Thyroid Testing
What does my thyroid do?
Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the front of your neck. This gland produces hormones that directly regulate every cell in your body. Hormones are responsible for many basic functions including your metabolism, your thinking, and even your emotions.
When your thyroid isn’t working properly due to underlying dysfunction or disease, it can cause a variety of symptoms that interfere with your high quality of life.
Common thyroid-related conditions include:
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism describes thyroid hormone levels that are too high. The most common type of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism describes thyroid levels that are too low. Hashimoto’s disease is an example of this type of thyroid disorder.
Why would I need thyroid testing?
To determine whether symptoms you experience relate to a thyroid disorder or another condition, the team at Concierge IV Nutrition can use in-office thyroid testing.
Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism that may require testing include:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Vision issues
- Muscle weakness
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Unexplained weight loss
- Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
You may also need testing to identify symptoms of hypothyroidism such as hair loss, weight gain, chronic fatigue, and forgetfulness.
What’s involved in thyroid testing?
The team at Concierge IV Nutrition offers several thyroid tests to evaluate your health. They test several proteins that affect your thyroid function and thyroid antibodies to identify underlying autoimmune disease, conditions that cause your immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue.
Testing also measures your level of cortisol, the stress hormone that produces your fight-or-flight response in times of stress or anxiety. The hormone also controls your blood sugar levels and regulates your metabolism.
To test your thyroid function, the naturopathic physicians draw a sample of your blood during a simple in-office procedure. They evaluate the levels of TSH, a hormone in your pituitary gland that can indicate an inactive or overactive thyroid. Thyroid tests also measure your blood’s T3 and T4 levels, which can indicate a thyroid disorder.
If you have a hormone imbalance due to thyroid dysfunction, the naturopathic physicians at Concierge IV Nutrition may recommend lifestyle changes, diet modifications, nutritional counseling, or bioidentical hormone therapy to help you better manage your symptoms and thyroid condition.
To find out more about the benefits of thyroid testing, request an appointment online or by calling Concierge IV Nutrition today.