Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism Symptoms & Lab Tests

Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism Symptoms & Lab Tests

This post will help you understand the primary differences between the two opposite thyroid conditions known as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

You will also learn the symptoms associated with each medical condition and how they alter your thyroid lab tests.

Let’s jump in:

Thyroid Dysfunction Basics

Your thyroid gland may be one of the most important glands in your body.

This has to do with the impact that thyroid hormone has on almost every cell in your body.

Thyroid hormone is produced from the thyroid gland, under the direction of your brain (both the pituitary and hypothalamus).

The regulation of thyroid hormone production and conversion is tightly regulated at many levels.

From the production of prohormones in your brain to the management of thyroid conversion at the cellular level, all steps are regulated by important feedback loops.

And for good reason:

Thyroid hormone helps regulate important functions such as your metabolism (1), body heat production (2), heart rate, cholesterol (3), and energy production in your cells.

Even slight dysfunction in this complex system causes big symptoms in patients.

So how does the thyroid become dysregulated?

We can break it down into two main categories:

#1. Hypothyroidism is the lack of production of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland

#2. And Hyperthyroidism is the excessive production of thyroid hormone from the thyroid gland

You can think of these conditions as polar opposites of one another.

They are caused by different conditions and result in dramatically different symptoms (though there is some overlap in general symptoms between both conditions which we will discuss).

These conditions can be separated from one another with simple lab tests and also through clinical symptoms.

With up to 2-10% of ALL people suffering from thyroid disease in some form (4), it’s very important to understand the differences between these conditions.

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Hypothyroidism Symptoms & Lab Tests

The most common thyroid condition (between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) is known as Hypothyroidism.

As stated hypothyroidism is the name of the condition in which there is insufficient circulating thyroid hormone in the body.

Many different conditions can cause this disease state (which we will discuss below) but what is important is how it presents clinically (meaning your symptoms) and the changes that it creates in your lab tests.

Even though many diseases cause this condition, they all tend to have the same symptoms and present with similar labs.

One of the easiest ways to differentiate between thyroid conditions is with lab testing.

What Happens to Thyroid Lab Tests if you have Hypothyroidism? 

  • TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) – In hypothyroidism, the TSH tends to be elevated. There is debate among physicians on what constitutes a normal vs optimal TSH, but it’s helpful to consider that healthy adults tend to have a TSH around 1.0 – 2.0. A TSH greater than 5.0, is associated with hypothyroid symptoms and is usually sufficient to diagnose hypothyroidism.
  • Free T3 & Free T4 – Free T3 represents the free thyroid hormones in your bloodstream, in hypothyroidism, these values tend to be normal to low.
  • Thyroid Antibodies –  The presence of thyroid antibodies may indicate the presence of an autoimmune disease as the cause of your thyroid issue. Some conditions that cause hypothyroidism may be autoimmune in origin (such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) but you can have hypothyroidism with normal or negative thyroid antibodies as well.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms Checklist:

Low thyroid function (otherwise known as hypothyroidism) tends to cause a slowing down of all important functions in the body.

This slowing down results in decreased energy production, a slower than normal metabolism, a lower than normal appetite, and so on.

The symptoms associated with these changes include:

  • Fatigue or low energy
  • Weight gain (usually mild)
  • Cold intolerance (inability to stand cold temperatures)
  • Hair loss, dry skin, or cracked and brittle nails
  • Constipation or slowing down of your GI tract
  • Pain in the joints and muscles
  • Depression, brain fog, or a reduction in mental clarity
  • Lower than normal heart rate and body temperature

Examples of Conditions that cause Hypothyroidism:

Many different conditions can cause hypothyroidism including medications, autoimmune diseases, and even medical procedures.

I’ve put together the most common causes below:

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms & Lab Tests

Hyperthyroidism is the EXACT opposite when compared to hypothyroidism.

This makes the diagnosis and distinguishing the two diseases relatively simple.

For example:  

If hypothyroidism causes weight gain then hyperthyroidism causes weight loss.

If hypothyroidism causes a slow heart rate then hyperthyroidism causes a rapid heart rate and palpitations.

