High Basal Temperature & Thyroid Disease

Basal temperature is your body temperature upon waking up, a time when it is the most accurate. Thyroid disease is typically diagnosed based on your symptoms and a blood test for thyroid hormones, as well as TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). However, basal temperature tests may also be useful to help diagnose thyroid disease.

Definition

• During basal temperature testing, your average body temperature is assessed to help determine whether a thyroid condition is affecting your temperature. The average person's normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, though this may vary slightly. Ask your doctor for past temperature records to help determine your normal temperature.

Procedure

• A basal temperature test is conducted every morning for a specified number of days as ordered by your doctor. Use a traditional oral thermometer, and record the results for your physician. If you are a woman and are menstruating, Thyroid-info.com advises that you start the testing on day three of your cycle.

Diagnosis

• According to Thyroid-info.com, a consistently high body temperature revealed by testing may indicate that you have hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid. An overstimulated thyroid increases your metabolic rate, thus raising your heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature.

Treatment

• Hyperthyroidism is treated with radioactive iodine, anti-thyroid drugs, or surgery in severe cases. During treatment, an occasional basal body temperature test is beneficial to monitor success.

Considerations

• Basal temperature tests are helpful in thyroid disease diagnosis, but Thyroid-info.com cautions that this should not be your only means of testing for a thyroid condition. Thus, if you seem feverish, do not automatically assume you have hyperthyroidism; instead, see a physician for a proper diagnosis.