Top 5 Thyroid Tests to Ask For and Why

The endocrine glands of the human body help in producing the various hormones in the body that are responsible for some of the key functions. They often act as triggers and help the body to kick start processes and maintain these processes in the body.

Endocrine glands need to be at optimum performance and release essential hormones at the right levels. For example, the thyroid test can estimate the amount of thyroid hormone that is generated by the thyroid glands in the body.

The thyroid gland is one of the many endocrine glands in the body, and its job is to produce the essential Thyroid hormone. Not only is the hormone important for burning calories and managing the heart rate, but it also has many other immunity, reproductive, and metabolic functions as well, making it one of the key hormones for the human body.

Functions of Thyroid Hormone

The thyroid hormone is responsible for a lot of functions in the human body. Thyroid hormone is responsible for:

• Managing the heart rate in the body
• Decides the rate of calories that are burnt by the body
• Aids in metabolism
• Helps with reproductive functions such as follicle stimulation, ovulation, and conception
• Helps regulate the menstrual cycle
• Helps with immunity

These are some of the main functions of the thyroid hormone. When the thyroid gland malfunctions, the level of thyroid in the body may be less or higher than the normal range. Both these conditions are not ideal for the good health of individuals.

Low levels of thyroid hormone cause hypothyroidism, and high levels of thyroid hormone cause Hyperthyroidism. Patients who suffer due to the imbalance of thyroid hormone may have the following symptoms:

• Excessive weight gain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Excessive hair growth
• Hair loss
• Irregular periods
• Difficulty in conceiving etc.

These are some of the effects of hypo and hyperthyroidism in patients. Those who suspect they may have Thyroid imbalance must consult a doctor who may order a thyroid test to diagnose the issue. Thyroid test price generally costs within Rs 500 in most labs of most cities in India.

5 Types of Thyroid Tests

Below are the 5 types of thyroid tests that are ordered by a doctor based on the condition of the patient:

• T3 Test – is a type of thyroid hormone and examines it’s level
• T4 Test – is a type of thyroid hormone and is used to examine its level
• TSH – measures the thyroid stimulating hormone levels in the blood
• TSI – measures thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin
• Antithyroid Antibody Test – measures antibodies in the blood that work against thyroid hormone

These are the 5 types of thyroid test that a doctor may conduct through a lab to estimate the levels of various thyroid-related markers in the body. It is important to analyse the imbalance of these hormones so that issues such as hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed as early as possible and corrective measures can be taken for them.

Correcting Thyroid Related Issues

Thyroid conditions can be easily rectified with medication and some simple lifestyle changes such as:

• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating food that is high in fibre and nutrients
• Choosing whole foods such as cereals, pulses and whole grains
• Cutting down on refined carbs and sugars
• Including plenty of fresh green vegetables
• Switching to a stress-free, active lifestyle that helps in balancing the hormone