Thyroid Function Test
The standard blood test used to determine thyroid gland hormone output is the thyroid stimulating (TSH) test. When there is a deficiency in thyroid hormone, the pituitary gland releases more TSH to signal the thyroid gland to produce more hormones. TSH is just one blood test that doctors use to assess thyroid status. Other blood tests measure the actual amount of thyroid hormones found in the blood. If an under active thyroid gland is suspected, blood tests should not be limited to just TSH. Other useful tests include thyroid antibodies, free T3, free T4 and reverse T3. A highly sensitive thyroid function test can be performed outside a lab. Basal body temperature (BBT) is the temperature taken at rest - preferably first thing in the morning before rising. A normal BBT is 36.5°C and above. Progesterone produced after ovulation raises BBT by counteracting the thyroid-suppressing effect of estrogen. Although a low BBT may be due to other causes such as low adrenal hormones, it does warrant further investigation with a thyroid function test. Your thyroid is a very complex gland. If you suspect your thyroid gland may be underactive as per the symptoms list, it is recommended you have a blood test to check your thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism is easy to diagnose through a simple blood test. The Problem With Current Reference Ranges The TSH reference range used by many laboratories is between 0.2-5.5 (mU/L). A greater TSH number is indicative of a thyroid hormone deficiency. That is because the pituitary is over-releasing TSH based on a lack of thyroid hormone in the blood. A reading of more than 5.5 alerts a doctor to a thyroid gland problem and that thyroid hormone therapy may be warranted. Over two years ago, the American National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry narrowed the window of normal for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from 0.5-5 to 0.2-2.5mIU/L. Similar revisions by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) meant that 13 million people previously considered normal could become officially diagnosed with underactive thyroid. If you have depression, heart disease, high cholesterol, chronic fatigue, poor mental performance or any of the other symptoms associated with low thyroid activity, you may want to ask your doctor to 'defy the reference ranges' and try different thyroid replacement therapeutic approaches. If you suspect low thyroid function, but have had 'normal' blood tests, you and your doctor may want to take a second look. Basal Temperature Testing Shake the thermometer well so that the mercury returns to the reservoir at the base. Place the thermometer on your bedside table, within easy reach while you are in bed. In the morning, immediately on waking and before you get out of bed, place the thermometer under your arm, well into the armpit. Leave it there for a full three minutes. Then record you reading. For menstruating women, it is important to measure your temperature during menstruation. For example, measure your temperature on days 2, 3 and 4 of your period. The temperature should be between 36.4-36.6°C. If your basal temperature is below this level for three mornings in succession, it likely means that your basal (resting) metabolic rate is low and indicates an under active or 'sluggish' thyroid. It is important not to test your temperature when you have an infection or any other condition which may raise your temperature.
At Last! The Natural Thyroid Diet Is |
