TSH
Also called: thyroid stimulating hormone test, thyroid blood test
What it means
TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) is a blood test that checks how well your thyroid gland is working by measuring a signal sent from your pituitary gland.
An overactive thyroid, shown by low TSH, can speed up bone turnover and contribute to bone loss, so doctors often check it when evaluating bone health.
TSH is made by the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of your brain. It tells your thyroid gland how much thyroid hormone to produce. Doctors order a TSH test as the standard first step to check whether your thyroid is working normally, underactive, or overactive.
Thyroid hormone affects bone remodeling, the ongoing process of breaking down old bone and building new bone. When TSH is very low, it often means the thyroid is overactive, and too much thyroid hormone can speed up bone turnover and lead to bone loss over time. An underactive thyroid, with high TSH, is less directly linked to bone loss but still matters for overall health.
If you're being evaluated for osteoporosis or unexplained bone loss, a TSH test is commonly part of the workup to rule out a thyroid problem as a contributing cause. If results are abnormal, your doctor may order more thyroid testing or refer you to an endocrinologist; any decisions about thyroid treatment should be made with your prescriber.
An overactive thyroid, shown by low TSH, can speed up bone turnover and contribute to bone loss.
Where this leads
WordLow TSH points to an overactive thyroid, so what does that condition actually do to bone? Hyperthyroidism speeds up bone remodeling so much that bone-building cells can't keep up.
Related words
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Education only, not medical advice. Decisions about tests, medications and treatment belong with your own doctor. OsteoStrong does not diagnose, treat or cure any disease.
