The thyroid is one of the strangest glands in the body, located on the neck, curled up like a pink butterfly and barely noticeable – until something goes wrong, of course!
THE thyroid is responsible for ensuring that many bodily functions work as they should, from turning food into fuel to regulating temperature to controlling appetite and more. So when it goes wrong, it can manifest itself in several ways, which can make a definitive diagnosis tricky unless a wise doctor includes a thyroid function test among the battery of blood tests and tests. urine that comes with trying to figure out what went wrong in the body.
What is a thyroid function test?
Simply put, the thyroid function test is actually more than one test and takes the form of a series of blood tests. When you present to your doctor with signs of illness that may be attributable to thyroid disease, which comes in two forms (see below), the first thing your doctor will do is prescribe a Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test. This test will assess the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone in your blood, as it is a marker of how well your thyroid is working. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain and sends a “work order” to the thyroid to begin production of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. If your pituitary gland is sending excessive amounts of TSH, it may mean that your thyroid is sluggish and not producing enough thyroid hormone to meet demand, while if your pituitary gland is producing very little, you may be suffering from excess thyroid hormones in your body. body.
Here are the two forms of thyroid disease:
- Hypothyroidism: when your body does not produce enough thyroid hormones for your body to function optimally, and
- Hyperthyroidism: When your body is flooded with excessive levels of thyroid hormones – which has the same effect (i.e. a body that can’t function efficiently), but with very different symptoms.
What should I do if my TSH test results are abnormal?
Once your doctor realizes that your TSH levels are not correct, he or she will order additional blood tests to begin narrowing down your diagnosis options. You should discuss with your doctor – especially if you are seeing a specialist rather than your regular healthcare professional – about any medications you are taking, whether or not you are pregnant, and any other health problems you may have. All of these factors can impact the diagnosis of thyroid disease, making it more difficult to correctly diagnose your problems. Once your doctor is confident enough about your diagnosis, he or she will suggest treatment.
How are thyroid diseases treated?
Hyperthyroidism (or overactive thyroid) is impossible to cure, and it is also virtually impossible to treat. But the only effective treatment method that has been found is to turn hyperactivity into hypoactivity, as an underactive thyroid can be treated. This is done by removing the thyroid or rendering it ineffective.
Hypothyroidism (or underactive thyroid) is treated with carefully tailored doses of replacement T3 and T4 – check levothyroxine tablets at internationalpharmacy.com here – to restore your body’s balance to something close to normal.
This may take time, as you and your doctor will need to determine your ideal dose through a series of trial and error: it is best to commit to working with your medical team on this in order to restore blood levels. your body at a good level. Balancing the levels means you can get back to living your life on your own terms – but with a daily tablet added to your morning routine!
