The Eight Blood Tests You Need To Assess Thyroid Function
December 6, 2017 by Megan
You didnt read that wrong. Thats right. I said the EIGHT blood tests for thyroid function assessment that you need to have run.
Now hold on, you think. My doctor only runs TWO blood tests for thyroid function TSH and T4. What am I missing??
Six other blood tests. Thats what youre missing.
Yes, TSH and T4 are important in the big picture of thyroid health, but without the other 6, MANY thyroid conditions often go undiagnosed. So you could be feeling like crap, wondering whats going on because your thyroid is normal according to your doctor.
Alright, lets get to it. Here are the EIGHT MOST IMPORTANT blood tests you need to have run in order to assess proper thyroid function.
If Part Of My Thyroid Is Surgically Removed Will The Other Part Be Able To Make Enough Thyroid Hormones To Keep Me Off Of Medication
Sometimes, your surgeon may be able to remove part of your thyroid and leave the other part so that it can continue to create and release thyroid hormones. This is most likely in situations where you have a nodule thats causing your thyroid problem. About 75% of people who have only one side of the thyroid removed are able to make enough thyroid hormone after surgery without hormone replacement therapy.
What Common Symptoms Can Happen With Thyroid Disease
There are a variety of symptoms you could experience if you have a thyroid disease. Unfortunately, symptoms of a thyroid condition are often very similar to the signs of other medical conditions and stages of life. This can make it difficult to know if your symptoms are related to a thyroid issue or something else entirely.
For the most part, the symptoms of thyroid disease can be divided into two groups those related to having too much thyroid hormone and those related to having too little thyroid hormone .
Symptoms of an overactive thyroid can include:
- Experiencing anxiety, irritability and nervousness.
- Having trouble sleeping.
- Experiencing an intolerance to cold temperatures.
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How Are Thyroid Conditions Treated During Pregnancy And While Breastfeeding
Many medicines used to treat thyroid conditions during pregnancy are safe for your baby. Thyroid medicines can help keep the right level of thyroid hormones in your body. Your provider gives you blood tests during pregnancy to check your TSH and T4 levels to make sure your medicine is at the right amount . T4 is a hormone made by your thyroid.
If youre taking medicine for a thyroid condition before pregnancy, talk to your provider before you get pregnant. Your provider may want to adjust or change your medicine to make sure its safe for your baby. If youre already taking thyroid medicine when you get pregnant, keep taking it and talk to your provider about it as soon as possible.
Treating hyperthyroidism. If you have mild hyperthyroidism, you may not need treatment. If its more severe, you may need to take an antithyroid medicine. This medicine causes your thyroid to make less thyroid hormone.
Providers sometimes use radioactive iodine to treat hyperthyroidism. Pregnant women shouldnt take this medicine because it can cause thyroid problems in the baby.
Antithyroid medicines are safe to take at low doses while youre breastfeeding.
If you had hypothyroidism before getting pregnant, you most likely need to increase the amount of medicine you take during pregnancy. Talk to your health care provider about your medicine as soon as you find out youre pregnant. Your provider can check to make sure youre taking the right dose by checking your TSH levels during pregnancy.
Thyroid Problems: Here Are The Warning Signs And How To Check
If youre a woman, theres a good chance you spend a lot of time thinking about your breasts. You may have wanted them to be bigger as an adolescent, stressed about your milk supply as you became a mother and started lactating, or entered the stage of life where you need regular mammograms to help protect against breast cancer .
But theres another body part you need to make sure youre monitoring: your thyroid. Similar to the prevalence of breast cancer among women, the American Thyroid Association says that 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop a thyroid disorder, and 60% of those who have one are unaware of their condition.
Here, experts explain why staying on top of your thyroid function is important, and list some red flags that something may be up with yours.
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Youre More Sensitive To Cold Or Heat Or You Sweat A Lot
Since one of the things the thyroid does is regulate body temperature, if it is malfunctioning, you may notice it with how you feel when it comes to the cold and heat. The Mayo Clinic cites both sweating and increased sensitivity to heat as symptoms of hyperthyroidism, while increased sensitivity to cold can be a sign of hypothyroidism.
Dr. Jason Cohen, a Los Angeles-based surgeon and expert in thyroid cancer treatment, told me that because the thyroid maintains our homeostasis and keeps the bodys energy levels in check, when it malfunctions, people may notice a difference in body temperature. When the thyroid levels are low, he said, people typically feel cold all the time, and when the levels are high, people may be feeling hot or sweating. So what women of a certain age may think of as menopausal hot flashes may have another cause.
