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TSH & Stress

Thyroid disease affects many people. The thyroid gland and the pituitary gland secrete hormones that affect metabolism. In order to find out whether your hormones are functioning properly, you must have a TSH test performed. When having a TSH test performed, it is important to know that hormone levels may be affected by stress. Therefore, it is very important to factor in the level of stress that you are experiencing in your life when discussing thyroid issues with your doctor.

  1. Thyroid Levels at a Glance

    • Hyperthyroidism is the production of too much thyroid hormone, whereas hypothyroidism is the production of too little thyroid hormone. Abnormal thyroid function may also be a sign of thyroid cancer and other diseases. These other conditions include goiter, Hashimoto's Disease, medullary thyroid carcinoma and multiple endocrine neoplasia II. A doctor will be able to explain these conditions in detail.

    What is TSH?

    • Thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH, is secreted by the pituitary gland and can be found in your blood. The function of TSH is to direct the thyroid gland to secrete other important hormones. The hormones secreted by the thyroid gland are T3 and T4. If the pituitary gland is not properly secreting TSH, the thyroid will not receive the message to create the proper amounts of T3 and T4. This results in thyroid dysfunction.

    The TSH Test

    • When diagnosing the presence of a thyroid disorder, your doctor will need to check the levels of TSH, T3 and T4 in your blood to determine where the abnormality lies. The test is performed by drawing blood from your arm. If the abnormality is found in your TSH levels, then it is your pituitary gland that is not functioning properly. Normal results will fall between 0.4 and 4.0 mIU/L. Certain things, including some medications, can affect the levels of TSH in your blood. Talk to your doctor to determine whether any medications you are currently taking will interfere with your test results.

    Stress and TSH Test Results

    • TSH is a part of your endocrine system, which is responsive to stress. Therefore, TSH levels may increase or decrease as a response to intense periods of stress. TSH levels may also fluctuate during periods when certain stressors have been eliminated and you are not experiencing them anymore. There may be times that you will be required to increase or decrease your medication to reflect the level of stress you are experiencing. For these reasons, it is very important to be open with your doctor in order to properly treat any thyroid dysfunction.

    Stress and Living with Thyroid Disease

    • One way to control fluctuations in your TSH level is to do your best to consistently reduce the amount of stress that you are experiencing. Fluctuations in your stress level will lead to fluctuations in your TSH level. Many people find that exercise, such as yoga, is essential to stress management. Others may find that speaking to a counselor or a therapist is the best way to learn to handle stress. Regardless of the stress management technique that you choose, managing your stress is one way to maintain consistent levels of TSH.

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