Published: 22/10/2020
Keywords: TSH, high,blood

What does a high total TSH level in the blood mean?

A TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) level in the blood higher than normal range may be a sign of primary hypothyroidism, a situation where the thyroid gland fails to produce enough thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) will be lower than normal.

TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is also called thyrotropin or thyrotropic hormone.

In the International System of Units (SI), TSH in the blood is measured in mU/L. The numeric values in this case are the same in µUI/ml or in mU/L.

High TSH blood levels mean:

Mild TSH increase (4 - 10 µUI/ml in adults):

The TSH level in the blood is a bit high. It is necessary to study the T3 and T4 values.

If T4 values are in the normal range it is usually due to subclinical hypothyroidism and no symptom will be present.

This situation should be under periodical surveillance to detect a possible increase in the TSH levels. In children and women who are trying to conceive it may be adequate to start a treatment.

Marked TSH increase (10 - 100 µUI/ml in adults):

The TSH level in the blood is very high and it may be a sign of suffering from hypothyroidism. If T4 hormone level is also below the normal range, hypothyroidism is conclusive.

The main symptoms of hypothyroidism are fatigue, weight gain, constipation, drowsiness and menstrual disorders.

You should visit your doctor. He will probably will give you a treatment with levothyroxine (a manufactured form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine T4).

Severe TSH increase (> 100 µUI/ in adults):

The TSH levels are well above the normal range and it is likely probably a problem related to the thyroid hormones.

You must visit a doctor as soon as possible to avoid serious health problems such as a myxedema coma.

Which factors can raise the TSH level in the blood?

There are some health circumstances or drugs than can raise your TSH level in the blood:

Thyroid ablation

Iodine deficiency

Overweight

Tobacco

Drugs

Antiarrhythmic agents
- Amiodarone
Antiemetic
- Domperidone
- Metoclopramide
Antiepileptic drugs
- Carbamazepine
- Phenobarbital
Antihypertensives
- Pyrimidine
Antithyroid agent
- Carbimazole
- Thiamazole
- Propylthiouracil
Interferon
Lithium

What can I do to lower the TSH level in the blood?

TSH high values can be a consequence of an iodine deficiency. Iodine deficiency may be noted by an enlarged thyroid gland.

Some food such as cabbage or radishes should also be avoided.

It is probable that your doctor prescribe you a treatment with levothyroxine (a manufactured form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine T4). It may help you to reduce TSH levels.

Which values are considered a high TSH level in the blood?

The following values are considered to be above the normal range:

IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in µUI/ml. They are an example of a healthy man of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.

