The thyroid is one of the most important hormonal centers, and keeping it in good condition lets you enjoy good health, well-being, a clear mind, and a better figure.
As you probably know, the key matters are prevention and observation, so it is also important to have the right tests done to assess the condition of your body.
Tests make it possible to address the cause of a given condition and, based on that, we take actions that target the source of the problem while easing the symptoms. There may be many factors behind it. However, to make a good diagnosis and determine the correct cause, a full set of appropriate tests needs to be done… Unfortunately - contrary to appearances - this is often problematic.
It is worth mentioning that most often we deal with hypothyroidism and - though somewhat less often - hyperthyroidism of the thyroid gland. Let us move on to the point…
Thyroid – diagnosis, tests, mistakes and proper management
Many people, including unfortunately “experts”, determine the condition of the thyroid based on TSH (thyrotropin) results. Well, that would be fine if not for the fact that very often only this one hormone’s level is relied on.
First of all, it should be remembered that TSH is a pituitary hormone, not a thyroid hormone. Nevertheless, there are many relationships between these two centers. Among other things, the pituitary stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete FT4 and FT3. It acts as a kind of signal, thanks to which the thyroid knows what amounts of hormones it should produce.
Very often, a simple calculation is relied on. Namely: too high TSH means hypothyroidism, and too low signals hyperthyroidism. In many cases we are dealing with hypothyroidism and even its basis is not determined (not to mention strictly autoimmune connections, e.g.
Hashimoto's disease) - the synthetic T4 hormone is simply recommended and that is that. This in turn leads to further masking of symptoms and causes and significantly makes the diagnosis more difficult (not to mention other negative effects).
TSH levels themselves can also be influenced by our lifestyle or certain medications. An inappropriate amount and quality of sleep, high exposure to stress, or, for example, antidepressants - all of this can distort the result, and this is rarely mentioned.
Low thyroid activity can be caused, for example, by immune issues, deficiencies, excessive exposure to toxins, poor condition of the intestines and bacterial flora, adrenal problems, or even inflammation. The latter also affects the functioning of the already mentioned pituitary, and thus also TSH and thyroid hormone levels. It is worth keeping in mind that other organs also affect the condition of our gland and the hormones it secretes. For example, the bacterial flora plays an extremely important role in the activation of thyroid hormones - efficient conversion is possible thanks to the availability of intestinal enzymes.
What is more, the conversion of T4 to active T3 takes place not only in the thyroid. In fact, it occurs mostly in the so-called peripheral tissues, so attention should be paid, among other things, to the intestines or even the liver.
Yes, once again it is worth drawing attention to probiotics and at least Colostrum or lactoferrin.
If health matters to you, you need to approach the topic comprehensively and identify the correct cause of the problem in order to determine the steps appropriate to the condition. After that, all that remains is action, control and observation as your well-being, physical condition and mental condition improve. The key is solid foundations!
Thyroid – what tests should be done to diagnose the problem?
Now that you have the information above, you know that it is not worth relying on TSH alone. What is more, TSH and T4 levels are not always sufficient or reliable either. It is known that there are as many different problems and possibilities as there are people. On the other hand, the proper recommendations regarding thyroid tests should be consistent. To approach the condition of our gland reliably, it would be necessary to perform:
- TSH,
- thyroid ultrasound,
- anti-TG and anti-TPO antibodies (diagnosis of autoimmune causes, such as Hashimoto's disease),
- FT3,
- FT4.
What is more, to be precise, testing anti-TRAB antibodies is recommended, which will help determine whether the cause is autoimmune, with regard to Graves' disease.
In summary, and really to finish the topic, a properly functioning thyroid affects many aspects of our lives. It should be kept in mind that the body is a whole, and different systems, hormones, etc. influence one another. For information on factors that support the gland’s function, please see HERE.
