How the Thyroid Works
The thyroid is a small organ that releases hormones to tightly regulate our metabolism, depending on how much energy the cells in our body needs. The thyroid hormones directly affect our breathing, heart rate, digestion and body temperature.
It is possible that for some people, the thyroid may not be working as it should. Thyroid dysfunction occurs when not enough, or too much, of the thyroid hormones, are released from the thyroid. The symptoms of thyroid dysfunction may be difficult to notice; around 5% of adults may suffer from a thyroid problem in their lifetime, and women are at a higher risk than men. Thyroid dysfunction can cause feelings of fatigue, irregular body temperature, anxiety or depression, weight gain or loss, sleep problems, and even deteriorating hair and skin quality. However, blood biomarker testing is an effective tool for detecting thyroid problems.
Optimising your Health
The thyroid biomarkers measured in myThyroid Check are T3, T4 and TSH. T3 and T4 are hormones produced by the thyroid to regulate your metabolism. TSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland to stimulate the production of T3 and T4. Some tests include TSH alone because it is much more sensitive to changes in thyroid activity.
Your test results will provide insight on how your thyroid is currently performing, by determining if your hormone levels are in the normal expected range or not. We then provide lifestyle recommendations specific to your test results with the aim of helping you feel better. However, lifestyle improvements alone rarely help with solving the underlying cause of a thyroid problem. In fact, thyroid biomarker test results outside of the normal range, or other health concerns you have regarding your thyroid, should always be brought to the attention of your doctor.
Curious about your thyroid hormones? Check out our myThroid Check test!
References
Thyroid Hormone Regulation of Metabolism Physiol Rev. 2014 Apr; 94(2): 355–382.
