Hair loss could be serious health concern

Dear Dr. Gott: I have a problem with my hair falling out. It is getting really thin on top.

I take Armour Thyroid and have been on this since the mid ‘80s. I just had lab work done, and my TSH result is 0.071; the normal is 0.350 to 5.500. Should I be on some other meds?

When I asked my doctor about my hair getting thin, he looked at it and told me it was OK, that I still had plenty of hair, but when I can see my scalp all over the top of my head, it is not OK. I am 65 years old but see a doctor only once a year.

Dear Reader: An overabundance of thyroid hormone, either in pill form or as a separate event, can lead to hair loss; thus, I disagree with your doctor. Your thyroid stimulating hormone, a thyroid stimulant arising from your pituitary gland, is exceedingly low. This indicates that you’re receiving too much Armour Thyroid – much too much, to the point that your hair may come out in clumps.

To reverse this situation, you need to work closely with a doctor. (I didn’t say your doctor because, in my opinion, he has missed the boat. Anyone who ignores a low TSH level should be spanked.)

Let’s review. Thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) can be measured directly with a simple blood test. So can TSH.

If the TSH is low, as in your case, the T3/T4 level is ordinarily increased, after confirming the presence of too much hormone, which can lead to symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including nervousness, weight loss, heat intolerance and hair loss.

In my opinion, your doctor, rather than simply reassuring you, should have taken a more aggressive stance. Specifically, he should have immediately reduced the dosage of your thyroid supplement to at least 50 percent of your current dosage.

A TSH report four to six weeks later would be vital in fine-tuning your system further.

Let me know how this is resolved.