News & Updates
WHY IS THYROID PERFORMANCE KEY TO GOOD HEALTH
04
Dec
Dec
Thyroid disorders are conditions that affect the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the lower front part of your throat. It is a key part of your body’s endocrine system. It works with your immune and nervous systems to regulate your body’s metabolism. This includes the regulation of your heart, muscles, brain and skin.
The thyroid produces and secretes hormones into your bloodstream. These hormones regulate your metabolism. The names of the two important hormones produced by your thyroid are Thyroxine (T4) and Tri-iodothyronine (T3)
Thyroid hormones affect your:
- circulation and body temperature
- protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism
- heart rate
- energy levels
- appetite
- growth and bone development
- muscle tone and suppleness
- blood sugar levels
- central nervous system and bowel function
- cholesterol levels.
Hyperthyroidism & Hypothyroidism
An overactive thyroid that is producing a higher level of T3 and T4 hormones and results in faster metabolism is referred to as hyperthyroidism. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism might include nervousness, heat intolerance, heart palpitations, tiredness, and weight loss. The lower the levels of T3 and T4 in your bloodstream, the slower the metabolism; this is referred to as hypothyroidism. Although this condition can go undetected for years symptoms, when they do appear, can include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, hair loss, depression, and poor memory. Both these conditions indicate that your thyroid is not performing normally and can cause serious health conditions.Understand your thyroid hormone status
Screen and monitor your thyroid hormone health using our Complete Thyroid Screen Test, which uses a simple, near painless, finger prick test to capture a sample, which is then tested for: TSH –TSH short for thyroid stimulating hormone acts on the thyroid gland to stimulate production of the thyroid hormones T4 and T3. Higher than normal TSH can indicate a disorder of the thyroid gland, while low TSH can indicate overproduction of, or excessive supplementation with, T4 and/or T3, which acts in a negative feedback on the pituitary to reduce TSH production. Free T4 – Is known as Thyroxine, the predominant hormone produced by the thyroid gland. It is an inactive hormone, and is converted to its active form, T3, within cells. Low TSH combined with low T4 levels indicates hypothyroidism, while low TSH and high T4 levels indicate hyperthyroidism. High TSH and low T4 indicate a thyroid gland disease, such as autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s). Free T3 – Is known as Triiodothyronine, which is the active thyroid hormone that regulates the metabolic activity of cells. Free T3 is the non-protein-bound fraction circulating in the blood, which is available to tissues. Elevated T3 levels are seen in hyperthyroid patients, but levels can be normal in hypothyroid patients because it does not represent the intracellular conversion of T4 to T3, which comprises about 60% of all T3 formed in tissues. TPOab – Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies is an enzyme used by the thyroid gland in the manufacture of thyroid hormones by liberating iodine for attachment to tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin. In patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (predominantly Hashimoto’s disease), the body produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland, and levels of these antibodies in blood can diagnose this condition and indicate the extent of the disease. You should screen for this test if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:- Feeling cold all the time
- Low energy and stamina
- Irregular bowel habits – constipation/loose stools
- Dry, thinning, and itchy skin
- Hair loss
- Insomnia
- Water retention
- Menstrual irregularities
- Low sex drive
- Infertility
- Memory lapses or slow/fuzzy thinking
- Dry/brittle hair and nails
- Depression
- Osteoporosis
- Weight loss
- Muscle and joint aches and pains
- High blood pressure
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Heat or cold intolerance
- Weight gain