TSH
Mild TSH increase
4.1 µUI/ml	4.2 µUI/ml	4.3 µUI/ml	4.4 µUI/ml	4.5 µUI/ml	4.6 µUI/ml	4.7 µUI/ml	4.8 µUI/ml
4.9 µUI/ml	5 µUI/ml	5.1 µUI/ml	5.2 µUI/ml	5.3 µUI/ml	5.4 µUI/ml	5.5 µUI/ml	5.6 µUI/ml
5.7 µUI/ml	5.8 µUI/ml	5.9 µUI/ml	6 µUI/ml	6.1 µUI/ml	6.2 µUI/ml	6.3 µUI/ml	6.4 µUI/ml
6.5 µUI/ml	6.6 µUI/ml	6.7 µUI/ml	6.8 µUI/ml	6.9 µUI/ml	7 µUI/ml	7.1 µUI/ml	7.2 µUI/ml
7.3 µUI/ml	7.4 µUI/ml	7.5 µUI/ml	7.6 µUI/ml	7.7 µUI/ml	7.8 µUI/ml	7.9 µUI/ml	8 µUI/ml
8.1 µUI/ml	8.2 µUI/ml	8.3 µUI/ml	8.4 µUI/ml	8.5 µUI/ml	8.6 µUI/ml	8.7 µUI/ml	8.8 µUI/ml
8.9 µUI/ml	9 µUI/ml	9.1 µUI/ml	9.2 µUI/ml	9.3 µUI/ml	9.4 µUI/ml	9.5 µUI/ml	9.6 µUI/ml
9.7 µUI/ml	9.8 µUI/ml	9.9 µUI/ml	10 µUI/ml
Marked TSH increase
10.1 µUI/ml	10.2 µUI/ml	10.3 µUI/ml	10.4 µUI/ml	10.5 µUI/ml	10.6 µUI/ml	10.7 µUI/ml	10.8 µUI/ml
10.9 µUI/ml	11 µUI/ml	11.1 µUI/ml	11.2 µUI/ml	11.3 µUI/ml	11.4 µUI/ml	11.5 µUI/ml	11.6 µUI/ml
11.7 µUI/ml	11.8 µUI/ml	11.9 µUI/ml	12 µUI/ml	12.1 µUI/ml	12.2 µUI/ml	12.3 µUI/ml	12.4 µUI/ml
12.5 µUI/ml	12.6 µUI/ml	12.7 µUI/ml	12.8 µUI/ml	12.9 µUI/ml	13 µUI/ml	13.1 µUI/ml	13.2 µUI/ml
13.3 µUI/ml	13.4 µUI/ml	13.5 µUI/ml	13.6 µUI/ml	13.7 µUI/ml	13.8 µUI/ml	13.9 µUI/ml	14 µUI/ml
14.1 µUI/ml	14.2 µUI/ml	14.3 µUI/ml	14.4 µUI/ml	14.5 µUI/ml	14.6 µUI/ml	14.7 µUI/ml	14.8 µUI/ml
14.9 µUI/ml	15 µUI/ml	15.1 µUI/ml	15.2 µUI/ml	15.3 µUI/ml	15.4 µUI/ml	15.5 µUI/ml	15.6 µUI/ml
15.7 µUI/ml	15.8 µUI/ml	15.9 µUI/ml	16 µUI/ml	16.1 µUI/ml	16.2 µUI/ml	16.3 µUI/ml	16.4 µUI/ml
16.5 µUI/ml	16.6 µUI/ml	16.7 µUI/ml	16.8 µUI/ml	16.9 µUI/ml	17 µUI/ml	17.1 µUI/ml	17.2 µUI/ml
17.3 µUI/ml	17.4 µUI/ml	17.5 µUI/ml	17.6 µUI/ml	17.7 µUI/ml	17.8 µUI/ml	17.9 µUI/ml	18 µUI/ml
18.1 µUI/ml	18.2 µUI/ml	18.3 µUI/ml	18.4 µUI/ml	18.5 µUI/ml	18.6 µUI/ml	18.7 µUI/ml	18.8 µUI/ml
18.9 µUI/ml	19 µUI/ml	19.1 µUI/ml	19.2 µUI/ml	19.3 µUI/ml	19.4 µUI/ml	19.5 µUI/ml	19.6 µUI/ml
19.7 µUI/ml	19.8 µUI/ml	19.9 µUI/ml	20 µUI/ml	20.1 µUI/ml	20.2 µUI/ml	20.3 µUI/ml	20.4 µUI/ml
20.5 µUI/ml	20.6 µUI/ml	20.7 µUI/ml	20.8 µUI/ml	20.9 µUI/ml	21 µUI/ml	21.1 µUI/ml	21.2 µUI/ml
21.3 µUI/ml	21.4 µUI/ml	21.5 µUI/ml	21.6 µUI/ml	21.7 µUI/ml	21.8 µUI/ml	21.9 µUI/ml	22 µUI/ml
22.1 µUI/ml	22.2 µUI/ml	22.3 µUI/ml	22.4 µUI/ml	22.5 µUI/ml	22.6 µUI/ml	22.7 µUI/ml	22.8 µUI/ml
22.9 µUI/ml	23 µUI/ml	23.1 µUI/ml	23.2 µUI/ml	23.3 µUI/ml	23.4 µUI/ml	23.5 µUI/ml	23.6 µUI/ml
23.7 µUI/ml	23.8 µUI/ml	23.9 µUI/ml	24 µUI/ml	24.1 µUI/ml	24.2 µUI/ml	24.3 µUI/ml	24.4 µUI/ml
24.5 µUI/ml	24.6 µUI/ml	24.7 µUI/ml	24.8 µUI/ml	24.9 µUI/ml	25 µUI/ml	25.1 µUI/ml	25.2 µUI/ml
