What diseases mimic hypothyroidism?

  • Angioedema.
  • Bronchitis.
  • Bulimia Nervosa.
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
  • Congestive Heart Failure.
  • Depression.
  • Menopause.
  • Preeclampsia.


What can hypothyroidism be mistaken for?

Hypothyroidism often begins slowly. Symptoms can be mistaken for stress, depression, or other health problems.
...
Common symptoms include:
  • Fatigue.
  • Unplanned weight gain.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Muscle aches, cramps, tenderness, or stiffness.
  • Increased sensitivity to cold.
  • Constipation.
  • Pale, dry skin.
  • Puffy face.


What autoimmune disease mimics hypothyroidism?

Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. Rarely, the disease can cause hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid. Thyroid hormones control how your body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body—even the way your heart beats.


What if my thyroid levels are normal but I still have symptoms?

However, many people still experience thyroid related symptoms even when their labs have “normalized”. This is typically because the root cause of thyroid dysfunction has not been identified. Think about this! 90% of Hypothyroid cases are a result of an autoimmune “self-attack” referred to as Hashimoto's (2).

Can hypothyroidism be misdiagnosed?

Hypothyroidism can often be misdiagnosed as psychiatric illness. The hypothyroid patient may present with depression, an organic mental disorder, apathy and/or frank psychosis (usually with paranoid symptoms).


Why Thyroid Disease Goes Undetected



Is hypothyroidism a symptom of something else?

Hypothyroidism happens when the thyroid gland doesn't make enough hormones. Conditions or problems that can lead to hypothyroidism include: Autoimmune disease. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's disease.

What is the most accurate test for hypothyroidism?

Blood tests for your thyroid include: TSH - measures thyroid-stimulating hormone. It is the most accurate measure of thyroid activity.

How often is thyroid misdiagnosed?

The TRH-test proved to be least erroneous, technical reasons being the cause of the 9.6% of misdiagnoses.


Do thyroid problems always show up in blood tests?

The production, conversion and uptake of thyroid hormone involves several processes. A malfunction in any of these steps can cause hypothyroid symptoms that may not show on standard lab tests. It's incorrect to assume that all cases of hypothyroidism share the same cause and require the same treatment.

Do thyroid issues always show up in blood tests?

The production, conversion, and uptake of thyroid hormone in the body involves several steps. A malfunction in any of these steps can cause hypothyroid symptoms, but may not show up on standard lab tests. All cases of hypothyroidism do not share the same cause—and, as you might guess, they require different treatments.

What condition is commonly mistaken for thyroid symptoms?

It's a well-known fact that depression has physical symptoms, many of which are identical to thyroid disease. The most common symptoms of depression are vague aches and pains. Other symptoms include back pain, joint pain, gastrointestinal problems, sleep disturbances, fatigue, weight gain or weight loss.


What can cause high TSH besides thyroid?

Causes of High TSH
  • 1) Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid) TSH often increases in response to an underactive thyroid gland (primary hypothyroidism) [1]. ...
  • 2) Iodine Deficiency or Excess. ...
  • 3) Obesity. ...
  • 4) Radiation Therapy. ...
  • 5) Pituitary Tumors. ...
  • 6) Some Toxins, Drugs, and Supplements. ...
  • 7) Rare Genetic Disorders. ...
  • 8) Aging.


What are the two most common autoimmune diseases of the thyroid gland?

Autoimmune thyroid diseases consist of two subgroups: autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and Graves' disease. The AIT is the most common human autoimmune disease.

What is Plummer's disease?

Definition. Toxic nodular goiter involves an enlarged thyroid gland. The gland contains areas that have increased in size and formed nodules. One or more of these nodules produce too much thyroid hormone.


What is the number one symptom of hypothyroidism?

Weight Gain Is Often One of the First Signs of Hypothyroidism. Weight gain is perhaps one of the first noticeable symptoms of hypothyroidism in patients. (1) This is related to a slower than normal metabolism.

Can you have symptoms of hypothyroidism but blood tests are normal?

Yes, it is possible to have hypothyroidism and normal TSH levels in the blood. Most people with hypothyroidism have high TSH because their thyroid gland is not releasing enough hormones.

What can mimic hyperthyroidism?

  • Alcoholism.
  • Alzheimer's Disease.
  • Amenorrhea.
  • Amyloidosis.
  • Anorexia Nervosa.
  • Bulimia Nervosa.
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
  • Cirrhosis.


What tests will an endocrinologist do for thyroid?

Doctors may order one or more blood tests to check your thyroid function. Tests may include thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), T4, T3, and thyroid antibody tests. Thyroid blood tests check your thyroid function. For these tests, a health care professional will draw blood from your arm and send it to a lab for testing.

Can you have hypothyroidism and not gain weight?

About half of people with hypothyroidism experience some weight gain. Most people usually gain only 5 to 10 pounds; however, some women can gain more, especially if the hypothyroidism is severe. While most of the weight gain is mainly increased salt and water retention, some of it can be due to increased fat gain.

Why is hypothyroidism so hard to diagnose?

It can actually be difficult to diagnose hypothyroidism because the symptoms can be easily confused with other conditions. If you have any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, talk to your healthcare provider. The main way to diagnose hypothyroidism is a blood test called the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test.


Can you still have hypothyroidism symptoms while on medication?

Hypothyroidism symptoms linger despite medication use, normal blood tests. Summary: New research gives hypothyroidism patients—who often feel dismissed and forgotten—evidence that their persistent symptoms are not just in their heads.

Can thyroid levels change suddenly?

Thyroid hormone levels may fluctuate over time. These fluctuations may occur as your thyroid condition progresses. Still, other factors like age, hormonal changes, and medication variations may also alter your thyroid hormone levels, producing a variety of symptoms.

What test should be ordered if hypothyroidism is suspected?

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level is the preferred test for initial evaluation of suspected primary hypothyroidism (strength of recommendation [SOR]: expert opinion). If TSH is abnormal, a free thyroxine (T4) level will further narrow the diagnosis.


At what TSH level should hypothyroidism be treated?

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.

What is a good TSH level for hypothyroidism?

Patients with hypothyroidism need to take thyroid hormone which is often a lifelong treatment. Current guidelines recommend that the dose of the thyroid hormone should be adjusted to resolve the symptoms and to keep the TSH level within the range of 0.4 – 4 mIU/L.
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