If hypothyroidism causes constipation then hyperthyroidism causes diarrhea.

These opposites tend to hold true for most symptoms, but there is some overlap in symptoms such as hair loss and fatigue.

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to these non-specific symptoms as well.

The good news is that, even if there is some overlap, you can distinguish between the conditions based on other symptoms and lab tests.

What Happens to Thyroid Lab Tests if you have Hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is often caused by EXCESSIVE or INCREASED release and production of thyroid hormones in the body.

This release of thyroid hormone is easy to check and identify in the blood serum and usually presents as follows…

  • TSH – The TSH is usually suppressed or VERY low in hyperthyroid patients. If a normal TSH is around 1.0 then a hyperthyroid patient may have a TSH of around 0.1 or less (10).
  • Free T3 & Free T4 – In hyperthyroid patients, free T3 is often elevated while free T4 may be normal or low.
  • Thyroid Antibodies – The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is the autoimmune Graves’ disease which may present with thyroid antibodies known as thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin. But, like hypothyroidism, you can have hyperthyroidism without elevated antibodies as well.

Hyperthyroid Symptoms Checklist:

  • Heat intolerance (inability to tolerate warm temperatures)
  • Weight loss or an increase in appetite
  • Rapid heart rate or heart palpitations
  • Anxiety or jittery sensation
  • Insomnia
  • Diarrhea
  • Hair loss or dry cracked brittle hair (some overlap between hypothyroidism)
  • Fatigue or low energy (some overlap between hypothyroidism)

Examples of Conditions that Cause Hyperthyroidism:

It’s important to realize that the treatment for hyperthyroidism is to reduce the amount of thyroid hormone being produced by the thyroid gland.

This often results in procedures to either remove or destroy the thyroid gland.

Once the thyroid gland is removed or destroyed then patients may become hypothyroid.

This can be confusing for some patients at first but it makes sense once you sit and think about it.

FAQ

Still, have some questions about the difference between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism?

Check out this frequently asked question guide which may give you further insight.

Can you have Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism At the Same Time?

It’s impossible to have both the symptoms of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism at the same time.

The symptoms depend on the degree of thyroid hormones in your bloodstream, so if they are high they can’t possibly be low at the same time.

But just because they don’t occur at the same time doesn’t mean that someone can’t have both conditions.

What do I mean?

Some conditions, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (and other causes of thyroiditis) can cause temporary bouts of hypothyroidism followed by bouts of hyperthyroidism.

These symptoms are caused by the inflammation in the thyroid gland which can occasionally “force” out excessive thyroid hormone (causing hyperthyroidism) and it can damage the gland over time leading to decreased thyroid hormone production (causing the symptoms of hypothyroidism).

So someone can alternate between these two conditions and have disease states that cause them both, but they can NOT experience both at the same time.

What gets confusing, especially for patients, is that there is some overlap between the symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

In addition, other medical conditions and medications (especially thyroid hormone) can make the picture confusing.

For instance:

Someone who has a diagnosis of hypothyroidism can take excessive thyroid medication which leads to hyperthyroid symptoms such as heart palpitations and shortness of breath.

This person doesn’t have both conditions at the same time, instead, they are experiencing negative side effects of the treatment for their condition.

You can almost always differentiate hyperthyroid symptoms from hypothyroid symptoms by looking at your metabolic function.

If your heart rate is slower than normal, if your metabolism is sluggish, if your energy is low then you are most likely suffering from hypothyroidism.

If, on the other hand, your heart rate is elevated, your metabolism is high and you are feeling “jittery” then you are most likely suffering from hyperthyroidism.

You can also get lab tests to confirm the diagnosis (discussed above).

What is the difference between Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a medical condition that CAUSES hypothyroidism in patients.

The important part to understand is that not all cases of hypothyroidism are caused by Hashimoto’s.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition that causes damage to the thyroid gland.

In the early stages of the disease patients may actually suffer from hyperthyroid symptoms due to this damage.

But long-term most patients will experience thyroid gland damage which results in decreased thyroid hormone production and the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Is Hypothyroidism more common than Hyperthyroidism?

