High TSH levels Are Harming Your Health, Here’s How To Bring Them Down

Tiny chemical messengers affect nearly every aspect of our lives. They tell us when we are hungry and when to stop eating. They wake us up and give us energy throughout the day. They metabolize our food. These chemical messengers are called hormones. And when they are out of balance – even just a little – we can feel fatigued, bloated, and irritable. 

If the levels of your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) are too high, your entire body will be affected. Fortunately, testing is easy and straightforward. Read on to find out how vital balanced levels of TSH are and how a simple TSH test will help you achieve them. 

All About the Pituitary Gland 

In the movie Inside Out, 11-year old Riley’s emotional responses are regulated by a large control panel inside her head. Although other parts of the brain deal with memory, if there’s one section that most closely resembles this piece of fictional machinery, it’s the hypothalamus. Unlike that Pixar creation, this tiny boss oversees not only emotions but the autonomic nervous system which is responsible for the bodily functions we usually only think about when something goes wrong. 

Along with blood pressure and body temperature, the hypothalamus also oversees emotions, sex drive, appetite and much much more. It does this through a complex hormone-brain feedback loop that includes chemical messages delivered from nerve cells throughout the brain and body. The hypothalamus interprets these messages and triggers the release of hormones. These hormones help keep the body in a state of homeostasis where all systems are working properly. 

Just below the hypothalamus at the very base of the brain lies the pituitary gland. The size and shape of a small pebble, this tiny gland is responsible for the manufacture and distribution of eight different hormones. Because of this, it has an outsized influence on the rest of the body. One of the hormones produced by the pituitary gland is thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH. 

When levels of thyroid hormone in the blood fall below optimal levels, the pituitary gland releases a hormone of its own – TSH. This triggers production of two dynamic thyroid hormones – thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Working together, they help with everything from brain development in children and young adults to muscle control and bone maintenance along with regulating heart and digestive functions. They also determine how quickly your body metabolizes the food you eat – efficiently transforming it into energy.

Lying just beneath the skin’s surface at the front of the neck, the thyroid releases hormones which can cool you on a hot day or keep you warm in winter. They encourage you to be active after a meal and rest after a workout. They stimulate your heart beat. Because these hormones regulate so many critical functions, thyroid problems can be devastating. 

Metabolism is one of the critical functions regulated by TSH. Hyperthyroidism is a thyroid disease that occurs when your TSH levels are too high. When these levels are balanced, you are able to use the food you eat as fuel. Unfortunately, when your TSH levels are elevated, the food you eat won’t deliver the energy you need. 

Hyperthyroidism represents an acceleration of metabolism. It might feel like you’ve just worked out, even though you haven’t. Hyperthyroidism symptoms include a racing heart, restlessness, nervousness, and increased irritability. You may also notice that you are perspiring more often – even when you aren’t in warm conditions or exercising. Having difficulty sleeping or increased anxiety are also common as are dry, brittle hair and nails. You may also notice that your hand shakes. Weight loss is another common hyperthyroidism symptom, because TSH affects how quickly fats and carbohydrates are utilized for energy. Swelling at the front of the neck may also indicate a thyroid problem. 

“The thyroid has a wide-ranging effect throughout the body. It contributes to how fast your heart beats, how fast your hair grows, and how fast things pass through your intestines,” explains Dr. Thomas J. Fahey III,  Chief of Endocrine Surgery, and Director of the Endocrine Oncology Program at Weill Cornell Medical Center. Because hyperthyroidism symptoms are common to other conditions as well, a TSH test is usually the easiest way to learn if you have hyperthyroidism. 

Testing TSH Levels

Considering that thyroid problems can affect how you eat, sleep, and feel this isn’t a test to put off. Because if your TSH levels are elevated, the physical symptoms will only get worse. 

That’s why getting a simple at-home test is so important. Kyla tests TSH levels in both its primary care and hormone panel tests. Which one is right for you? Well, the first step is taking an easy, online health quiz. In just two minutes you’ll discover areas of your health that could be cause for concern, including risks to your brain, lungs, heart and other organs. If you select the primary care panel, for example, you can be tested for cortisol and DHEA-S (Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) levels along with Free T4 and T3, TPO Antibody, folate (B9) and B12. Other companies charge hundreds of dollars for similar tests. Both the hormone and primary care panels are just $99. The cost may even be covered by insurance. 

After ordering the test that’s right for you, it will be delivered to your house in just two or three days. You’ll receive a sample kit along with instructions for a pain-free blood draw. After collecting the sample, return it to our labs postage free. Soon you’ll learn if you have optimal TSH levels (along with many other hormones). Best of all, you’ll be able to consult with a Kyla doctor who will help you make the necessary adjustments to improve your biochemistry. 

Generally, optimal TSH levels are 0.4 and 4.5 milliunits per liter (mU/L) with anything below .4 indicating hyperthyroidism. The lower your TSH levels are, the higher the level of thyroid hormones. That’s because the pituitary gland doesn’t need to stimulate hormone production by releasing TSH because the levels of thyroid hormones are already elevated. Keep in mind that healthy TSH levels vary depending upon age, gender, and a number of other things. 

Around 12% of Americans will experience a thyroid issue at some point in their life. Women are five to eight times more likely to have a thyroid issue – often after pregnancy or the onset of menopause. However, the condition does affect men as well.

The most common hyperthyroidism condition is Graves’ disease. This autoimmune disorder occurs when the immune system begins attacking the thyroid gland, prompting it to increase hormone production. This not only affects metabolism but one-third of people with the condition also have vision issues. Graves eye disease occurs when the immune system attacks healthy eye tissue – often causing double vision or blurriness, along with bulging eyes. 

Thyroid problems can be overcome. Lifestyle choices play an outsized role. Eating more vegetables and less processed foods high in salt and sugar has been shown to improve thyroid function. Getting enough sleep and reducing stress is also very important. The key is working with a medical professional who can offer the best options whether that’s changes in lifestyle, or surgery. Kyla believes in treating the causes, not just the symptoms. Download the Kyla app and start living your best life today. 

Source:

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