The largest issue with diagnosing people with hypothyroidism today is that the testing methods used are really unreliable. Most if not all the doctors out there currently make their hypothyroidism diagnosis based on the levels of one hormone that goes by the name of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH).
But the reality is that testing levels of TSH alone will not help you get a proper hypothyroidism diagnosis. This is often why so many people that have hypothyroidism go away undiagnosed. This test alone just isn’t that reliable.
Now I’m going to cover a few controversial areas in regards to lab test that are often used to make hypothyroidism diagnosis and why in this day and age they are completely useless in giving the patient a correct diagnosis.
Of course after that I will be going through some of the better options that you have to give yourself a hypothyroidism diagnosis relatively easily and quickly.
1. Poorly Used Hypothyroidism Diagnosis Methods
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Labs
The believe from all the illnesses out there hypothyroidism is the one that is the most under diagnosed. The biggest cause for this massive problem is the fact that doctors are using reference ranges that are completely out of date and useless.
You are going to find that the reference ranges that are used by Doctors today for hypothyroidism diagnosis are based upon an old protein bound iodine test that was once considered to be perfect.
But the reality is that there have been many research studies carried out since then that have suggested that this is a terrible indicator of hypothyroidism at the best of times.
But while this test may prove to be useless the reality is that TSH itself is a terrible indicator of whether or not a person is suffering from hypothyroidism. The reason is that there are many different reasons why your TSH levels may be down. This is why often people that don’t have hypothyroidism get diagnosed as if they do.
Here are some of the factors that can result in a low level of TSH:
- Aging
- Excessive stress or cortisol
- Infection
- Pain or trauma
- Poor dietary choices
- Caffeine
- Fever
- Adrenaline
- Somatostatin
- Dopamine or L-dopa
- Amphetamine
- Feedback effect of thyroid hormones
Free T3 and Free T4 Labs
The other really controversial area when it comes to hypothyroidism diagnosis is that of measuring free T3 or free T4. This idea of measuring free hormones came about back when we had a very limited understanding of the human cell.
Recent studies have shown that this theory is completely false but if you look at it there are still many doctors out there that continue to make their hypothyroidism diagnosis using this method.
Hormones when they first enter your bloodstream are carried to different cells in the body by what is known as transport proteins.
What the free hormone theory is based on is the idea that hormones had to be detached from these transport proteins in order for thyroid hormones to enter the various cells around the body and do what they are required to do.
But recent research has indicated that these transport proteins also have the ability to enter any cell while they are carrying the hormone. This was one an idea that was thought of as impossible.
This is why if you take this theory to be true then you are only accounting for 5% of the thyroid hormone, while the remaining 95% is still unaccounted for.
This is exactly what the free thyroid hormone theory should be completely ignored because it is a terrible indicator as to whether or not you are suffering from hypothyroidism. Believe me you don’t want to use this as a hypothyroidism diagnosis test.
2. Good Hypothyroidism Diagnosis Methods
Comprehensive Blood Tests
One of the best ways to really find out if a person is suffering from 
hypothyroidism is to actually look at the various different indicators that can show if that persons thyroid is functioning at the optimum level.
Signs to look at by carrying out a simple blood test:
- Cholesterol
- Albumin
- Glucose
- Sodium
- Lactate
- Total T4
- Total T3
Research has shown that levels of cholesterol in your blood stream is directly in sync with hypothyroidism. So those that are suffering from high cholesterol may in fact have a hypothyroid.
Another side effect from having hypothyroidism is the individual will produce a lot of lactic acid. So a really good thing to measure would be the amount of lactate in your bloodstream.
Another effect that hypothyroidism has is to cause your body to excrete a large amount of sodium very quickly. So low levels of sodium are another factor to consider.
If all of the above factors are proven to be correct then a person can make an educated hypothyroidism diagnosis.
A great thing about having blood tests to measure all of these factors is that you are going to be able to devise the most effective hypothyroidism treatment because you are going to have a better understanding of exactly what is causing your hypothyroidism in the first place.
Basal Metabolic Rate
Back in the day the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) would be the factor that all doctors would use to confirm whether or not a person was in fact suffering from hypothyroidism.
To measure the BMR the doctors would simply connect a machine to the patient which would then go onto measure their levels of oxygen consumption. This would show them how well the thyroid was working.
A person that is hypothyroid will use the oxygen that the body is producing to provide areas of the body that don’t utilize the oxygen as much.
Achilles Reflex
The Achilles Reflex is basically a physically test that was designed specially to test for hypothyroidism. This was a test that was used some time ago along with the BMR. But even today in modern times it can prove very useful and give you accurate results.
Often times the people that have hypothyroidism will suffer from really slow nerve reflexes. So by testing the reflexes in your Achilles tendon you are going to have a better idea of whether or not you should have a hypothyroidism diagnosis.
Those that have a perfect reflex will find that the muscle will completely relax straightaway and at the same time the foot will swing back to normal quickly. However if you find that your foot slowly moves back to its resting place then you may be suffering from hypothyroidism.
My Recommended Hypothyroidism Diagnosis Method
Morning Temperature
An American doctor that goes by the name of Broda Barnes came up with the idea of measuring your morning temperature. Her research came to understand that the body temperature in the morning comes about via your metabolism, and so measuring it will help to understand how well your thyroid is functioning.
If you have a morning temperature of 36.5°C or less then it is really likely that you have a hypothyroid.
But as with anything there are many different factors which can effect the temperature of your body such as the climate you are in, stress hormones etc, etc. But at the same time this is the one test that you can do by yourself in the comfort of your own home which often can prove to give you more accurate results then those done in labs.
Pulse
There was another doctor by the name of Dr Raymond Peat who discovered that those that lived in warmer climates could not rely on taking a morning temperature because it wouldn’t be accurate. It would be a good way to make a hypothyroidism diagnosis.
The reason for this is because if the temperature of your environment is warm then your thyroid has to do little or no work in order to maintain the core temperature of your body which is 37°C.
Well if you are in such an environment then trying to measure your thyroid’s health will prove pretty pointless because you will not get accurate results.
Upon further research Dr Peat found that those people that suffered with hypothyroidism usually had extremely low pulse rates. This was the case regardless of the air temperature of the environment.
Another thing to really understand and appreciate is that these folk that had a low pulse would get their pulse rates back to normal after having taken a thyroid supplement.
Believe me you are going to get a lot better results if you combine the morning temperature test and the pulse rate test together. This was you are going to be able to give yourself an accurate hypothyroidism diagnosis.
Dr Peat found that the average human being had a resting heart rate of 85 beats a minute. Those that weren’t that healthy were closer to the 70 beat mark, so the lower the rate the better you are going to be able to give an accurate hypothyroidism diagnosis.
So I really do hope that this article on hypothyroidism diagnosis, has helped you get a better appreciation of some of the biggest issues that arise from doctors not properly diagnosing their patients with hypothyroidism.
I also hope that you can now go away and use some of the techniques here to make your own hypothyroidism diagnosis and see how well your new hypothyroidism diet is working to improve your condition.
