Normal TSH Levels: Your Functional Medicine Guide
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is one of the first labs doctors look at when assessing a potential thyroid issue. It’s obtained with a blood sample and gives insight into how well an individual’s thyroid is working.
The values in the lab results can be confusing to interpret. The higher the number, the less your body is producing thyroid on its own. So, a result higher than the optimal range indicates your thyroid is underperforming, whereas a result lower than the optimal range means your thyroid is overperforming.
Hypothyroidism is used to describe an underactive thyroid. TSH levels indicative of hypothyroidism are over the optimal range of 1.8-2.5 mlU/L.
Hyperthyroidism describes an overactive thyroid. TSH levels indicative of hyperthyroidism are under the optimal range of 1.8-2.5 mlU/L.
Outside of functional medicine, this optimal range is a bit wider, accepting of up to a 5.0 miU/L value. Additionally, a conventional lab reading will not always adjust optimal range for sex and age, which winds up being a very important part of the functional medicine approach and equation.
Related Read: 9 Lab Tests You Should Consider Running If You’re Feeling Off
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Normal TSH Levels by Sex and age
While 1.8-2.5 mlU/L is an optimal range from a functional medicine point of view, sex and age can affect what is truly optimal. In my clinic I am really looking for these values according to the individual.
Thyroid dysfunction is particularly common in women, estimated to affect 1 in 8 women in their lifetime.
Normal TSH Levels During Pregnancy
If a woman is looking to get pregnant, doctors may test to make sure it is at a healthy range to conceive. As pregnancy progresses, we can expect TSH levels to change.
Why Does My Provider Test TSH?
TSH is important to test because it is often the first window when looking into thyroid function. Because thyroid dysfunction can be the cause of so many common irregularities like fatigue, exhaustion, weight loss resistance, cold sensitivity, and depression, testing TSH is often an important primary step in discovering the underlying cause.
However, it is important to note that even an individual with normal TSH results may still be experiencing thyroid dysfunction. TSH, while valuable, is not the only value to test when looking at thyroid health holistically.
What to Do If Your TSH Level Is High or Low
If your TSH level is higher or lower than the optimal range, but still not high or low enough for a conventional doctor to look into, a functional medicine practitioner is going to help you untangle and interpret your results. Additionally, they are likely to dig deeper into testing additional thyroid function indicators such as TSH, Free T3, Free T4, TPO. It is important to have the full picture when assessing the potential root of the dysfunction and how best to address the imbalance.
Medications such as thyroid hormone medicine levothyroxine are often prescribed to treat imbalance, but getting to the root cause and making lifestyle, diet, and other changes is often the most effective way to truly transform your health for the better.
Treating thyroid dysfunction is complex and can be difficult. Working with a seasoned expert, especially a functional medicine provider, is going to give you the widest array of tools to tackle your health and return to optimal health for the long term.
This thyroid function quiz is a great place to get started.
FAQ
Age, sex, and pregnancy can all affect normal TSH levels in the body.
Beyond that, things like autoimmune disorders, inflammation, thyroid cancer, benign tumor, and various deficiencies can cause thyroid issues and ultimately TSH levels.
Subclinical hypothyroidism indicates that the levels are only “mildly” elevated according to typical lab ranges. In functional medicine, even this “mild” elevation can be a strong indicator for imbalance and a clue into what is going on in the body.
Symptoms of low TSH can be far and wide ranging, but most commonly people experience: fatigue, exhaustion, weakness, weight loss, sensitivity to hot temperatures, mood swings, and irregular heartbeat.
Symptoms of high TSH can also be variable. Most commonly, people experience: fatigue, numbness and tingling in extremities, weight gain, low libido, and sensitivity to the cold.
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BY DR. WILL COLE
Dr. Will Cole, DNM, IFMCP, DC is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the globe, starting one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Dr. Will Cole provides a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems. He is also the host of the popular The Art of Being Well podcast and the New York Times bestselling author of Intuitive Fasting, Ketotarian, Gut Feelings, and The Inflammation Spectrum.
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