Hypothyroidism occurs in around 0.5 – 1.9% of women and less than 1% in men (14).

Subclinical hypothyroidism occurs in anywhere from 3.0 – 13.6% of women and 1.0 – 5.7% of men.

The older you are (and if you are female) the more likely you are to develop hypothyroidism in your life.

Hyperthyroidism occurs in around 1.0 to 1.4% of women (15).

When you put these numbers together you will find that hypothyroidism is more common than hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism is even more common when you consider that the treatment for hyperthyroidism often results in hypothyroid symptoms!

So, if you have hyperthyroidism and you undergo treatment, then you will most likely need thyroid hormone medication which puts you into the “hypothyroid” group.

Is One worse Than the Other?

These two conditions can’t really be compared to one another in this way.

Conditions that cause hypothyroidism are more likely to be sinister and more difficult to diagnose which may lead to symptoms such as slow weight gain, depression, fatigue, and so on.

On the other hand, hyperthyroidism causes enough symptoms to lead a patient to the doctor’s office to get treatment more rapidly due to heart palpitations, increased sweating, and so on.

From a quality of life standpoint, hypothyroidism may be the more difficult to manage condition, whereas hyperthyroidism may cause more immediate problems.

Is Graves’ disease Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism?

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition that causes hyperthyroidism.

But, not all cases of hyperthyroidism are caused by Graves’ disease!

In this way, you can think of Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s on opposite ends of the spectrum as it relates to your thyroid.

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease that often leads to hypothyroidism while Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that leads to hyperthyroidism.  

Conclusion

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are both serious medical conditions that may dramatically impact and alter your quality of life.

If you suspect you have either condition you should report to your doctor and get tested with the complete thyroid lab panel.

This panel, along with a physical exam and personal history, should be sufficient to help diagnose your condition.

Treatment depends on which condition you are suffering from but may range anywhere from the use of thyroid hormone medications (for hypothyroidism) to medications designed to slow down your thyroid (for hyperthyroidism).

Now I want to hear from you:

Are you suffering from the symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism?

Are you having trouble differentiating which conditions you have?

Have you been able to find more understanding by looking at your lab tests?

Leave your comments and symptoms below!

#1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24692351

#2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8808101

#3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3109527/

#4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1902392/

#5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3271310/

#6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3169862/

#7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737508/

#8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25591468

#9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2784889/

#10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83492/

#11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3474632/

#12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2888784

#13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8767513

#14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2895281/

#15. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2907936/

hypo vs hyper thyroid: what's the difference?

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About Dr. Westin Childs

Hey! I'm Westin Childs D.O. (former Osteopathic Physician). I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I love to write and share what I've learned over the years. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 7 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do.

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17 thoughts on “Hypothyroidism vs Hyperthyroidism Symptoms & Lab Tests”

  1. After years of taking thyroid medication, I suddenly find I cannot take it without experiencing hyperthyroid symptoms. If I take my medication for more than a few days in a row I stop sleeping, become anxious, and have diarrhea. If I stop the medication I start sleeping and have no other symptoms. I have been on a holistic diet for over two years and I am wondering if I have healed my thyroid to the point I do not need medication. How do I find a doctor to help me figure this out? The not sleeping is killing me!

    Reply
  2. Hey Dr. Childs, is it bad to have subclinical hyperthyroidism? Meaning having low TSH, high free t4, and optimal free t3 due to too much thyroid hormone?

    Reply
  3. I have nodules that are Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, I can’t lose a pound for the life of me, exhausted, foggy, memory is shot, and TSH levels are usually 0.4. Which are still considered in “normal range” so no treatment for about 10 years now? And I’m just sick if the fatigue and wt. Because goodness when I end up in a hypothyroid state I will be huge!!!!
    Help

    Reply
  4. Hi, Dr. Child’s.
    I have been reading your site and all about Hypo and Hyper and the Ndt & synthetic medication and ranges and I am so thankful to have found this info !!
    I have all the symptoms of hypo right now badly and have always been very thin. I gained a lot of weight like 60lbs and then lost it all in less than 2 months without doing anything and think maybe I went hyper. I am starting to gain again and feel awful .i was had tested my thyroid levels.

