Early or mild hypothyroidism
may present as a persistently elevated TSH and a normal FT4 hormone level. This pattern is called subclinical hypothyroidism and your doctor may recommend treatment. Over time, untreated subclinical hypothyroidism can contribute to heart disease.
What does it mean if your TSH is high but your T3 and T4 are normal?
When the thyroid gland becomes inefficient such as in early
hypothyroidism
, the TSH becomes elevated even though the T4 and T3 may still be within the “normal” range.
What if TSH is high and T4 is normal?
A normal TSH and normal T4 show a
normal thyroid
. A low TSH and high T4 generally means an overactive thyroid. A high TSH and low T4 means an underactive thyroid. A low TSH and low T4 mean low thyroid function because of another problem, such as with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus of the brain.
What if only TSH is high?
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. A TSH test does not explain why TSH levels are too high or too low.
What is more important TSH or free T4?
Across many clinical studies it seems clear that the physiologic effects of low or high thyroid function correlate much more strongly to
free T4
and free T3 levels than to TSH levels. In fact, correcting for changes in T4 and T3 levels there appeared to be no correlation between TSH level and body function.
How do you treat high TSH and normal T4?
The easiest and most effective treatment is simply
taking a thyroid hormone pill (levothyroxine) once a day
, preferably in the morning. This medication is a pure synthetic form of T4 which is made in a laboratory to be an exact replacement for the T4 that the human thyroid gland normally secretes.
What does it mean when your T4 is too high?
Abnormally high test results
Elevated T4 levels may indicate
hyperthyroidism
. They may also indicate other thyroid problems, such as thyroiditis or toxic multinodular goiter. Other reasons for abnormal results may include: high levels of protein in the blood.
At what level of TSH do you treat?
If your TSH level is
higher than 10 mIU/L
, you should start treatment, because you will develop symptoms of an underactive thyroid, even if you don't have them now.
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)
What causes TSH to rise?
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 should I eat if my TSH is high?
Antioxidant
-rich fruits and vegetables
Blueberries, tomatoes, bell peppers
, and other foods rich in antioxidants can improve overall health and benefit the thyroid gland. Eating foods high in B vitamins, like whole grains, may also help.
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 a TSH level of 8 too high?
The standard reference range for the TSH level is anywhere between 0.30 and 5.0 uIU/mL. If your TSH level is
higher than 5.0 uIU/mL
, then the lab will flag you as “high,” and you may experience the symptoms listed above 5.0 uIU/mL. Values of the TSH level more than 10.0 uIU/mL need long-term thyroid supplements.
What is normal range for TSH and free T4?
TSH normal values are 0.5 to 5.0 mIU/L
. Pregnancy, a history of thyroid cancer, history of pituitary gland disease, and older age are some situations when TSH is optimally maintained in different range as guided by an endocrinologist. FT4 normal values are 0.7 to 1.9ng/dL.
What is the difference between TSH and free T4?
TSH is made by the pituitary gland in your brain. T4 is found in the body in 2 forms: free T4 and bound T4. Free T4
travels
into body tissues that use T4. Bound T4 attaches to proteins that prevent it from entering these tissues.
What is the normal range for TSH and T4?
Generally, healthy TSH levels are an indicator the whole system is working well, but that's an oversimplification at best. A normal T3 level might be somewhere between 100 to 200 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL), while a normal T4 level falls
between 5.0 to 12.0 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL)
.
