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Signposts for Thyroid Testing

© Keri

The American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) designates each January as Thyroid Awareness Month. This year, the campaign identified three life changing events that are most often linked with thyroid disease particularly in women: after the birth of a baby (postpartum); menopause; after the 60th birthday. These stellar events in a woman's life are also the times when she is most likely to develop thyroid disease.

Many women who have symptoms of postpartum depression may in fact suffer from postpartum thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid that results in hypothyroidism. It usually begins within a few weeks of the baby's birth and may last as long as a year. It can be detected with a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test and treated with thyroid replacement.

Symptoms of menopause, such as depression, mood swings, fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, brittle nails, irregular heartbeat, weight gain or loss, mimic symptoms of thyroid disease. AACE is now recommending that all women over 40 have a TSH test. According to the press materials published by AACE, 10 percent of women in this age group have undiagnosed thyroid disease.

Not all memory loss and depression after 60 is Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Just getting older explain memory loss, fatigue, depression or changes in appetite for 1 in 5 women, it may be thyroid disease.

The accepted normal range for TSH is 0.5-5.0 uU/ml. However, the AACE has finally acknowledged that TSH levels on the high end of normal may be suspect. To quote from the press information released for Thyroid Awareness Month: "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." Remember, thyroid disease is treatable. Get your TSH tested.

Source: Press Materials Thyroid Awareness Month, American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists

For additional information:

Is It Really Menopause?

Aging and Thyroid Disease

Subclinical Hypothyroidism, Should It Be Treated?

Subclinical Hypothyroidism May Increase Cardiovascular Risk