hormones, a condition called hyperthyroidism.
What are the side effects of high TSH levels?
- fatigue.
- weight gain.
- swelling of the face and neck.
- increased sensitivity to cold temperatures.
- dry skin.
- thinning hair.
- a slow heart rate.
- irregular or heavy menstrual periods.
What is the cause of high TSH levels?
Your TSH levels will be increased, if:
Your thyroid gland is not working as it normally should
.
Your thyroid gland is infected or inflamed
, as in Hashimoto's thyroiditis, or autoimmune thyroiditis. This occurs when your body is attacking your thyroid gland, for some unknown reason.
What is considered a dangerously high TSH level?
Experts don't agree on which TSH levels should be considered too high. Some suggest that TSH levels of over 2.5 milliunits per liter (mU/L) are abnormal, while others consider levels of TSH to be too high only after they have reached
4 to 5 mU/L
.
Is high TSH good or bad?
If your
TSH level
is higher than it should be, you may have hypothyroidism. This occurs when the pituitary gland overcompensates for low amounts of thyroid hormone by pumping out more TSH. This condition is most common in older women, but it can occur in any gender at any age.
How do I get my TSH levels down?
- Radioactive iodine to slow down your thyroid.
- Anti-thyroid medications to prevent it from overproducing hormones.
- Beta blockers to reduce a rapid heart rate caused by high thyroid levels.
- Surgery to remove the thyroid (this is less common)
Can high TSH cause weight gain?
In one of the studies that had data for a single point in time, blood TSH levels were related to waist size and the ratio of waist to height sizes. For example, high blood TSH levels in this study (indicating a more underactive thyroid gland) were related to
more weight gain
.
How is high TSH treated?
Standard treatment for hypothyroidism involves daily use of the
synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine
(Levo-T, Synthroid, others). This oral medication restores adequate hormone levels, reversing the signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism. You'll likely start to feel better soon after you start treatment.
What should I do if my TSH level is high?
If your TSH level is high, the treatment is usually to
prescribe pure synthetic T4 (levothyroxine sodium, called LT4)
, which is a manufactured version of the T4 hormone your thyroid produces. If your T3 level is low, the doctor can give you Liothyronine, which is only a short-term treatment for low T3 levels.
Is a TSH level of 8 too high?
A normal range for TSH in most laboratories is 0.4 milliunits per liter (mU/L) to 4.0 mU/L. If your TSH is higher than 4.0 mU/L on repeat tests, you probably
have hypothyroidism
. Your doctor may also order a T4 test.
Is a TSH level of 11 high?
Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 4.6 to 10 mIU/L. A normal TSH level is 0.4 to 4.0 and full-blown hypothyroidism is
10 or higher
.
Is TSH 7 high?
According to Cappola, her research regarded
mildly elevated TSH
levels as those in the 4.5 to 7 mU/L range, while very elevated TSH levels were considered to be those greater than 20 mU/L.
What is a good TSH level for a woman?
The normal range of TSH levels in non-pregnant adult women is
0.5 to 5.0 mIU/L
. In women, during the menstruation cycle, pregnancy, or after menopause, TSH levels may fall slightly outside the normal range, because of fluctuating levels of estrogen.
At what level of TSH do you treat?
If your TSH level is elevated to
between 4.5 and 10 mIU/L
and your T4 is normal, you should be considered for treatment with thyroid medication, especially if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, or you have a positive test for thyroid antibodies, a history of heart disease, or risk factors for atherosclerosis.
When T3 and T4 are normal but TSH is high?
Primary hypothyroidism is virtually the only disease that is characterized by sustained rises in TSH levels. As the TSH level increases early in the disease, conversion of T4 to T3 increases, maintaining T3 levels. In
early hypothyroidism
, TSH levels are elevated, T4 levels are normal to low, and T3 levels are normal.
Can stress affect TSH levels?
“
Stress increases production of the hormone cortisol
, which is produced by the adrenal glands. Cortisol can inhibit secretion of TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) from the pituitary gland, leading to partial suppression of thyroxine, the main hormone produced by the thyroid gland,” Dr. Guandalini explains.
