Re: Treat your subclinical hypothyroidism

[Guest guest]

Interesting, as I feel much better when my thyroid is closer to 1, and I

have severe symptoms when it approaches 3.

Lynda

At 09:02 AM 8/17/2005, you wrote:

><http://thyroid.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?>http://thyroid.about.com/gi/d\

ynamic/offsite.htm?

>zi=1/XJ & sdn=thyroid & zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thyroid-info.com%2Farticles%

>2Farteries.htm

>Latest Update: August 17, 2005

>SEARCH SITE

>

>Frequently Asked Questions About Subclinical Hypothyroidism

>An Exploration of Low-Level, Subtle and Borderline Underactive

>Thyroid

>

>

>by Shomon

>

>What is Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

>

>The medical definition of subclinical hypothyroidism is a

>hypothyroid condition -- usually asymptomatic -- in which free

>thyroxine (T4) is normal and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level

>is between 5 and 25 mU/L, or, if a thyrotropin-releasing hormone

>(TRH) test is conducted, there's a greater than normal elevation in

>TSH response.

>

>The reality is that, while the textbooks say and some doctors

>believe that TSH levels of 5 to 25 are not usually acompanied by

>symptoms, many patients actually suffer substantial symptoms at

>these levels. According to Dr. Ross, symptoms described in

>patients with subclinical hypothyroidism include greater than

>average incidence of problems with muscles and nerves, such as

>weakness, muscle fatigue, and tingling extremities.

>

>And the level of 5 as a bottom " cutoff " is actually also being

>questioned.

>

>In January of 2001, the American Association of Clinical

>Endocrinologists (AACE) released a statement that said: " Even though

>a TSH level between 3.0 and 5.0 uU/ml is in the normal range, it

>should be considered suspect since it may signal a case of evolving

>thyroid underactivity. "

>

>And some practitioners actually believe that levels above 2 are

>evidence of developing hypothyroidism.

>

>In particular, there are practitioners who believe that a normal TSH

>level, with the presence of elevated thyroid antibodies, may trigger

>hypothyroidism symptoms, and may warrant treatment.

>

> Vliet, MD, who runs the popular women's health centers,

>Her Place and who is author of the bestselling book, Screaming to be

>Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspect...and Doctors Ignore wrote

>in her book:

>

> " The problem I have found is that too often women are told their

>thyroid is normal without having the complete thyroid tests done. Of

>course, what most people, and many physicians, don't realize is

>that...a 'normal range' on a laboratory report is just that: a

>range. A given person may require higher or lower levels to feel

>well and to function optimally. I think we must look at the lab

>results along with the clinical picture described by the patient...I

>have a series of more than a hundred patients, all but two are

>women, who had a normal TSH and turned out to have significantly

>elevated thyroid antibodies that meant they needed thyroid

>medication in order to feel normal. This type of oversight is

>particularly common with a type of thyroid disease called

>thyroiditis, which is about 25 times more common in females than

>males...a woman may experience the symptoms of disease months to

>years before TSH goes up... "

>How Common is Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

>

>Using the TSH of 5 as a bottom cutoff, it's estimated that on

>average, approximtely 8 percent of women, and 4 percent of men are

>subclinically hypothyroid. The prevalence is much higher with age,

>and 15 percent of women over the age of 60 and 8 percent of men are

>subclinically hypothyroid.

>

>Given the AACE's belief that TSH over 3 may be suspect, the number

>of people who may be subclinically hypothyroid is likely to be far

>greater than currently thought.

>

>What are the Risks for and Symptoms of Subclinical Hypothyroidism

>

>The risks for and symptoms of subclinical hypothyroidism are the

>same as for regular hypothyroidism.

>

>What Are the Risks of Not Treating Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

>

>The risks of untreated subclinical hypothyroidism include:

>Increased risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis

>Increased risk of elevated cholesterol and high triglycerides

>Increased risk of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks

>Increased risk of miscarriage.

>Increased risk of developmental delays in infants born to mothers

>who were subclinically hypothyroid during pregnancy

>

>Should Subclinical Hypothyroidism be Treated?

>

>Most practitioners believe that most patients with subclinical

>hypothyroidism should be treated, because treatment can prevent

>further worsening of the hypothyroidism and further elevation of the

>TSH, may prevent growth of a goiter, and may help eliminate symptoms.

>

>According to D. Utiger, M.D., writing in " Health News, " from

>the New England Journal of Medicine:

>For people with subclinical hypothyroidism who have no symptoms,

>some clinicians believe that treatment is not needed unless, or

>until, symptoms or signs of hypothyroidism appear. Others argue that

>even people free from symptoms should start thyroxine therapy in

>order to forestall the progression to overt hypothyroidism, which

>occurs in about 2 percent of people per year. Another pro-treatment

>argument is that some people with subclinical hypothyroidism have

>symptoms that will be improved by treatment, but that neither the

>person nor a physician or family members have detected them yet.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the place of advice given by

>licensed health care professionals. Consult your physician or licensed

>health care professional before commencing any medical treatment.

>

> " Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians mislead you.

>Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about how to live

>a happy life and how to work for a better world. " - Linus ing,

>two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry; 1963, Peace)

>

>

[Guest guest]

Me too!

> ><http://thyroid.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?

>http://thyroid.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?

