What happens if TSH is slightly 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.
Is slightly elevated TSH bad?
Slightly elevated TSH levels are usually detected by accident during a routine examination. But taken on their own they don’t pose any health risk. It’s also possible that TSH levels are high only temporarily, for example after intense physical activity.
What does borderline high TSH mean?
The term “borderline hypothyroidism” typically is used when blood tests show that your body’s level of TSH is slightly above normal, but your T3 and T4 levels are normal. Another name for this condition is subclinical hypothyroidism.
Can high TSH be normal?
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) 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.
How is mild hypothyroidism treated?
When mild hypothyroidism is treated, levothyroxine (T4) is the treatment of choice. A 2017 trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that treating people ages 65 and older for mild hypothyroidism doesn’t have much of a benefit.
Can stress cause high TSH levels?
Increased levels of glucocorticoids lower the levels of TSH in the blood. A delicate balance between stress hormones and cortisol must exist for proper thyroid function. If this delicate balance changes, your thyroid symptoms may increase.
Should borderline thyroid be treated?
When thyroid function tests are borderline, deciding to take thyroid medication can be a difficult decision. Most endocrine specialists recommend waiting at least three months to repeat a borderline abnormal test. However, if a patient is very symptomatic, he or she may be started on medication.
Does mild hypothyroidism cause weight gain?
When your thyroid makes less of its hormones — as it does in hypothyroidism — your metabolism slows down. So you won’t burn off calories as quickly and you’ll gain weight. The weight gain usually isn’t extreme, maybe 5 or 10 pounds, but it can be enough to affect your self-esteem.
Should I treat mild hypothyroidism?
A brief overview of hypothyroidism No larger than a pea and located at the base of the brain, the pituitary gland controls your thyroid’s production of thyroid hormone by releasing thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
Can anxiety raise TSH levels?
The more severe current panic attacks were, the higher the TSH levels were. In addition, severity of anxiety correlated negatively with free T4 levels.
What medications cause elevated TSH levels?
Drugs that can increase TSH include the following: Dopamine antagonists. Chlorpromazine. Haloperidol. Iodine-containing drugs. Amiodarone (amiodarone-induced hypothyroidism)
What are the causes of increased TSH levels?
Hypothyroidism is one of the most common causes of elevated TSH levels, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders explains. The pituitary makes TSH to stimulate the production of thyroid hormones.
What does slightly raised TSH level indicate?
Slightly elevated TSH levels indicate that the thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormone , a condition also known as hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid. (See Resources section for normal range.)
What causes an elevated TSH but normal T3 and T4?
The reasons for levels of TSH being higher than the normal range can include dysfunction of your thyroid, an autoimmune disease, or a side effect of some medications. Sometimes pregnancy can cause T3 and T4 to increase which will affect levels of TSH.