25.3 µUI/ml	25.4 µUI/ml	25.5 µUI/ml	25.6 µUI/ml	25.7 µUI/ml	25.8 µUI/ml	25.9 µUI/ml	26 µUI/ml
26.1 µUI/ml	26.2 µUI/ml	26.3 µUI/ml	26.4 µUI/ml	26.5 µUI/ml	26.6 µUI/ml	26.7 µUI/ml	26.8 µUI/ml
26.9 µUI/ml	27 µUI/ml	27.1 µUI/ml	27.2 µUI/ml	27.3 µUI/ml	27.4 µUI/ml	27.5 µUI/ml	27.6 µUI/ml
27.7 µUI/ml	27.8 µUI/ml	27.9 µUI/ml	28 µUI/ml	28.1 µUI/ml	28.2 µUI/ml	28.3 µUI/ml	28.4 µUI/ml
28.5 µUI/ml	28.6 µUI/ml	28.7 µUI/ml	28.8 µUI/ml	28.9 µUI/ml	29 µUI/ml	29.1 µUI/ml	29.2 µUI/ml
29.3 µUI/ml	29.4 µUI/ml	29.5 µUI/ml	29.6 µUI/ml	29.7 µUI/ml	29.8 µUI/ml	29.9 µUI/ml	30 µUI/ml
30.1 µUI/ml	30.2 µUI/ml	30.3 µUI/ml	30.4 µUI/ml	30.5 µUI/ml	30.6 µUI/ml	30.7 µUI/ml	30.8 µUI/ml
30.9 µUI/ml	31 µUI/ml	31.1 µUI/ml	31.2 µUI/ml	31.3 µUI/ml	31.4 µUI/ml	31.5 µUI/ml	31.6 µUI/ml
31.7 µUI/ml	31.8 µUI/ml	31.9 µUI/ml	32 µUI/ml	32.1 µUI/ml	32.2 µUI/ml	32.3 µUI/ml	32.4 µUI/ml
32.5 µUI/ml	32.6 µUI/ml	32.7 µUI/ml	32.8 µUI/ml	32.9 µUI/ml	33 µUI/ml	33.1 µUI/ml	33.2 µUI/ml
33.3 µUI/ml	33.4 µUI/ml	33.5 µUI/ml	33.6 µUI/ml	33.7 µUI/ml	33.8 µUI/ml	33.9 µUI/ml	34 µUI/ml
34.1 µUI/ml	34.2 µUI/ml	34.3 µUI/ml	34.4 µUI/ml	34.5 µUI/ml	34.6 µUI/ml	34.7 µUI/ml	34.8 µUI/ml
34.9 µUI/ml	35 µUI/ml	35.1 µUI/ml	35.2 µUI/ml	35.3 µUI/ml	35.4 µUI/ml	35.5 µUI/ml	35.6 µUI/ml
35.7 µUI/ml	35.8 µUI/ml	35.9 µUI/ml	36 µUI/ml	36.1 µUI/ml	36.2 µUI/ml	36.3 µUI/ml	36.4 µUI/ml
36.5 µUI/ml	36.6 µUI/ml	36.7 µUI/ml	36.8 µUI/ml	36.9 µUI/ml	37 µUI/ml	37.1 µUI/ml	37.2 µUI/ml
37.3 µUI/ml	37.4 µUI/ml	37.5 µUI/ml	37.6 µUI/ml	37.7 µUI/ml	37.8 µUI/ml	37.9 µUI/ml	38 µUI/ml
38.1 µUI/ml	38.2 µUI/ml	38.3 µUI/ml	38.4 µUI/ml	38.5 µUI/ml	38.6 µUI/ml	38.7 µUI/ml	38.8 µUI/ml
38.9 µUI/ml	39 µUI/ml	39.1 µUI/ml	39.2 µUI/ml	39.3 µUI/ml	39.4 µUI/ml	39.5 µUI/ml	39.6 µUI/ml
39.7 µUI/ml	39.8 µUI/ml	39.9 µUI/ml	40 µUI/ml	40.1 µUI/ml	40.2 µUI/ml	40.3 µUI/ml	40.4 µUI/ml
40.5 µUI/ml	40.6 µUI/ml	40.7 µUI/ml	40.8 µUI/ml	40.9 µUI/ml	41 µUI/ml	41.1 µUI/ml	41.2 µUI/ml
41.3 µUI/ml	41.4 µUI/ml	41.5 µUI/ml	41.6 µUI/ml	41.7 µUI/ml	41.8 µUI/ml	41.9 µUI/ml	42 µUI/ml
42.1 µUI/ml	42.2 µUI/ml	42.3 µUI/ml	42.4 µUI/ml	42.5 µUI/ml	42.6 µUI/ml	42.7 µUI/ml	42.8 µUI/ml
42.9 µUI/ml	43 µUI/ml	43.1 µUI/ml	43.2 µUI/ml	43.3 µUI/ml	43.4 µUI/ml	43.5 µUI/ml	43.6 µUI/ml
43.7 µUI/ml	43.8 µUI/ml	43.9 µUI/ml	44 µUI/ml	44.1 µUI/ml	44.2 µUI/ml	44.3 µUI/ml	44.4 µUI/ml
44.5 µUI/ml	44.6 µUI/ml	44.7 µUI/ml	44.8 µUI/ml	44.9 µUI/ml	45 µUI/ml	45.1 µUI/ml	45.2 µUI/ml
45.3 µUI/ml	45.4 µUI/ml	45.5 µUI/ml	45.6 µUI/ml	45.7 µUI/ml	45.8 µUI/ml	45.9 µUI/ml	46 µUI/ml
