Greenville SC Thyroid Clinic Shares Important Information about TSH
For decades, the standard in testing for thyroid dysfunction has been the TSH test. TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. While it’s been seen as the right test for many years, it does not give a complete picture of thyroid health. TSH is not a good standard for diagnosing thyroid disorders because many types of thyroid dysfunctions cannot be diagnosed using a TSH test alone. TSH testing does not explain why you have a thyroid dysfunction. When you consider that there are unrelated factors that can affect TSH levels, it’s clear that TSH is not the best indicator of thyroid problems.
Imagine someone is describing his or her friend to you. Their friend is “tall”. Tall, is a very relative term and not a very good descriptor. Now, apply that to TSH levels and you can see why TSH is not the best indicator of thyroid problems. What is “normal”? Historically, TSH levels are normal if they are between 0.5-5.0. That’s an extremely wide range. The new standard lowers the range to 0.3-3.0. If all doctors were aware of this standard and followed it, it could significantly increase the number of people being treated for thyroid dysfunction.
There are factors that are not directly related to thyroid function or the gland itself. Thyroid hormones can be affected by estrogen and progesterone that are secreted in a woman’s body cyclically. This means that a TSH test will have a different result depending on where a woman is in her cycle. Stress, aging, blood sugar and digestive issues can affect TSH as well, making it a poor indicator of whether there is a thyroid problem.
TSH testing does not explain what type of thyroid dysfunction you have. The most common thyroid disorder, Hashimoto’s Disease, cannot be pinpointed through TSH testing alone and a series of tests is needed to reach a clear conclusion of Hashimoto’s disease.
It is clear that a new standard is needed for thyroid care. Because the TSH test alone is not the best indicator for thyroid problems you may want to find answers elsewhere. Discuss the best testing regimen for your needs with a functional wellness practitioner.
If your current health care professional is not willing to take a comprehensive approach to finding answers it may be time to consider working with someone who will. When you work with a functional wellness practitioner you will receive an individualized approach to care. With thorough testing that includes blood, urine, saliva and stool samples your entire health picture will be analyzed and evaluated.
After the evaluation, a care plan will be devised that will equip you with the tools needed to get back on track. When you work with a functional wellness practitioner you know you are in caring, competent hands.