Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. TSH Thyroid-stimulating hormone Test. What is a TSH test? Other names: thyrotropin test. What is it used for? A TSH test is used to find out how well the thyroid is working. Why do I need a TSH test? Symptoms of hyperthyroidism, also known as overactive thyroid, include: Anxiety Weight loss Tremors in the hands Increased heart rate Puffiness Bulging of the eyes Difficulty sleeping Symptoms of hypothyroidism, also known as underactive thyroid, include: Weight gain Tiredness Hair loss Low tolerance for cold temperatures Irregular menstrual periods Constipation.
What happens during a TSH test? Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test? Are there any risks to the test? What do the results mean? These tests may include: T4 thyroid hormone tests T3 thyroid hormone tests Tests to diagnose Graves' disease, an autoimmune disease that causes hyperthyroidism Tests to diagnose Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
Thyroid disorders are sometimes caused by an autoimmune disease. A blood test can check for a thyroid disorder and autoimmune thyroid disease. What is a thyroid? What is a thyroid function test? What does your thyroid gland do? Things that can affect your thyroid function results Understanding your results Treating thyroid disorders What is a thyroid?
These hormones are: thyroxine T4 triiodothyronine T3 The levels of these hormones are controlled by thyrotropin-releasing hormone TRH and thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH.
Signs you should do a thyroid function test If any of these hormones are out of balance it can lead to a thyroid disorder and cause a wide range of symptoms. Signs of an underactive thyroid include: tiredness weight gain depression constipation dry skin brittle hair sensitivity to cold memory problems muscle aches hoarse voice Overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism If you produce too much thyroid hormones it over-stimulates your metabolic functions.
Signs of an overactive thyroid include: weight loss increased appetite excessive sweating sensitivity to heat twitching fatigue irritability and anxiety heart palpitations difficulty sleeping Autoimmune thyroid diseases An autoimmune disease is when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body — in this case, thyroid antibodies attack your thyroid.
How to test your thyroid function You can test your thyroid function using a blood sample. The two main ways to collect a blood sample are: a venous blood test — a trained professional will use a needle to puncture a vein, usually in your arm, to collect a blood sample.
A thyroid function test will usually measure your levels of: T4 T3 TSH A more advanced test will also test for the presence of any thyroid antibodies that could be causing an autoimmune disease. Treating thyroid disorders If your levels indicate you have a thyroid disorder , your doctor will work out if there are any underlying causes and come up with a treatment plan.
Share Article. Relevant blood tests Take health into your own hands Understand how your lifestyle impacts your health with a home blood test and GP-reviewed results. Blood tests related to thyroid function.
Email address. How it works. Labs and accuracy. Customer stories. There are three main types of thyroid blood tests:. One may need a thyroid test if you think you have symptoms of underactive or overactive thyroid gland.
Having excessive thyroid hormones in your blood is called hyperthyroidism and insufficient thyroid hormones is known as hypothyroidism. Usually,no special precautions including fasting need to be followed before taking a thyroid test.
However, your pathologist can guide you better. For example, if you have to undergo some other health tests along with thyroid hormone levels, you may be asked to fast for hours. If you are taking medicines for thyroid conditions thyroxine to treat your thyroid disease, it is recommended that your blood sample be taken before you take your dose for that day. Have your medicine post the test. Always consult your doctor for such suggestions as they know your health condition best and might advise otherwise too.
Biotin Vitamin B7 is a commonly taken over-the-counter supplement that can lead to some aberrancy in your thyroid function tests even when the values are actually normal. Avoid taking biotin 2 days before a thyroid function testing. Reference ranges for each value under thyroid hormone is not consistent for everyone. It differs based on certain parameters such as age, health condition, and the laboratory that performs the testing.
Common reference ranges for the thyroid panel are enlisted here:. Too much or too little of these hormones can make you ill. Very rarely, babies are born without a working thyroid gland. For this reason, all Australian newborns are screened for hypothyroidism with a TSH test using a drop of blood taken from a heel prick. No preparation is usually needed for this test.
In many cases, it can be done at any time of the day without fasting, but do check with your doctor ahead of time. Also let your doctor know if you are taking any medications before the test.
Visit our ' Guide to blood testing ' to learn more about blood tests in general with information such as:. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Hashimato's thyroiditis, also known as chronic thyroiditis, is inflammation of the thyroid gland that results in decreased thyroid gland function. Thyroid diseases include hyper-and hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer, thyroiditis, goitre and solitary thyroid nodule.
Some women can experience a thyroid dysfunction during their pregnancy. Learn about the signs and how it can be treated. Your thyroid gland makes hormones that control your metabolism. An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause symptoms.
Read more on myDr website. Read more on WA Health website. Read more on Autoimmune Resource and Research Centre website.
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