Millions of Americans have a thyroid condition and don’t even know it. Are you one of them?

The thyroid is a hormone-producing gland that regulates the body’s metabolism, which is the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients and oxygen. The thyroid affects crucial body functions, such as energy level and heart rate.

The gland is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adam’s apple, and it wraps around your windpipe and has a shape that is similar to a butterfly or a bowtie.

When your thyroid doesn’t work properly, it can impact your entire body. The general term for this is thyroid disease, which means the gland is either overproducing or underproducing important hormones.

There are a variety of symptoms you could experience if you have a thyroid disease. Here are five signs you might need a thyroid test.

Changes in Weight

Considerable and unexplained fluctuations in your weight could be the result of either hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) or hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid). In hyperthyroidism, your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine, which causes your body’s metabolism to speed up, leading to weight loss. In hypothyroidism, your body is unable to produce enough thyroxine, which causes the metabolism to slow down, leading to weight gain.

Skin Issues

Thyroid disorders can also cause changes in your appearance, including dry, red, itchy, thinning or irritated skin, brittle hair, swelling in your joints, a puffy face, or swelling at the base of your neck. If you notice these changes along with one or more of the other issues mentioned here, it may be time to have your thyroid checked.

Mood Swings

Hormones don’t just affect your physical appearance. It can also play a factor in your overall mood and mental wellness. Hyperthyroidism may cause you to feel anxious, nervous, and irritable, whereas hypothyroidism can cause depression.

Fatigue

Another sign of thyroid problems is a lack of energy. Hyperthyroidism can make it difficult for you to fall asleep at night, leading to fatigue. The lack of thyroxine caused by hypothyroidism can deplete your body of all its energy. Both conditions can also cause muscle weakness, which triggers your body to feel tired and worn down.

Temperature Troubles

Sensitivity to heat and cold can also be a symptom of thyroid trouble. Hyperthyroidism may cause you to feel overheated and lead to excessive sweating. Hypothyroidism has the opposite effect, leaving you feeling cold all the time. When the body’s thyroid is working properly its cells will produce 65 percent energy and 35 percent heat. However, those with a thyroid condition will either be producing too much or not enough thyroxine. This change in hormone levels will confuse the body into producing either too much heat and not enough energy or vice versa.

Thyroid Testing

If there’s a bright side to hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, it’s that treatment is usually simple, involving taking daily medication to balance your hormone levels.

Finding out your hormone levels is easy. It is limited to a simple blood test like the one offered at Any Lab Test Now®. Our Basic Thyroid Panel screens for thyroid disease and can determine whether your body is producing too much or not enough of the needed hormones. No appointment is necessary since walk-ins are always welcome at Any Lab Test Now. There is no need for a doctor’s order either.

The results of your thyroid screening will serve as a blueprint for your physician to prescribe the right dose of synthetic hormone medication. You can continue to follow up with Any Lab Test Now for additional testing to find out if the treatment is working.

Be at Ease

Any Lab Test Now wants you to be at ease when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including determining the health of your thyroid.

We provide you a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. Each of our 190+ stores is sanitized several times a day, in accordance with the CDC’s protocols. Any Lab Test Now is a committed partner in helping you manage your family’s healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We want to put you at ease during the coronavirus pandemic. We are here to help.

Find your closest Any Lab Test Now store at www.anylabtestnow.com.