According to the American Thyroid Association, more than 12 percent of Americans experience a disease or condition of the thyroid in their lifetime, yet 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware they have a condition. Women are much more likely to develop thyroid problems.
Untreated thyroid conditions can lead to serious health issues like infertility, heart problems, and even death. It is very important that you stay proactive about your health, monitor changes in your body closely, and get tested for common conditions like thyroid disorders.
Conditions of the thyroid tend to be life-long, but common treatments are available to improve quality of life and health. Don't hesitate to order lab tests if you're concerned about your thyroid function.
When Should You Test Your Thyroid Function?
Your thyroid is an essential organ in your endocrine system that helps regulate:
- Hormone levels
- Metabolism
- Body temperature
- Brain function
- Heart rate
People with thyroid disorders generally suffer from either an underactive or overactive thyroid. Sometimes, this is an issue of the thyroid itself. Other times, other health conditions are affecting how the thyroid functions.
An underactive thyroid is not processing thyroid hormones as quickly as it should, so the body slows down, and the metabolism decreases in function. People who suffer from an underactive thyroid typically experience symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Dry skin
- Cold limbs
An overactive thyroid is processing thyroid hormones too quickly, which speeds up the function in the body. People who suffer from an overactive thyroid can experience anxiety, heart palpitations, and weight loss.
Thyroid pharmacist-recommended lab tests and panels can help analyze the blood for thyroid hormones and other indicators that could assist in diagnosing your condition.
Benefits of Thyroid Lab Tests and Panels
To assess thyroid function, thyroid blood tests can test the levels of thyroid hormones in your bloodstream. These blood tests are the best way to assess exactly what is affecting your endocrine system. Most commonly, thyroid tests will check for TSH, T3, and T4 levels.
The pituitary gland produces TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) to tell the thyroid to work. If blood tests show that your TSH levels are abnormal, it could mean that your pituitary gland is reacting to abnormal thyroid function.
T3 and T4 are the hormones that the thyroid itself produces and sends out to tell the body how to use energy. If a test finds abnormal T3 and T4 levels in the blood, it means that the thyroid is functioning at an abnormal speed.
Sometimes, blood tests will show normal levels for one type of hormone and abnormal levels for another. For example, if your TSH is too high, but your T3 and T4 are normal or too low, it could mean that the pituitary gland is working overtime to try to get the thyroid to function at a normal level. Therefore, you have an underactive thyroid.
If your initial blood test shows that you have an underactive thyroid, you can take further tests to determine why. Some people are born with an underactive thyroid, while others might have suffered physical damage to their thyroid or have an autoimmune disease that attacks it.
Overall, ordering a thyroid blood test or panel will help you find the reason behind your symptoms and further investigate why your thyroid might not be functioning properly.
What Are Thyroid Pharmacist Recommended Lab Tests?
Ulta Lab Tests offers thyroid pharmacist recommended lab tests and lab panels that will help you assess thyroid function and investigate root causes of your condition. To get a better understanding of what tests are available to you, below is a list of panels you can order and what they determine.
TP - Basic Thyroid Panel
The basic thyroid panel checks for the typical three biomarkers that most medical professionals will consider when diagnosing a thyroid condition. This blood test will check for Free T3, Free T4, and TSH.
TP - Root Cause Thyroid Panel #1
In the Root Cause Thyroid Panel #1, you'll assess Free T3, Free T4, T3 Reverse, and TSH. These biomarkers will show how your pituitary gland and thyroid are communicating and the levels of hormones your thyroid is producing.
Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin Antibodies are also tested, which will help determine if your immune system is attacking your thyroid, whether due to conditions like Hashimoto's Thyroiditis or Grave's Disease.
TP - Root Cause Thyroid Panel #2
The Root Cause Thyroid Panel #2 tests the same biomarkers as #1. The difference is that it excludes T3 reverse. Typical blood tests generally do not check T3 Reverse unless symptoms persist beyond usual treatment.
T3 Reverse continues to be controversial, as testing can show abnormal results because treatments have not yet been found for this issue. Knowing that you have an issue with T3 Reverse, however, could be useful in understanding your condition.
TP - Root Cause Infections Panel
Medicinal science has found that a large number of infections can either trigger or cause thyroid conditions. This Root Cause Infections Panel checks your bloodstream for indications that you've been infected by:
- Babesia Microti
- Bartonella Species Antibodies
- Coxsackie B
- Cytomegalovirus
- Epstein-Barr
- Herpes Simplex
- Lyme Disease
Finding these infections early and treating them can lead to improved health and thyroid function.
TP - Root Cause Epstein-Barr (EBV) Panel Plus
If you know that you've had mononucleosis in the past, you might have Epstein-Barr living in your system. Epstein-Barr is known to lead to similar symptoms as thyroid conditions, and it also has been studied in correlation with thyroid conditions, so it's a good idea to get tested with the Root Cause Epstein-Barr Panel for the virus.
TP - Mold Illness Panel #1 and #2
Mold is a thyroid disruptor, and it can attack your thyroid when exposed. Testing for mold exposure can help find the cause of your condition. Mold Illness Panels check for alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, copeptin, and HLA DRB3, 4, and 5. Panel #2 checks for Hla Class Li Dr Dq Dna Typing, too.
TP - Mold Allergy Panel Expanded (IgE)
Mold Allergy Panel Expanded (IgE) is a blood test that checks for 11 different antibodies in your bloodstream that react to common outdoor and indoor molds. People with mold allergies that breathe in mold spore can suffer from allergic reactions and thyroid dysfunction.
The Thyroid Secret Root Cause Panel and Plus Panel
The Thyroid Secret Root Cause Panel checks for your typical thyroid hormones (Free T3, Free T4, TSH, antibodies). In addition, it runs a complete blood count (CBC) and a comprehensive metabolic panel. These extra panels will check for irregularities in your blood platelets, nutrients, and other necessary molecules in your system.
The Plus Panel checks for all of that in addition to your Reverse T3.
Order Your Thyroid Pharmacist Recommended Lab Tests and Panels from Ulta Lab Tests
Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate and reliable tests so that you can make informed decisions about your health. Here are a few great things to love about Ulta Lab Tests:
- You'll get secure and confidential results
- You don't need health insurance
- You don't need a physician's referral
- We offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee
Order your Thyroid Pharmacist Recommended Lab Tests and Panels today, and you will receive results in 24 to 48 hours for most tests.
Take control with Ulta Lab Tests today!
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