    Now being I am feeling the hypo symptoms again severely I started doing research and knew I had to get it tested. I was sure that my TSH would be normal and I would struggle to find a doctor who could help me.

    I asked my doctor to test my thyroid and went to the lab and saw that they weren’t testing anything but my TSH!!! Because of your info, I knew I needed more tests and had them test tsh. Free t3 & t4, cholesterol, insulin, thyroid pa & TG. It was insane, and I had to call request them to fax the tests I needed over and wait.
    That goes to show you my GP knows nada.

    So my results came back surprising tsh 6.52, t4 .79 and t3 3.52 waiting on rt3.. insulin 7.0, cholesterol 221, thyroid pa 1.20. TG <9 testosterone 42.44.

    With that being said would that mean Synthroid or Levo is actually something that would work for me in losing weight? I take Adderall and don’t get palpitations or feel jittery my body seems to handle a lot. What mcg of that should I take to lose weight??

    Thanks-
    Karey

    Reply
  5. Your explanation of the differences between hypo and hyper, helped me a lot. More than my doctors. But I am wondering if I should avoid certain medications and some foods. Please reply if you can.

    Reply
  6. Good morning Dr. Childs,

    It was great reading your highly informative articles but I am still very confused about my condition. Before being diagnosed I could have sworn I had Hypothyroidism but when my labs were done I was beyond Hyperthyroid. I have had symptoms for both conditions simultaneously, minus the depression, so I thank my lucky stars for that. I have started with a new doctor, and we are staring off from the beginning with labs, meds and tests so I will wait to see what happens. My diagnosis going in to see him was Hyperthyroidism and Graves and now my recent ultrasound adds Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and my labs have my numbers showing Hyperthyroid levels. I don’t have much of an appetite but cannot lose even a gram. I’m very confused.

    Reply
  7. Right now my heart rate is rapid, been tested but primary says I don’t have thyroid issue but I have all classic symptoms. Been to ER 4 times bec of high blood pressure as it skyrockets every couple of weeks. Also have a histamine intolerance issue which has calmed down. Today I have shakiness, headaches, weakness on lower legs, itchy skin, bp goes high once in awhile but other times is 112/ 75. Call me desperate I am hoping its not thyroid storm I am dealing with. I also lost 20 lbs. which thyroid meds should I take. Hyper? meaning don’t take tyrosine? I am a single mom veteran with little income, not working. Praying that I would get some help, guidance, doctor seems to be ill himself, HELP!!!!

    Reply
    • Hi Maryan,

      The single best way to determine is to have your doctor run a full thyroid panel. These tests will let you know if you are hypothyroid or hyperthyroid.

      Reply
  8. I have had brittle, thinning and breaking of my hair for several years. My hairdresser several years ago suggested to have thyroid checked because of probability of Hashimoto disease. Over the years, doctors have said my thyroid was fine by doing blood tests. Finally, proper tests have been done. Currently my TSH is 0.18 my T4 is 5.6 my T3 is 2.8. I have scripts for Nature throid (65mg) that I have been taking. I also have a script that I could take instead of Levothyroxin 50mcg. Which one would be better to take for getting proper reading on my blood tests?

    Reply
  9. I’m a sixty year old woman. I completed my Thyroid uptake scan on Wednesday. The results at four hours showed me at about 36% and at 24 hours at about 84%. Obviously, Graves. My Dr. is out of town for a few days, but I’ve been given the suggestion that radiation treatment is preferred. Do you have any insight you can share?

    Reply
  10. Thanks for the article. I have Hash and my TSH levels have been stable for awhile now. I just had my yearly blood draw and unfortunately my levels are very low. I’ve also lost 7 lbs but thought that it was due to stomach (digestive) issues I started having last summer. Do you think that the stomach issues could be related to low TSH? I’m a bit bummed that this wasn’t wasn’t something they tested before having me go through all the other testing I’ve done for the digestive stuff… nutritionist, colonoscopy etc… obviously not much has helped.

    Reply

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