So, you want to know more about the thyroid blood test.
A thyroid blood test gives your doctor a better understanding of why you're not feeling well or why you're having certain symptoms.
For this simple test, you give a sample of blood from your arm or hand.
Let's take a minute to talk about the thyroid.
It's a butterfly-shaped gland that sits in front of your windpipe, just below the voice box.
The thyroid makes hormones that help control your metabolism ...
the way your body uses energy.
A thyroid blood test measures the amount of certain hormones that affect the thyroid gland, such as thyroid-stimulating hormone ... or TSH ...
along with ones that are made by the thyroid gland, like the hormones T3 and T4.
TSH tells the thyroid gland to make T3 and T4.
T3 and T4 help to control your metabolism.
If your TSH is high and/or your T3 and T4 amounts are low, you probably have an underactive thyroid gland, called hypothyroidism.
If your TSH is low and/or your T3 and T4 values are high, you probably have an overactive thyroid gland, called hyperthyroidism.
Looking at the levels of these hormones and how they differ from the normal range will show how well your thyroid is working.
Your doctor will consider any symptoms you might have along with other test results to make a diagnosis or determine if you need treatment.
Knowing more about why a test is done and what the results mean can help you and your doctor better understand what's happening inside your body and what may be your next step in treatment.
Remember, if you have questions or concerns about your results, be sure to talk to your doctor.
