Not feeling like yourself? Your thyroid might be to blame

Not feeling like yourself? Your thyroid might be to blame

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our everyday lives from what we can do to how we can do it. You may be working from home, ordering your groceries online or visiting friends and family via Skype or FaceTime. No matter the task, the world is a much different place than it was just a few months ago.

No doubt, life in quarantine is filled with a long list of changes. Have you packed on a few extra pounds? Are you constantly tired or feeling irritable? While there is a good chance the pandemic might be to blame, the answer to these questions for more than 10 million Americans could lie in a simple blood test that checks thyroid function. Thyroid disease affects an estimated 20 million people nationwide, and more than half of them have no idea that something is wrong. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland, located in the front of your neck, that generates hormones. It is also filled with blood vessels as well as nerves that are significant for your quality of voice.

Getting a Thyroid Test at Any Lab Test Now®

If you feel like your body changes are more than just side effects of living in a pandemic, Any Lab Test Now® makes it easy for you to get a thyroid test in a safe and clean environment. We offer the Thyroid Panel test that checks the level of hormones your thyroid is producing. Test results could show if your thyroid is overactive or underactive.

What is an Underactive Thyroid?

When your thyroid is underactive, it is called hypothyroidism. In the United States hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disease and affects around 4.6 percent of the population. It happens when your thyroid gland is producing a lower level of the hormones that are key to keeping up your energy and your body functioning. The lower level of hormones means your body is slowing down, and this is why you might tire easily, feel depressed, gain weight or struggle to think clearly.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism

Fatigue
Depression
Weight gain
Brain fog, struggle to think clearly

There is no cure for hypothyroidism, but it is manageable. Your physician can treat you by replacing the hormones your thyroid is not producing with medication. This type of treatment requires constant monitoring through a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) test that is available at Any Lab Test Now®. If you are not taking enough medication, your thyroid could remain underactive, while too much medication could kick you into hyperthyroidism.

What is an Overactive Thyroid?

On the other side of the spectrum, if you suffer from an overactive thyroid it is called hyperthyroidism. About 1.2 percent of the U.S. population has hyperthyroidism. This condition kicks your thyroid into overdrive, so the gland is producing high thyroid hormone levels in your bloodstream. Every function of your body tends to speed up, your heart races, your hands shake and you feel nervous and anxious.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Racing heartbeat
Nervousness
Tremors
Anxiety

Not much is known why someone’s thyroid kicks into high gear, and there is no single treatment for hyperthyroidism. Your physician would consider how to treat you based on your age, the severity of your condition and your medical history.

We’re Here for You

Taking control of your health during the COVID-19 pandemic is easy at Any Lab Test Now®. We offer over 180 locations nationwide providing you with a safe, affordable experience to check your thyroid levels, as well as get access to more than 8,000 other lab tests. Remember, we provide the doctor’s order so that you can monitor your numbers and maintain your health and wellness.

Any Lab Test Now® is a committed partner in helping you manage your healthcare so you can make educated decisions that will directly affect your quality of life. We are here to help you Be At Ease during these trying times.

Misbehaving Thyroid? It’s Not Just a Female Problem

When you read about health problems involving the thyroid, you are probably reading about a woman. After all, women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems, with one woman in eight developing a thyroid disorder during her lifetime. But what about the guys? They have thyroids too. Is it possible that this important hormone-producing gland only decides to start acting haywire in women while quietly taking care of business in all the men?

That is pretty illogical and doctors (along with the men they treat) are starting to take notice. In honor of Men’s Health Month, Any Lab Test Now wants to start a conversation about the growing number of men who are facing the most common thyroid issues — hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. As the number of men diagnosed with thyroid disease grows, they may have an unexpected source to thank for it — Low-T.

HYPOTHYROIDISM – SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Hypothyroidism is when your thyroid gland doesn’t release enough thyroid hormone into the body. Both women and men will likely suffer some of the most common symptoms including:

Fatigue and “brain fog”
Weight gain
Depression
Dry skin
Constipation
Hair loss

But there are some symptoms that men may face that might sound a little familiar if you’ve learned about low testosterone, or Low-T. Men with hypothyroidism often have low libido, erectile dysfunction, and even issues with fertility. Now, because thyroid problems are most likely to affect women than men, some doctors are quick to blame Low-T for the problems. In fact, the underlying cause may actually be hypothyroidism. With routine testing before receiving treatment for Low-T, doctors are finding more and more cases of hypothyroidism in men than ever before.