How Does My Thyroid Work
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of your neck just under the voice box . Picture the middle of the butterflys body centered on your neck, with the wings hugging around your windpipe . The main job of the thyroid is to control your metabolism. Metabolism is the process that your body uses to transform food to energy your body uses to function. The thyroid creates the hormones T4 and T3 to control your metabolism. These hormones work throughout the body to tell the bodys cells how much energy to use. They control your body temperature and heart rate.
When your thyroid works correctly, its constantly making hormones, releasing them and then making new hormones to replace whats been used. This keeps your metabolism functioning and all of your bodys systems in check. The amount of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream is controlled by the pituitary gland, which is located in the center of the skull below the brain. When the pituitary gland senses either a lack of thyroid hormone or too much, it adjusts its own hormone and sends it to the thyroid to balance out the amounts.
If the amount of thyroid hormones is too high or too low , the entire body is impacted.
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How Is Thyroid Disease Treated
Your healthcare providers goal is to return your thyroid hormone levels to normal. This can be done in a variety of ways and each specific treatment will depend on the cause of your thyroid condition.
If you have high levels of thyroid hormones , treatment options can include:
- Anti-thyroid drugs : These are medications that stop your thyroid from making hormones.
- Radioactive iodine: This treatment damages the cells of your thyroid, preventing it from making high levels of thyroid hormones.
- Beta blockers: These medications dont change the amount of hormones in your body, but they help control your symptoms.
- Surgery: A more permanent form of treatment, your healthcare provider may surgically remove your thyroid . This will stop it from creating hormones. However, you will need to take thyroid replacement hormones for the rest of your life.
If you have low levels of thyroid hormones , the main treatment option is:
- Thyroid replacement medication: This drug is a synthetic way to add thyroid hormones back into your body. One drug thats commonly used is called levothyroxine. By using a medication, you can control thyroid disease and live a normal life.
The Contrast Between Hypothyroidism And Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
There are numerous reasons owing to which this disorder develops, let us have a look at some of them:
- Firstly, by the simple removal of the gland
- Secondly, when hypothyroid conditions is present right from birth
- Thirdly, when the inflammation of the gland occurs
- Fourthly, there is too much of radiation exposure
- Lastly, the presence of an autoimmune disease called the Hashimotos Disease
Hyperthyroidism
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How Is Hypothyroidism Diagnosed
It can actually be difficult to diagnose hypothyroidism because the symptoms can be easily confused with other conditions. If you have any of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, talk to your healthcare provider. The main way to diagnose hypothyroidism is a blood test called the thyroid stimulating hormone test. Your healthcare provider may also order blood tests for conditions like Hashimotos disease. If the thyroid is enlarged, your provider may be able to feel it during a physical exam during an appointment.
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But Losing Eyebrow Hair Could Also Be A Sign Of Hyperthyroidism
Interestingly, losing eyebrow hair is also a symptom of hyperthyroidism, says Shafipour. If you have hyperthyroidism, that means you have an overactive thyroid that creates too much thyroid hormone.
Hypothyroidism is roughly five times as common as hyperthyroidism, Beatty notes, so its more likely thinning eyebrows are the result of an underactive thyroid. Nevertheless, youll want to be aware of what accompanying symptoms to look out for. Other signs of hyperthyroidism include symptoms that feel like the body is speeding up, Shafipour says, such as excess sweating, restlessness, or a fast heartbeat. And for more up-to-date information on your health, .
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In Which Cases Is A Full Thyroid Panel Performed
As we mentioned previously, the levels of these hormones TSH, T3, and T4 can be affected by a number of various conditions. Lets list some of the most common conditions that cause an abnormality in the levels of TSH, T3, and T4 to occur.
;;;;;; Hyperthyroidism As you may know, hyperthyroidism is a term that is used to describe the over activity of the thyroid gland and the excessive production of the thyroid hormones due to which all the functions of the body increase their speed. The usual symptoms are increased heart rate, weight loss, diarrhea, anxiety, weakness, trouble sleeping, and tremors in the hands. What a full thyroid panel in a case of hyperthyroidism would show is low levels of TSH, and high or normal levels of T3 and T4 hormones.
