Is it better to have high or low TSH?

Conclusions: TSH and free T4 within the normal range are associated with the metabolic syndrome. The sample half-below the TSH median (with probably higher functional thyroid status) exhibited better metabolic and cardiovascular profiles.


What is a good TSH level for a woman?

An optimal TSH level in a woman is 0.4-2.5 mIU/L. For pregnant women, that upper limit is stricter than if you are not pregnant. What is this? A dangerously high level of TSH is above 5.0 mIU/L.

What happens when TSH is too low?

What happens when TSH levels are too low? If you have too little TSH, it's most likely that your thyroid gland is making excess thyroid hormone. This condition is called hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid. A variety of conditions lead to hyperthyroidism, including Graves' disease and thyroid nodules.


What is worse low or high thyroid?

Neither is worse than the other. Both can lead to death in the most severe cases. However, hypothyroidism is 5 times more common than hyperthyroidism. In severe cases, hypothyroidism can lead to heart disease and myxedema coma, both of which can lead to death.

What happens if TSH level is high?

TSH levels that are too high or too low may be a sign of a thyroid problem. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Your thyroid makes hormones that control how your body uses energy. Thyroid hormones affect nearly every organ in your body, including your heart.


TSH Results / Levels: How to explain in 80 seconds



Can low TSH cause weight gain?

According to Kitahara, if someone has low thyroid function, their TSH is high, and the thyroid hormones known as T3 and T4 are low—and weight gain often occurs. If someone has an overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, TSH is usually low, the T3 and T4 are high, and weight loss occurs.

What triggers high TSH?

Both iodine deficiency or excessive iodine intake can result in an elevated TSH [2, 3]. Globally, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is iodine deficiency [1]. Thyroid hormones are made from the chemical iodine, which humans need to get from the food they eat.

What TSH level is considered hypothyroidism?

A TSH level of 10 mIU/L or higher is typically indicative of hypothyroidism. A TSH level of 4.5 to 10 mIU/L is considered indicative of subclinical hypothyroidism.


Which thyroid causes weight gain?

An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) makes you sweat more, feel hot, lose weight, or makes your heart beat faster. An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) does the opposite. You might feel cold, gain weight, and get a slower heartbeat.

What is the danger level of thyroid?

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 lower levels of TSH good?

A high TSH level indicates that the thyroid gland is not making enough thyroid hormone (primary hypothyroidism). On the other hand, a low TSH level usually indicates that the thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism).


What triggers low TSH?

Low TSH is most often associated with hyperthyroidism. This can be due to a number of causes, ranging from autoimmune disease to lumps in the thyroid gland (toxic nodules) to an abnormally enlarged thyroid gland (goiter).

Is low TSH hyper or hypo?

Because TSH stimulates production of your thyroid hormones, TSH is high when your body is not making enough thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) and low when it makes too much (hyperthyroidism).

What should my TSH be for my age?

A recent study suggests that the normal range should be more like 0.45 to 4.12 mU/L. TSH can vary wildly based on your age, sex, and stage of life. For example, a 29-year-old woman may have normal TSH around 4.2 mU/L, while an 88-year-old man may reach 8.9 mU/L at their upper limits.


What level of TSH should I treat?

If your TSH level is higher than 10 mIU/L, you should start treatment, because you will very likely develop symptoms of an underactive thyroid, even if you don't have them now.

Can thyroid cause belly fat?

Even mild cases of hypothyroidism may increase the risk of weight gain and obesity. People with the condition often report having a puffy face as well as excess weight around the stomach or other areas of the body.

What do your hands look like if you have hypothyroidism?

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism can show up in the hands and nails. Hypothyroidism can cause dermatologic findings such as nail infection, vertical white ridges on the nails, nail splitting, brittle nails, slow nail growth, and nails lifting up.


What foods control thyroid?

Thyroid and diet factsheet
  • eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day.
  • base meals on higher fibre starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta.
  • have some dairy or dairy alternatives.
  • eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein.


Should I worry if my TSH is low?

If the pituitary gland is not functioning to produce TSH as it should, then the thyroid will not make the level of hormones it should be. This reduction of hormones from the thyroid can lead to many health problems. Low TSH levels can affect your health, quality of life, and your relationships.

What if my t3 and T4 are normal but TSH is high?

If you had thyroid blood tests and the results indicate that your TSH levels are elevated (5 to 10 mIU/L) and your thyroxine (T4) levels are in the normal range, it means you have subclinical hypothyroidism.


Can hypothyroidism go away?

ANSWER: For mild cases of hypothyroidism, not all patients need treatment. Occasionally, the condition may resolve without treatment. Follow-up appointments are important to monitor hypothyroidism over time, however. If hypothyroidism doesn't go away on its own within several months, then treatment is necessary.

Can stress raise 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.

Can anxiety increase TSH?

Significant correlations between the thyroid hormone levels and clinical features were observed in the non-medicated patients. The more severe current panic attacks were, the higher the TSH levels were. In addition, severity of anxiety correlated negatively with free T4 levels.


Can stress cause TSH level to rise?

Stress may exacerbate an underlying thyroid condition. For example, say hypothyroidism runs in your family. Under stress, your body releases the hormone cortisol. Too much cortisol can interfere with thyroid hormone production: It can stimulate the thyroid to work harder to create sufficient amounts of thyroid hormone.