A normal TSH level for most adults is about 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L. TSH naturally rises with age, so the upper limit climbs to about 4.5 mIU/L in adults 51 to 70, about 5.9 mIU/L in adults in their 70s, and up to about 7.5 mIU/L after 80. In pregnancy, TSH runs lower, with commonly…
A normal resting heart rate for adults is 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm), and most healthy adults fall between 60 and 80 bpm. Children have faster heart rates that slow down as they grow. A newborn’s resting heart rate is about 70 to 190 bpm, a 1 to 2 year old’s is 80…
For adults 20 and older, normal cholesterol means a total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL, LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol of 60 mg/dL or higher, and triglycerides below 150 mg/dL. For children and teens 19 and younger, healthy levels are lower, with total cholesterol below 170 mg/dL and LDL below 110 mg/dL. Cholesterol tends…
For adults and children without diabetes, normal fasting blood sugar is 70 to 99 mg/dL, and a normal level two hours after a meal is below 140 mg/dL. These healthy ranges stay about the same at every age. A fasting level of 100 to 125 mg/dL means prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher on two…
Normal blood pressure for adults of every age is below 120/80 mmHg. The top number, called systolic pressure, shows the force in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number, called diastolic pressure, shows the force between beats. Average readings rise with age, from about 110/68 in young women to about 139/68 in women…
Hormone replacement therapy for women replaces the estrogen, and often the progesterone, that the ovaries stop making during menopause. It is the most effective treatment for hot flashes and night sweats, and it also eases vaginal dryness, improves sleep, and helps prevent bone loss. The main risks are blood clots, stroke, and a small rise…
Yes, thyroid problems can cause weight gain, but usually less than people expect. An underactive thyroid, called hypothyroidism, often adds about 5 to 10 pounds. Most of that weight comes from extra salt and water, not fat. The gain happens because low thyroid hormone slows your metabolism, so your body burns fewer calories at rest….
A thyroid function test is a blood test that shows how well your thyroid gland is working. Most panels measure TSH and free T4, and some also include free T3. In most adult labs, a normal TSH falls between about 0.4 and 4.0 mIU/L, and a normal free T4 falls between about 0.8 and 1.8…
The most common hypothyroidism symptoms in women are constant fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, dry skin, thinning hair, constipation, low mood, and heavier or irregular periods. These signs appear when an underactive thyroid makes too little hormone and your metabolism slows down. Women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to develop thyroid…
The A1C test gives you a three month snapshot of your average blood sugar levels and serves as one of the most reliable tools for detecting diabetes and prediabetes early. A normal A1C level falls below 5.7 percent for most healthy adults, but the target range can shift depending on your age, overall health, and…