Thyroid Function Test (T3, T4 and TSH)

What is Thyroid Function test?

An examination of the thyroid’s function is called a thyroid function test. Patients may undergo TFTs if they suffer from hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, or to monitor their thyroid suppression or hormone replacement therapy’s effectiveness.

The purpose of thyroid tests is to determine whether your thyroid is functioning properly and to determine whether you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine are produced by the thyroid, a little gland in your neck that resembles a butterfly (T3). Thyroid hormones influence almost every organ in the body and regulate how the body uses energy.

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Why is the Thyroid Test done?

Consider obtaining a thyroid test if you suspect your thyroid gland is hyperactive or underactive. Hypothyroidism is characterized by low levels of thyroid hormone, whereas hyperthyroidism is characterised by high levels of thyroid hormone in the blood. Thyroid examinations aid medical practitioners in the diagnosis of thyroid conditions such

Hyperthyroidism: increased thyroid hormone levels
Graves’ disease is the most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism.
Lack of thyroid hormones is a defining feature of hypothyroidism.
The most frequent cause of thyroid nodules, thyroid carcinoma, and hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease, according to the NIH. outside link

Who needs a Thyroid Function Test?

You should schedule a visit with your doctor and request a blood test. signs of a hyperactive or hypoactive thyroid:

Neck swells or becomes thicker
Erratic or rapid heartbeat
Elevated triglycerides (which causes atherosclerosis – a build-up of fat in the arteries)
Osteoporosis (fragile or deteriorating bones) (fragile or weakening bones) (thinning or brittle bones)
Low libido, irregular menstrual periods, repeated miscarriages, and issues with fertility
Having autoimmune diseases in the family, such as type 1 diabetes and vitiligo,

Or if you are

Feeling sick following childbirth
Considering becoming or already having a baby (and you have a family history or personal history of thyroid disorders, a past history of postpartum thyroiditis, or type 1 diabetes)

You should have a blood test once a year, or more frequently if your doctor advises it:

Your thyroid issue has been identified.
You’ve previously undergone treatment for an overactive thyroid.
Following surgery for head and neck cancer, you underwent head and neck irradiation.
Before, during six to twelve months during, and for a year following amiodarone, lithium, or alemtuzumab treatment.

What Imaging Tests Are Used by Doctors to Identify and Treat Thyroid Disease?

To diagnose any thyroid gland disorder, it is necessary to do a number of imaging exams to determine the underlying cause of the condition. These imaging examinations should be carried out by a qualified technician in a hospital, outpatient facility, or doctor’s office. The results of these tests are later reviewed by a radiologist, who then sends the results to your doctor for additional analysis.

Ultrasound

To identify the presence of thyroid nodules, doctors recommend an ultrasound examination. Your neck has lumps of nodules, some of which may be malignant.

Usually, an ultrasound examination takes thirty minutes. You must first lie down on the examination table before beginning. A skilled technician places a transducer around your neck at the same moment. The mechanical waves going down your neck are transformed into ultrasound waves by this instrument, which creates an image of your throat on an ultrasound film.

Thyroid Scan

The size, location, and form of your thyroid gland are all examined by the doctor using a thyroid scan. To find thyroid nodules in your neck, a small amount of radioactive iodine is employed. In order to avoid eating foods with high Iodine contents for at least a week prior to the test, doctors typically counsel their patients.

The radioactive iodine capsule must be ingested or administered intravenously for the test. When the right amount of radioactive iodine has been absorbed by your thyroid gland, a specialized camera takes pictures of your thyroid. You have Grave’s disease if the radioactive iodine is visible spreading throughout your thyroid.

What do the Thyroid Test Results Mean?

Thyroid function is normal when TSH and T4 are both normal.
You may be more likely to have an underactive thyroid if your TSH is high and your T4 is normal.
An overactive thyroid is caused by high T4 and low TSH.
Underactive thyroid is the result of high TSH and low T4.
Low thyroid function resulting from another issue, such as pituitary gland malfunction, is caused by low TSH plus low T4.
Thyroid dysfunction is caused by low T3 and excessive TSH.
Low TSH and high T3 lead to an overactive thyroid.