As you know, the full and uninterrupted operation of all systems and organs of our body depends on the proper synthesis of hormones. And even a failure in the production of one of them can disrupt the work of the whole organism. Today we will talk about such an important substance as thyroid-stimulating hormone. The norm of this indicator in the body, its functions, the reasons for the increase or decrease - we will consider these and other issues in the article.
General information
Thyrotropic hormone - what is it? It is a hormone that is synthesized by the pituitary gland. Penetrating into the blood, it stimulates the production of thyroid hormones such as triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and also promotes the "release" of fatty acids from fat cells. Therefore, if thyroid-stimulating hormone is elevated, the causes may be associated with a decrease in thyroid function. By examining the hormones T3 and T4, the level of TSH is also determined
When conducting an endocrine examination, it is imperative to prescribe a blood test for thyrotropichormone. The norm in women and men does not have a constant value. This is due to the fact that this indicator can be different and depends on the time of day and the he alth of the patient.
Thyrotropic hormone: normal
The normal TSH level for women is 0.4-4µIU/mL. In a he althy person, the concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone can be different during the day: the highest level is observed early in the morning. It is very important to control thyroid-stimulating hormone during pregnancy and in women after 40 years, even if there are no complaints.
How to prepare for analysis?
The concentration of TSH is influenced by the emotional state, diet, physical activity. These factors can change the concentration of thyroid-stimulating hormone during the day. In order for the assessment of the concentration of the substance to be adequate, blood must be taken at about 8 o'clock in the morning. The day before, you should stop drinking alcohol, smoking, and exclude physical activity.
Indications for laboratory testing
Thyroid-stimulating hormone has a direct effect on the state of the thyroid gland. Analysis is prescribed at:
- goiter;
- suspected latent hypothyroidism;
- diffuse toxic goiter;
- amenorrhea;
- infertility;
- elevated levels of prolactin in the body;
- muscle disorders;
- low body temperature of unknown cause.
Why the hormone risesTSH?
High thyroid stimulating hormone may be the first symptom of thyroid dysfunction. The concentration of hormones T3 and T4 in the blood serum is at a normal level.
If the study showed that the thyroid-stimulating hormone is elevated, the reasons for this phenomenon may be as follows:
- severe mental and somatic illnesses;
- insufficient adrenal function;
- tumors of various kinds (tumor of the pituitary gland, etc.);
- thyrotropinoma;
- syndrome of unregulated TSH synthesis;
- thyroid hormone resistance syndrome;
- severe preeclampsia;
- subacute thyroiditis and Hashimoto's thyroiditis;
- cholecystectomy;
- hemodialysis.
High TSH levels can be the result of intense physical activity or taking medications (for example, beta-blockers, antipsychotics, iodides, Prednisolone, and others).
Thyroid-stimulating hormone may also be elevated during pregnancy, the reasons for this condition are different and this is not a deviation.
Elevated TSH levels may occur after hemodialysis, gallbladder surgery.
Decompensated primary adrenal insufficiency and some forms of thyroid inflammation are often accompanied by high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Decreased TSH concentration
If the thyroid-stimulating hormone is low, this may indicate:
- Plummer's disease;
- decrease in pituitary function;
- benign tumors in the thyroid gland;
- Sheehan syndrome;
- overabundance of thyroid hormones due to self-administration of hormonal drugs;
- psychological stress.
Most often, a decrease in TSH is associated with an overdose of medications that contain thyroid hormones.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone may be lowered due to starvation. Also, the cause of this condition may be inflammation of the thyroid gland or injury to the pituitary gland, as a result of which it is not able to synthesize hormones.
Thyrotropic hormone: the norm in women during pregnancy
Normal TSH values for expectant mothers are somewhat different. When determining this indicator, it is important to take into account the gestational age:
- until week 12, normal TSH is 0.35-2.5µIU/mL;
- from the 12th to the 42nd week, the hormone values are in the range of 0.35-3 µIU/ml.