;;;;;; Hypothyroidism Contrary to hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism is a term that is used to define the condition in which your thyroid is not able to produce the needed levels of hormones in order to let your body function properly. It is also known as underactive thyroid disease, and surprisingly it is a very common condition. The usual symptoms of hypothyroidism include weight gain, constipation, fatigue, dry skin and menstrual irregularity. In a case of hypothyroidism, what the thyroid panel would show is high levels of TSH, and normal to low levels of T3 and T4 hormones.
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Everything You Need To Know About Taking A Thyroid Test At Home
It is estimated that 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid condition, with up to 60% of them unaware they have the disease. Thyroid conditions are relatively common, disproportionately affecting women and people over the age of 50.
Located below the larynx at the front of the neck, the thyroid is a small gland with two lobes connected by a bridge of tissue. Although not big in size, the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland plays a major role in ensuring the proper function of the brain, heart, kidneys, liver, and skin. Its important to learn if your thyroid is not functioning correctly as soon as possible and to re-check routinely.
Many companies have perfected the ability to deliver state-of-the-art thyroid test kits to your home and then evaluate the sample with outstanding accuracy. We have tested these companies and their products in order to help you determine which at-home thyroid test will be best for you. From the many options, a few testing companies rise above the rest.
Read on for all of the details, but for those in a hurry, here is a summary of our main findings.
What Are The Complications Of Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism can contribute to high cholesterol. If you have high cholesterol, you should get tested for hypothyroidism. Rarely, severe untreated hypothyroidism may lead to myxedema coma, an extreme form of hypothyroidism in which the bodys functions slow to a life-threatening point. Myxedema coma requires immediate medical treatment.
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Can You Get Your Own Labs
If you’ve followed my blog before then you know that I often recommend testing more than just what is considered ‘normal’ for the thyroid.
These extra lab tests give you more information about your thyroid but the downside is that many physicians don’t like to order them.
This has lead many patients to try and get their labs from other sources in an attempt to get the ‘right tests’.;
These patients often ask if there is a way to get labs without their doctor’s approval.;
The answer is yes, you can definitely get your own labs drawn but it just takes a little more work.;
Plenty of services allow you to order your own labs and some of them allow you to do it online.;
Other services, such as Senora Quest in Arizona, allow you to directly order your own labs.;
The major downside to getting your own labs drawn is that they are typically not covered by insurance which means you will have to pay out of pocket.;
Depending on the tests that you get, this can add up quickly to the hundreds and even thousands of dollars.;
As an example, ordering Microsomal TPO antibodies, Free T3, Free T3, and TSH will cost around $120 .;
My recommendation is to try and get your physician on board to order the right tests so that insurance will cover them for you.;
And don’t fall for the ‘insurance won’t cover these tests’ argument because that is simply not true.;
I’ve ordered hundreds and hundreds of complete thyroid function panels and I’ve never had any issue getting them covered by insurance.;
If You Notice This On Your Nails Get Your Thyroid Checked Doctors Say
Research says your nails could reveal one of the first signs of thyroid disease.
Whether it’s a hang nail or chipped pinky nail, you probably brush most issues with your nails off as nothing more than life’s little annoyances. However, if you know where to look, your nails could actually be holding the key to how healthy one vital part of your body is. According to doctors, if you notice something in particular on your nails, you should get your thyroid checked. Read on to find out what you should be looking out for and for more symptoms to pay attention to, If You Feel This at Night, You Need to Get Your Liver Checked, Doctors Say.
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How Is Thyroid Disease Diagnosed
Sometimes, thyroid disease can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are easily confused with those of other conditions. You may experience similar symptoms when you are pregnant or aging and you would when developing a thyroid disease. Fortunately, there are tests that can help determine if your symptoms are being caused by a thyroid issue. These tests include:
- Blood tests.
- Physical exams.
Blood tests
One of the most definitive ways to diagnose a thyroid problem is through blood tests. Thyroid blood tests are used to tell if your thyroid gland is functioning properly by measuring the amount of thyroid hormones in your blood. These tests are done by taking blood from a vein in your arm. Thyroid blood tests are used to see if you have:
- Hyperthyroidism.
- Hypothyroidism.
The specific blood tests that will be done to test your thyroid can include:
These tests alone arent meant to diagnose any illness but may prompt your healthcare provider to do additional testing to evaluate for a possible thyroid disorder.
Additional blood tests might include:
Talk to your healthcare provider about the ranges for these thyroid blood tests. Your ranges might not be the same as someone elses. Thats often alright. If you have any concerns or worries about your blood test results, talk to your provider.
Imaging tests
An ultrasound typically takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Physical exam