What does it mean if your thyroid is borderline?
The term “borderline hypothyroidism” typically is used when blood tests show that your body’s level of TSH is slightly above normal, but your T3 and T4 levels are normal. Another name for this condition is subclinical hypothyroidism.
How can hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism be prevented?
Thyroid Disorders Prevention Tips
- Avoid Processed Food: A lot of chemicals can alter the thyroid hormone production.
- Avoid Soy: Limit the soy intake as it alters the hormone production.
- Stop Smoking:
- Reduce Stress:
What happens if you don’t treat hyperthyroidism?
If you don’t treat hyperthyroidism, you also run the risk of developing osteoporosis. You can gradually lose bone mineral density because uncontrolled hyperthyroidism can cause your body to pull calcium and phosphate out of the bones and to excrete too much calcium and phosphorous (through the urine and stool).
Is hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism more serious?
Is one worse or more dangerous than the other? Not necessarily. You can experience both, although hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism. Both conditions can become a problem during pregnancy, as hormones are in flux.
Does borderline overactive thyroid need treatment?
If you have subclinical hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease, medical treatment is required. Your doctor will likely prescribe radioactive iodine therapy or anti-thyroid medications, such as methimazole.
What level is borderline hypothyroidism?
Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 4.6 to 10 mIU/L. A normal TSH level is 0.4 to 4.0 and full-blown hypothyroidism is 10 or higher.
What is difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?
What’s the difference between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism? Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid (when it produces too much thyroid hormone). Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid (when it does not produce enough).
Can you go from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism?
Cases of conversion from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism have been reported but conversion from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism is very rare. Although such cases have been reported rarely in the past we are now seeing such conversions from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism more frequently in clinical practice.
Can hyperthyroidism just go away?
Hyperthyroidism typically does not go away on its own. Most people need treatment to make hyperthyroidism go away. After treatment, many people develop hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone).
Can you be hypothyroid and hyperthyroid at the same time?
There have been cases of patients switching from hyperthyroidism to hypothyroidism, and even rarer patients flipping from hypothyroidism to hyperthyroidism. 1 However, a case of spontaneously alternating hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in Graves’ disease is comparably an even rarer phenomenon.
What is the most common cause of subclinical hyperthyroidism?
The two most common causes of subclinical hyperthyroidism are Graves’ disease and one or more overactive nodules in the thyroid (toxic nodular goiter). As in overt hyperthyroidism, treatment options include radioactive iodine therapy, antithyroid medications and surgery.
Should you take thyroid medications for borderline hypothyroidism?
Borderline cases can progress to overt hypothyroidism, so some say it’s useful to take medication, especially if you also have a risk of heart disease; even mild hypothyroidism can lead to elevated cholesterol levels. RELATED: 19 Signs Your Thyroid Isn’t Working Right
Is it safe to take medication for subclinical hypothyroidism?
That said, other research suggests that taking medication for subclinical hypothyroidism (another name for borderline underactive thyroid) may have no benefit. If you’re not experiencing any symptoms, you should think about whether the potential side effects (such as loss of bone density) are worth it.
Can you have hypothyroidism with no symptoms?
However, sometimes hypothyroidism is so minor that there are only very mild, nonspecific symptoms, or none at all, and it’s detectable only through blood tests. To treat hypothyroidism, a patient needs to take a hormone medication to replace the amount that the thyroid can’t make.
Can you switch between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?
Thyroiditis May Be to Blame for Switching Between Hypo- and Hyperthyroidism. But because other health problems cause similar symptoms, diagnosing hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism based on symptoms alone is not possible. Instead, a blood test that measures your level of thyroid hormone is required.