TSH Levels: Low to high ranges, symptoms, and what they mean
A TSH test can be conducted to evaluate the performance of your thyroid gland. TSH levels can help in seeing if your thyroid gland is functioning the way it needs to. TSH levels can tell you if your thyroid gland is underactive, also known as hypothyroidism, or overactive, also known as hyperthyroidism. The TSH test can also help in detecting a thyroid disorder even before you develop any signs or symptoms. This can help you in getting your thyroid treated early so you can avoid the development of any health issues. Here is all you need to know about TSH levels:
The TSH levels test: Everything you need to know
What you need to know about the TSH levels test
Before taking the test
To take the TSH test, you simply need to submit a sample of your blood to a medical practitioner. This blood is then analyzed in a laboratory. The TSH test could be performed at all hours of the day. You don’t need to prepare before taking the TSH test, for example, you don’t need to fast overnight. The TSH test is completely safe and you won’t feel any pain at all. Although in some cases, there is some slight bruising involved.
Factors that may interfere with your TSH levels chart
Generally, you wouldn’t have to stop taking any medications before you take the TSH levels test, however, you need to let your doctor know beforehand. Some drugs could affect the levels of TSH in your blood or interfere with the way your thyroid functions. For instance, your thyroid function needs to be monitored when you are already taking lithium. When you are taking the lithium regularly, there could be a chance that your medication affects the way your thyroid functions and even cause it to stop functioning properly. It’s advised that you should get your TSH levels checked before you even start this medicine. Once your TSH levels are normal, you would just need to get your levels examined every 6 months or even every year, as suggested by your medical practitioner. However, if your TSH levels are abnormal, you need to get them treated.
High TSH levels symptoms
Your TSH levels are typically between around 0.4 and 4.0 milliunits per litre (mU/L), as per the American Thyroid Association. This range may vary among various laboratories with the upper limits usually being around 4 to 5. However, if your TSH levels are higher, you may suffer from an underactive thyroid. Symptoms include-
- Weight gain
- Thinning hair
- Swelling in the neck or face
- Heavy or irregular menstrual periods
- Fatigue
Low TSH levels symptoms
If your TSH levels come back lower than the normal levels, you may suffer from an overactive thyroid. An overactive thyroid can be caused by:
- Your immune system attacking your thyroid, also known as Graves’ disease
- A lot of iodine present in your blood
- Taking a lot of thyroid hormone medication
Symptoms include-
- Weight loss
- Clouded or confused mind
- Bulging eyes
If you have been taking medications such as opioid painkillers (for example morphine), dopamine, or steroids, your TSH levels chartcould have a lower reading than normal. If you regularly consume vitamin B supplements or biotin, your levels can come out lower as well.
Conclusion
TSH is short for “thyroid stimulating hormone” that is produced in your brain, specifically in the pituitary gland and its levels are used to measure the levels of this hormone in your blood. The pituitary gland asks your thyroid to produce and liberate these thyroid hormones right into your bloodstream. Even though there are other tests available to diagnose a thyroid disorder in your body, the TSH test can indicate it even before your symptoms have developed. Of course, prevention and treatment is important, but the ideal thing to do is to get tested regularly.
Meet Our MD, Dr. Charandeep Singh Sahni
We take pride in the fact that we are led and driven by the innovative and humanitarian approach of our honourable managing director, Dr Charandeep Singh Sahni. Carrying several years of experience in medical services under his belt, Dr Sahni has been actively involved in organizing and conducting national and state-level conferences at TMH. He specializes in lymph node pathology, GI pathology, head and neck pathology, and breast pathology.
Medical Academic Background and Career at a Glance
- MBBS from the prestigious Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Hospital, Mumbai with distinction in Biochemistry and Pharmacology in 2000.
- MD in pathology from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai from 2003-06.
- Worked as Senior Resident in Department of Histopathology at PGIMER, Chandigarh.
Research and Papers Presented by Dr Sahni
Dr Sahni also demonstrated his professional achievements by presenting his research works at several eminent conferences. Some of his research work was published and referred by eminent medical journals.
- He presented a poster on “Aorto-Left Atrial Fistula” in APCON 2003 at Bhubaneswar.
- His paper on “Analysis of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Study of 173 cases” in APCON 2005 at Pune was lauded by the healthcare community.
- In 2006, he demonstrated an important piece of research titled “Distribution, clinicopathological characteristics and immunophenotyping of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma: A study of 313 cases using WHO classification (2000)” at APCON 2006 in Bangalore.
Key Published Works:
Dr Sahni has also been involved with many articles published by leading science and medical journals.
- Bothra R, Pai PS, Chaturvedi P, Majeed TA, Singh C, Gujral S, Kane SV. Follicular dendritic cell tumour of tonsil – is it an underdiagnosed entity? Indian J Cancer 2005; 42 (4): 211-4.
- Charandeep S Sahni, Sangeeta B. Desai. Distribution and Clinicopathological characteristics of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma in India: A study of 935 cases using the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms (2000). Leukaemia and Lymphoma 2007; 48 (1): 122-133.
- Charandeep Sahni, Sangeeta Desai. Primary testicular precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphoma: A rare entity. Leukaemia and Lymphoma 2007