WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for May, 2001: 'Normal' ranges for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

'Normal' ranges for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

From: Nancy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Mon, 14 May 2001 09:39:01 -0500 (CDT)

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This is a supplement to my reply to Michelle's questions about TSH. Untreated/undertreated hypothyroidism has serious consequences including high cholesterol leading to heart attacks and strokes, decreased immune function leading to greater susceptibility to both minor and serious infections and disease. Infertility and difficulty maintaining a pregnancy are also associated with hypothyroidism. A good book which discusses how the thyroid plays a role in many physical problems: "Solved: The Riddle of Illness" by Stephen Langer, M.D. Most labs have a "normal" range for TSH of about 0.5-5.5. This is a very wide range considering that many people feel best at a TSH around 1. For them, a TSH of 5 is high and they may have symptoms. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists stated that although a TSH between 3-5 is within the normal range, it is suspect for a thyroid that is failing. Patients often have symptoms (including infertility and miscarriages, preterm labor,etc.) at these levels but are told their thyroid is normal. http://www.aace.com/pub/spec/tam2001/presstam2001.html

Lab normals get adjusted due to lack of correlation with the clinical situation and finally doctors are starting to admit what patients have known for years- a TSH above 1-2 is often correlated with many symptoms of hypothyroidism. Most likely, when the normal range for TSH was established, people were included who had early thyroid failure but either had no symptoms or didn't recognize their symptoms causing the normal levels to be skewed. Similarly, at one time 270 was "normal" for cholesterol-now anything over 200 is considered abnormal. Diabetes guidelines have also gotten narrower so that now a fasting glucose over 126 is considered diagnostic rather than the old level of 140.

Hopefully this info will assist more people to get adequate treament.

--
Nancy

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