Thyroid Function Test - Get an overview

1. THYROID FUNCTION TEST

2. WHAT IS THYROID & THYROID GLAND???  A large ductless gland in the neck which secretes hormones regulating growth and development through the rate of metabolism.  The Thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck. The gland produces hormones that controls the speed of your metabolism.  When the hormone levels become too low or too high, you experience a wide range of symptoms.

3. Thyroid Gland Functions:  Thyroid gland is made up of two lobes, on either side of your windpipe, joined by small bridge of Thyroid tissue called the Isthmus.  The Thyroid secretes two main hormones into the bloodstream.  One of these is Thyroxine, which contains four atoms of iodine and is often called “T4”.  This in turn is converted to tri-iodothyronine “T3”, which contains three atoms of iodine.  It is the “T3” that is biologically active and regulates your body’s metabolism.

4. TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) :  The amount of T4 and T3 secreted by your thyroid gland is regulated by the pituitary gland, which lies underneath your brain.  The pituitary senses the level of thyroid hormones in your bloodstream, just as the thermostat in your living room senses the temperature.  If the level drops just a little below normal the pituitary reacts by secreting a hormone called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).  TSH activates the thyroid gland to produce more T4.  When the thyroid hormone levels rise above normal, the ‘thermostat’ senses this and the pituitary stops secreting TSH so that the thyroid makes less T4.  Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone is also called Thyrotropin.

5. Production of Thyroid Hormones:  The process of hormone synthesis begins in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus.  The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH).  The TRH travels through the venous plexus located in the pituitary stalk to the pituitary gland, also in the brain.  In response, the pituitary gland then releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH, also called thyrotropin) into the blood.  The TSH travels to the thyroid gland and stimulates the thyroid to produce the two thyroid hormones, L-thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).  The thyroid gland also needs adequate amounts of dietary iodine to be able to produce T4 and T3, the molecules of which contain four and three atoms of iodine, respectively.

6. Symptoms of Thyroid Problem: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Feeling cold Nervousness and Tremor Mental Fogginess & poor concentration Menstrual changes Feeling Bloated Racing heartbeat Aches & Pains Weight gain High cholesterol levels Heat intolerance

7. THYROID FUNCTION TEST:  Thyroid function tests are a series of blood tests used to measure how well your thyroid gland is working.  Available tests include the T3, T3RU, T4, and TSH  If your thyroid gland produces too many hormones, you may experience weight loss, high levels of anxiety, tremors, and a sense of being on a high. This is called hyperthyroidism.  Typically, a doctor who is concerned about your thyroid hormone levels will order broad screening tests, such as the T4 or the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test.  your doctor will order further tests to pinpoint the reason for the problem.  The T4 test and the TSH test are the two most common thyroid function tests. They’re usually ordered together

8. Terminologies & Facts :  The T4 test is known as the thyroxine test  A high level of T4 indicates an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). [Symptoms include anxiety, unplanned weight loss, tremors, and diarrhea ]  Free T4 is the form that is readily available for your body to use. Sometimes a free T4 level is also checked along with the T4 test.  The TSH test measures the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone in your blood.  The TSH has a normal test range between 0.4 and 4.0 milli-international units of hormone per liter of blood (mIU/L).  If you show signs of hypothyroidism and have a TSH reading above 2.0 mIU/L, you’re at risk for progressing to hypothyroidism.  Both the T4 and TSH tests are routinely performed on newborn babies to identify a low-functioning thyroid gland.  If left untreated, this condition, called congenital hypothyroidism, can lead to developmental disabilities

9. T3 Results & T3 Resin uptake Results :  The T3 test checks for levels of the hormone triiodothyronine.  It’s usually ordered if T4 tests and TSH tests suggest hyperthyroidism.  The T3 test may also be ordered if you’re showing signs of an overactive thyroid gland and your T4 and TSH aren’t elevated.  The normal range for the T3 is 100–200 Nano grams of hormone per deciliter of blood (ng/dL).  Abnormally high levels most commonly indicate a condition called Grave’s disease . This is an autoimmune disorder associated with hyperthyroidism.  A T3 resin uptake, also known as a T3RU, is a blood test that measures the binding capacity of a hormone called thyroxin-binding globulin (TBG).  If your T3 level is elevated, your TBG binding capacity should be low.

10. Thyroid Profile Packages : BookMyScans Offers Thyroid Profile : MMO : Rs.300/ Rs.300/- INR (3 Tests) MMH : Rs.450/ Rs.450/-INR (3 Tests) MMH : Rs.900/ Rs.900/- - INR (6 Tests)