Can you have a mild case of hypothyroidism?
Can you have a mild case of hypothyroidism?
Subclinical, or mild, hypothyroidism doesn’t meet the standard definition of hypothyroidism. In mild hypothyroidism, you may or may not have symptoms and your levels of T4 and T3 are normal, but your TSH levels are slightly elevated. Mild hypothyroidism is diagnosed by a blood test.
What is borderline hypothyroidism?
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.
What causes mild hypothyroidism?
These include: a family history of autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (an autoimmune condition that harms thyroid cells) injury to the thyroid (for example, having some abnormal thyroid tissue removed during head and neck surgery)
What does hypothyroidism mean in children and adolescents?
Hypothyroidism in Children and Adolescents. Hypothyroidism is the term we use to describe when the thyroid does not make enough thyroid hormone to keep the body running normally, i.e. an underactive thyroid gland.
Why is it important to know about mild hypothyroidism?
It is your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level that is above the normal range, which indicates your thyroid gland has to work harder to pump out that thyroid hormone. One worry about mild hypothyroidism is the potential link between untreated subclinical hypothyroidism and coronary artery disease.
Is it normal to have no symptoms of hypothyroidism?
It doesn’t meet the standard definition of overt hypothyroidism. You may have no symptoms, and your thyroid function blood tests show a mixed picture. Your free T4 level is normal, meaning your body is getting enough thyroid hormone.
Why are so many people undiagnosed with hypothyroidism?
They rely on this one blood test, TSH, leaving millions of people undiagnosed and suffering from debilitating symptoms. Many patients complain to their doctors of common hypothyroid symptoms yet because their TSH falls in the ‘normal’ range, their thyroid is declared normal.
How can you tell if your child has hypothyroidism?
Doctors diagnose hypothyroidism by checking for symptoms, taking a family history, examining a child’s thyroid gland and testing levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free T4 (free thyroxine). High TSH and low T4 can mean hypothyroidism. Levels of anti-thyroid antibodies, which may be elevated, may also get checked.
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic?
Hypothyroidism is diagnosed using a blood test that measures the level of thyroid hormones in the body. That blood test is repeated at regular intervals to monitor thyroid hormone levels. If hypothyroidism persists for more than a few months, treatment often is recommended.
Can a child have hypothyroidism without an enlarged thyroid?
“However, you can have hypothyroidism without an enlarged thyroid.” Parents can do the basic check at home, he says. “We don’t encourage parents to try to be doctors, but having your child look up at the ceiling while you look at their neck is a pretty easy. If you can see the outline of the thyroid in this position, then the thyroid is enlarged.”
How is hypothyroidism treated in children and adolescents?
Children with overt hypothyroidism (elevated TSH and low T4 levels) are treated by replacing the amount of hormone that the child’s own thyroid can no longer make. The goal is to bring the T4 and TSH back to the normal range and restore the body’s normal functions (called ‘replacement’ therapy).