During the period of bearing a baby, it is necessary to keep your hormonal background and endocrine system under control. This is especially important in the 10th week of pregnancy. In a child at this time, the thyroid gland does not yet function independently, and the baby's body is completely dependent on the mother's hormones.
The content of TSH is directly affected by the state of he alth of a woman. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about if the thyroid-stimulating hormone during pregnancy is slightly lowered or increased. However, significant deviations from normal valuescomplicate the course of pregnancy and carry a serious risk for the child.
The level of TSH during pregnancy is determined by doctors. In some cases, additional studies and analyzes are prescribed. For example, spend:
- sonography;
- fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid gland.
With elevated levels of the hormone TSH during pregnancy, L-thyroxine is usually used for treatment.
Symptoms of elevated TSH
High thyroid-stimulating hormone (what it is, was described above) is manifested by the following symptoms:
- slightly thickened neck;
- general weakness (fatigue, decreased activity);
- mental retardation, inattention, apathy, slow thinking, irritability;
- sleep disorder: at night, insomnia torments, during the day a person cannot cope with drowsiness;
- pale skin, puffiness;
- obesity, which is quite difficult to treat;
- decrease in body temperature;
- nausea, poor appetite, constipation.
How does low TSH manifest?
When the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone is high, the following phenomena are observed:
- high body temperature;
- palpitations;
- headache;
- high blood pressure;
- small trembling in the eyelids, hands, emotionalimbalance;
- increased appetite;
- indigestion.
Treatment
Above we talked about such an important substance as thyroid-stimulating hormone: what is it, what is its norm, why its level can change. Now let's look at treatments for high and low TSH levels.
If the concentration of TSH is high and is in the range of 7.1-7.5 μIU / ml, then this indicates hyperthyroidism. With increased thyroid-stimulating hormone, therapy is carried out with the help of synthetic thyroxine.
Previously, natural dried and ground animal thyroid glands were used for medicinal purposes. Currently, it is rarely used and patients are prescribed a synthetic drug that has a constant level of activity.
Since the activity of natural thyroxin is different for all patients, the specialist individually selects the drug necessary for treatment.
At the first stage of treatment, small doses of thyroxin are used, they are gradually increased until the concentration of TSH and T4 returns to normal and the patient's well-being improves.
A low TSH level is considered to be below 0.01 µIU/mL. Restoring hormonal balance and increasing the concentration of this hormone should be carried out exclusively under the supervision of an endocrinologist.
It is recommended to undergo an annual medical examination to control the level of TSH, T3, T4.
Alternative medicine
For endocrine disorders, medicationtreatment is mandatory, the drugs are taken according to the scheme individually drawn up by the doctor. Folk remedies have only an additional effect, and cannot be used as an independent therapy.
Folk recipes to lower TSH levels:
- Birch leaves, licorice and angelica root, yarrow, celandine, rose hips, coltsfoot herb.
- Rowan fruits, elecampane root, birch buds, St. John's wort.
- Chamomile flowers, yarrow and chicory grass, rose hips, mordovnik root.
In each recipe, the components are mixed in equal proportions. Two tablespoons of the resulting mixture is brewed with boiling water, covered with a lid, put on a slow fire and boiled for 10 minutes. The resulting liquid is poured into a thermos and herbal tea is taken half a cup 30 minutes before meals. The treatment course of one of the types of collection is 3-4 months, after the specified period, the drug is changed to another.
A few more ways to treat low TSH with folk remedies:
- Mix rowan fruits with sugar and eat 2-3 tablespoons of the resulting mass before breakfast.
- 1 tsp take kelp leaf powder at night and drink water. Use the product within a month. After this period, take a break and consult your doctor regarding further treatment.
Conclusion
In this article, we tried to tell you in as much detail as possible about such a substance as thyroid-stimulating hormone (what it is, main functions, reasons for increasing and decreasing its concentration, etc.). Remember that in no case should you self-medicate, independently prescribing certain hormonal drugs for yourself. Deciphering the tests, establishing an accurate diagnosis, further examination and prescribing appropriate therapy - all these are activities that should be de alt with exclusively by a specialist. Take care of yourself and stay he althy!
