Many common problems like fatigue, depression, and difficulty losing weight may be caused by low thyroid levels. However, a significant number of individuals, particularly women, are not receiving the beneficial treatment. The standard TSH, T4, and T3 testing, which accounts for about 90% of tests conducted, often fails to detect severely low thyroid levels.

Recent studies indicate that accurately assessing an individual’s true thyroid levels requires determining the ratio of active thyroid hormone, T3. This approach can often uncover hypothyroidism issues even when the standard tests appear normal. Unfortunately, this crucial test is rarely performed, despite being the most important factor in assessing thyroid function. Moreover, individuals on thyroid hormone therapy often receive inadequate doses, typically too low, when relying on TSH for dosing.

Mounting evidence suggests that hypothyroidism is prevalent in the majority, and possibly all, fatigued patients. The challenge lies in the fact that the standard blood tests (TSH, T4, and T3) fail to detect it. Consequently, many patients repeatedly receive incorrect information about their thyroid levels being normal. TSH is secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain, instructing the thyroid to produce T4, which is not the active thyroid hormone. T4 must be converted within the body to the active thyroid hormone, T3. When T4 and T3 levels decline, an increase in TSH should indicate hypothyroidism, following the standard diagnostic method. However, numerous factors leading to hypothyroidism go undiagnosed using the standard TSH, T4, and T3 tests. This approach misses thyroid problems in patients approximately 90% of the time.