46.1 µUI/ml	46.2 µUI/ml	46.3 µUI/ml	46.4 µUI/ml	46.5 µUI/ml	46.6 µUI/ml	46.7 µUI/ml	46.8 µUI/ml
46.9 µUI/ml	47 µUI/ml	47.1 µUI/ml	47.2 µUI/ml	47.3 µUI/ml	47.4 µUI/ml	47.5 µUI/ml	47.6 µUI/ml
47.7 µUI/ml	47.8 µUI/ml	47.9 µUI/ml	48 µUI/ml	48.1 µUI/ml	48.2 µUI/ml	48.3 µUI/ml	48.4 µUI/ml
48.5 µUI/ml	48.6 µUI/ml	48.7 µUI/ml	48.8 µUI/ml	48.9 µUI/ml	49 µUI/ml	49.1 µUI/ml	49.2 µUI/ml
49.3 µUI/ml	49.4 µUI/ml	49.5 µUI/ml	49.6 µUI/ml	49.7 µUI/ml	49.8 µUI/ml	49.9 µUI/ml	50 µUI/ml
50.1 µUI/ml	50.2 µUI/ml	50.3 µUI/ml	50.4 µUI/ml	50.5 µUI/ml	50.6 µUI/ml	50.7 µUI/ml	50.8 µUI/ml
50.9 µUI/ml	51 µUI/ml	51.1 µUI/ml	51.2 µUI/ml	51.3 µUI/ml	51.4 µUI/ml	51.5 µUI/ml	51.6 µUI/ml
51.7 µUI/ml	51.8 µUI/ml	51.9 µUI/ml	52 µUI/ml	52.1 µUI/ml	52.2 µUI/ml	52.3 µUI/ml	52.4 µUI/ml
52.5 µUI/ml	52.6 µUI/ml	52.7 µUI/ml	52.8 µUI/ml	52.9 µUI/ml	53 µUI/ml	53.1 µUI/ml	53.2 µUI/ml
53.3 µUI/ml	53.4 µUI/ml	53.5 µUI/ml	53.6 µUI/ml	53.7 µUI/ml	53.8 µUI/ml	53.9 µUI/ml	54 µUI/ml
54.1 µUI/ml	54.2 µUI/ml	54.3 µUI/ml	54.4 µUI/ml	54.5 µUI/ml	54.6 µUI/ml	54.7 µUI/ml	54.8 µUI/ml
54.9 µUI/ml	55 µUI/ml	55.1 µUI/ml	55.2 µUI/ml	55.3 µUI/ml	55.4 µUI/ml	55.5 µUI/ml	55.6 µUI/ml
55.7 µUI/ml	55.8 µUI/ml	55.9 µUI/ml	56 µUI/ml	56.1 µUI/ml	56.2 µUI/ml	56.3 µUI/ml	56.4 µUI/ml
56.5 µUI/ml	56.6 µUI/ml	56.7 µUI/ml	56.8 µUI/ml	56.9 µUI/ml	57 µUI/ml	57.1 µUI/ml	57.2 µUI/ml
57.3 µUI/ml	57.4 µUI/ml	57.5 µUI/ml	57.6 µUI/ml	57.7 µUI/ml	57.8 µUI/ml	57.9 µUI/ml	58 µUI/ml

Medically reviewed by our Medical staff on 22/10/2020

Bibliography

Approved Guideline – Procedures for the Handling and Processing of Blood Specimens, H18-A3. 2004. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.
HHS Publication, 6th ed., June 2020. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. Available on: https://www.cdc.gov
Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations. 2nd Edition. 2015. Ramnik Sood. ISBN: 978-93-5152-333-8. Pag. 783.
Tietz. Fundamentals of Clinical Chemistry. Carl A. Burtis, Edward R. Ashwood, David E. Bruns, Barbara G. Sawyer. WB Saunders Company, 2008. Pag 766. ISBN: 978-0-7216-3865-2.
Laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures with nursing diagnoses (8th ed), Jane Vincent Corbett, Angela Denise Banks, ISBN: 978-0-13-237332-6, Pag. 400.

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Blood test

High TSH level in the blood

Summary

What is high level of total TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) in the blood called?

What is the normal TSH level in the blood?