> >zi=1/XJ & sdn=thyroid & zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thyroid-info.com%

2Farticles%

> >2Farteries.htm

> >Latest Update: August 17, 2005

> >SEARCH SITE

> >

> >Frequently Asked Questions About Subclinical Hypothyroidism

> >An Exploration of Low-Level, Subtle and Borderline Underactive

> >Thyroid

> >

> >

> >by Shomon

> >

> >What is Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

> >

> >The medical definition of subclinical hypothyroidism is a

> >hypothyroid condition -- usually asymptomatic -- in which free

> >thyroxine (T4) is normal and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

level

> >is between 5 and 25 mU/L, or, if a thyrotropin-releasing hormone

> >(TRH) test is conducted, there's a greater than normal elevation

in

> >TSH response.

> >

> >The reality is that, while the textbooks say and some doctors

> >believe that TSH levels of 5 to 25 are not usually acompanied by

> >symptoms, many patients actually suffer substantial symptoms at

> >these levels. According to Dr. Ross, symptoms described in

> >patients with subclinical hypothyroidism include greater than

> >average incidence of problems with muscles and nerves, such as

> >weakness, muscle fatigue, and tingling extremities.

> >

> >And the level of 5 as a bottom " cutoff " is actually also being

> >questioned.

> >

> >In January of 2001, the American Association of Clinical

> >Endocrinologists (AACE) released a statement that said: " Even

though

> >a TSH level between 3.0 and 5.0 uU/ml is in the normal range, it

> >should be considered suspect since it may signal a case of

evolving

> >thyroid underactivity. "

> >

> >And some practitioners actually believe that levels above 2 are

> >evidence of developing hypothyroidism.

> >

> >In particular, there are practitioners who believe that a normal

TSH

> >level, with the presence of elevated thyroid antibodies, may

trigger

> >hypothyroidism symptoms, and may warrant treatment.

> >

> > Vliet, MD, who runs the popular women's health centers,

> >Her Place and who is author of the bestselling book, Screaming to

be

> >Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspect...and Doctors Ignore

wrote

> >in her book:

> >

> > " The problem I have found is that too often women are told their

> >thyroid is normal without having the complete thyroid tests done.

Of

> >course, what most people, and many physicians, don't realize is

> >that...a 'normal range' on a laboratory report is just that: a

> >range. A given person may require higher or lower levels to feel

> >well and to function optimally. I think we must look at the lab

> >results along with the clinical picture described by the

patient...I

> >have a series of more than a hundred patients, all but two are

> >women, who had a normal TSH and turned out to have significantly

> >elevated thyroid antibodies that meant they needed thyroid

> >medication in order to feel normal. This type of oversight is

> >particularly common with a type of thyroid disease called

> >thyroiditis, which is about 25 times more common in females than

> >males...a woman may experience the symptoms of disease months to

> >years before TSH goes up... "

> >How Common is Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

> >

> >Using the TSH of 5 as a bottom cutoff, it's estimated that on

> >average, approximtely 8 percent of women, and 4 percent of men are

> >subclinically hypothyroid. The prevalence is much higher with age,

> >and 15 percent of women over the age of 60 and 8 percent of men

are

> >subclinically hypothyroid.

> >

> >Given the AACE's belief that TSH over 3 may be suspect, the number

> >of people who may be subclinically hypothyroid is likely to be far

> >greater than currently thought.

> >

> >What are the Risks for and Symptoms of Subclinical Hypothyroidism

> >

> >The risks for and symptoms of subclinical hypothyroidism are the

> >same as for regular hypothyroidism.

> >

> >What Are the Risks of Not Treating Subclinical Hypothyroidism?

> >

> >The risks of untreated subclinical hypothyroidism include:

> >Increased risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis

> >Increased risk of elevated cholesterol and high triglycerides

> >Increased risk of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks

> >Increased risk of miscarriage.

> >Increased risk of developmental delays in infants born to mothers

> >who were subclinically hypothyroid during pregnancy

> >

> >Should Subclinical Hypothyroidism be Treated?

> >

> >Most practitioners believe that most patients with subclinical

> >hypothyroidism should be treated, because treatment can prevent

> >further worsening of the hypothyroidism and further elevation of

the

> >TSH, may prevent growth of a goiter, and may help eliminate

symptoms.

> >

> >According to D. Utiger, M.D., writing in " Health News, "

from

> >the New England Journal of Medicine:

> >For people with subclinical hypothyroidism who have no symptoms,

> >some clinicians believe that treatment is not needed unless, or

> >until, symptoms or signs of hypothyroidism appear. Others argue

that

> >even people free from symptoms should start thyroxine therapy in

> >order to forestall the progression to overt hypothyroidism, which

> >occurs in about 2 percent of people per year. Another pro-

treatment

> >argument is that some people with subclinical hypothyroidism have

> >symptoms that will be improved by treatment, but that neither the

> >person nor a physician or family members have detected them yet.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >Opinions expressed are NOT meant to take the place of advice

given by

> >licensed health care professionals. Consult your physician or

licensed

> >health care professional before commencing any medical treatment.

> >

> > " Do not let either the medical authorities or the politicians

mislead you.

> >Find out what the facts are, and make your own decisions about

how to live

> >a happy life and how to work for a better world. " - Linus

ing,

> >two-time Nobel Prize Winner (1954, Chemistry; 1963, Peace)

> >

> >