Why Thyroid Function Tests Are Important for Overall Health
Introduction
The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck that has a significant impact on your body. It regulates metabolism, energy level, body temperature, heart rate, mood, weight, digestion, menstrual health and even fertility. When the thyroid is not functioning properly, symptoms can be confusing and similar to those of everyday tiredness, stress, aging and/or lifestyle-related changes.
Because the symptoms of the thyroid often appear insignificant at first, many people will not pay attention to them for months. Individuals may notice excessive fatigue, gain weight even though they eat normally, suffer from hair loss, feel anxious, or have an irregular menstrual cycle. These symptoms are often attributed to other causes such as heavy workloads, poor sleep, or stress. A Thyroid Function Test can reveal whether the thyroid hormones are affected.
Table of Content:
- Introduction
- What Are Thyroid Function Tests?
- Why Thyroid Health Affects the Whole Body
- Symptoms Not To Be Overlooked
- The Reason that all Women should be Concerned
- Thyroid Testing and Lifestyle Related Diseases
- Testing the Function of Thyroid Hormones to Help with Treatment
- Preparing for a Thyroid Function Test
- Final Thoughts
What Are Thyroid Function Tests?
Thyroid Function Tests, or TFTs for short, are blood tests that evaluate how efficient and effective the function of the thyroid gland is. The three tests that are examined by thyroid function testing are TSH, T3 and T4. TSH stands for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone; it is produced from the pituitary gland and stimulates the thyroid gland to produce hormones. T3 and T4 are hormones produced by the thyroid and are responsible for regulating metabolism and many other functions in the body. A TSH result out of balance indicates that there is not enough or too much TSH circulating in the body and therefore, indicates an imbalance with the function of the thyroid.
The doctor may order these tests if the patient has signs and symptoms of thyroid dysfunction; or as part of a preventative health screening. Preventative screenings may be recommended for women, older adults, or for people who have a family history of thyroid disease, or are diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder.
Why Thyroid Health Affects the Whole Body
The thyroid is a major modulator of systems throughout the human body, and when the thyroid does not secrete enough thyroid hormones, all body systems slow. This condition is known as “hypothyroidism,” which often results in a variety of symptoms including fatigue, weight gain, constipation, low mood, dry skin, thinning hair, feeling cold, low pulse rate, and irregular menstrual cycles.
When the thyroid secretes too much thyroid hormone, the body becomes hyperactive. The condition known as “hyperthyroidism” results in symptoms such as, weight loss, increased heart rate, anxiety, sweating, inability to sleep, tremors, frequent bowel movements, and irritability.
Thyroid hormones are secreted in almost all organs of the body and even a minor thyroid hormone imbalance can impact a person’s daily life and activity level. This is the reason that testing of the thyroid is extremely important and that it is never a good idea to base a diagnosis solely on the presence of symptoms.
Symptoms Not To Be Overlooked
Thyroid problems may develop slowly therefore the symptoms may be very subtle when they first develop. If you suffer from significant and/or persistent fatigue, unexplained weight change (gain/loss), changing hair patterns (loss and/or thinning), changes in your mood, irregularity with your menstrual periods, fertility problems, swelling in the neck, increased sensitivity to heat or cold, heart palpitations, constipation, lack of sleep, or having difficulty with concentration, you should see your doctor for evaluation.
While the above list of symptoms do not inevitably mean thyroid disease, they are nevertheless reasons to get evaluated. A simple blood test will let you know if the thyroid’s hormone levels are abnormal and then will give direction on how you can be helped/treated.
The Reason that all Women should be Concerned
Women are generally diagnosed with thyroid disorders more commonly than men. There a variety of hormonal changes that occur in women over a lifetime (puberty, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause) that can cause thyroid dysfunctions. Thyroid dysfunctions can also disrupt menstrual cycles, affect ovulation, impact fertility, and cause problems during and after pregnancy.
For women who are trying to conceive, having their thyroid tested is crucial for both mother and child due to the risk of the untreated thyroid disorder’s potential to affect the health of both the mother and the baby. Even mild cases of thyroid dysfunction can need to be monitored by a physician during pregnancy. Getting tests done regularly allows for timely intervention by a physician and for women to have better health outcomes.
Thyroid Testing and Lifestyle Related Diseases
There may also be links between thyroid disorders and other diseases like obesity, high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar levels, diabetes type 2, and autoimmune diseases. For instance, when a woman has hypothyroidism she may gain weight and have high cholesterol, and hyperthyroidism may affect bone density and affect heart health (arrythmias).
As a result, when women do receive a thyroid analysis, it is reasonable for physicians to recommend testing simultaneously with their routine tests such as a CBC, and lipid profile, blood test for diabetes, or vitamin deficiency tests, etc. Using this complete picture of women’s health, physicians can try to ascertain the underlying cause of her symptoms.
Testing the Function of Thyroid Hormones to Help with Treatment
Thyroid Hormone Testing is valuable in diagnosis as well as for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment. For someone taking thyroid medication, it will be possible to determine if the amount being taken is correct, as an insufficient amount of thyroid medication may leave symptoms untreated and too large a quantity may cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Adjustments to treatment can typically be made based on sampling reports, physical symptoms of the patient, age of the patient, past medical history and any other current health problems the patient may have. Patients should not attempt to change their own thyroid medication, as thyroid hormone levels need balance and something can change them.
Preparing for a Thyroid Function Test
Thyroid hormone testing is uncomplicated to perform and normally will require only a blood sample. As a general principle, fasting is not needed prior to thyroid hormone testing unless otherwise directed by the providing physician based on the potential need for other blood work to be completed that day. If you are taking thyroid medication be sure to ask your physician when you should take your dose in reference to where your thyroid hormone testing is being done as in some cases the time of day of when blood samples are collected makes a difference.
It is also helpful to discuss any vitamin supplements, medications, pregnancy, or current medical condition with the physician to ensure that those can be accounted for when interpreting test results.
Final Thoughts
Thyroid Function Tests are extremely beneficial for identifying hormone imbalances that can cause problems almost everywhere in the body. The thyroid hormones have an essential part in everyday life including all of the following: energy, weight, mood, heart health, periods, infertility, and metabolism. Since many people experience very mild symptoms (or have symptoms that can be described as common lifestyle issues) it is important to use testing for attaining precise diagnoses and treatment plans.
Sikund Diagnostic provides Thyroid Function Testing with true-reporting to ensure early diagnosis of your thyroid health to make better decisions regarding your health. This means if you find out that you need to take action due to thyroid issues you will have plenty of time to avoid complications and feel like you have some control over your overall wellness.