HYPERTHYROIDISM — SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

With hyperthyroidism, your thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, Just like hypothyroidism, men and women share many of the most common symptoms, but there are a few that are male-specific. The most common symptoms of hyperthyroidism are:

Weight loss
Irregular heartbeat
Fatigue
Sweating
Hair loss or thinning
Muscle weakness
Mood changes
Vomiting and nausea

Men with hyperthyroidism can suffer from low libido, erectile dysfunction, lower sperm counts, and even male breast enlargement.

TESTING PUTS MEN AND WOMEN IN CONTROL

No matter whether you’re a man or a woman, you can take the first step towards getting a correct diagnosis with the Thyroid Panel at your local Any Lab Test Now.

The Thyroid Panel will provide you and your doctor with all the hormone levels necessary to diagnose hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Before you accept a diagnosis of Low-T or even depression, you might want to consider this test to rule out any underlying conditions.

In the end, diagnosing and treating thyroid disease is the same no matter if you’re a man or a woman. Don’t let your doctor overlook thyroid issues just because you’re a man. Know that Any Lab Test Now is here to help you put the pieces of the puzzle together so you can get on the road to a healthier you.

Two Good Reasons To Begin Your New Year With An Annual Check-Up Panel

Here’s some news that can’t be surprising to anyone: the most common New Year’s resolutions are to eat healthier and to get more exercise. Maybe you’re one of the millions of people who are determined to begin 2019 thinking about your health, and that’s a good thing. Any Lab Test Now is here to help you stay the course and reach your goals for a healthier and happier YOU.

Many of you will begin by cleaning all the junk food out of your pantry or by joining a local gym. Those are both great steps, but a trip to your local Any Lab Test Now for an Annual Check-Up Panel should be at the top of your list as well. We’ve got two good reasons why.

Reason #1 — Progress Monitoring

How do you know how far you’ve come if you don’t know where you started? The Annual Check-Up Panel provides you with an important baseline. You’ll learn the numeric levels on blood counts and cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well as kidney and liver functions and more. By knowing these levels at the beginning of your resolution, you’ll be able to return every four to six months to test again. It will provide you with proof that choosing a salad instead of a hamburger really is worth it.

Reason #2 — Safety

Starting an exercise routine is probably the single most important thing you can do to improve your health, but what if your health is unstable at the start? If you have heart disease or diabetes or suffer from an undiagnosed illness that might make you become dizzy or lightheaded, then the type of exercise you are doing might need to be modified. The Annual Check-Up Panel can provide you with important information that might encourage you to see your doctor before you begin your exercise program.

Take Control of Your Health

The Annual Check-Up Panel consists of five tests that are typically ordered by a doctor during an annual physical examination:

Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Cholesterol Lipid with Ratio (Lipids Panel)
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C)

That’s a lot of important information for just one test. You’ll need to fast for 10–12 hours to make sure the results are as accurate as possible.

Resolving to put your health first is admirable, but it isn’t always easy! Your local Any Lab Test Now is here to help you take control of your health all 12 months of the year.

A Tiny Gland That Does A Big Job: Is Your Thyroid Working Properly?

A lot of people don’t even think about their thyroid… at least until something goes wrong with it. It’s involved in so many of your bodily functions it’s like a jack-of-all-trades. From your heart rate to your body temperature to your blood pressure, your thyroid gland has its fingers in all of your pies. That’s why it’s so important for you to make sure it’s functioning properly. Any Lab Test Now® has several options that can help you take control of your own thyroid health.

Small Gland: Big Job

Your thyroid makes two hormones — T3 and T4. These hormonal workers slip into your bloodstream, which takes them all over the body. They are sort of like the big boss of your worker cells: they regulate the speed in which your cells work. Too much of them and you may find yourself with a pounding heart and weight loss. Not enough, you may find that you feel exhausted all the time and are gaining weight.

Hyperthyroidism Explained

When your thyroid is making too much of these hormones, it’s called hyperthyroidism. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that about 1 out of every 100 people suffers from an over-active thyroid. Some of the symptoms include:

Nervousness
Anxiety
Difficulty sleeping
Thinning hair
Muscle weakness
Frequent bowel movements
Heart racing
Increased sweating

Thyroid problems are often caused by autoimmune disorders, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the body’s own cells. Graves’ disease can cause the thyroid to become over-active.

Hypothyroidism Explained

Likewise, when your thyroid isn’t making enough hormones, it’s called hypothyroidism. The NIH says this is much more common, with nearly 1 in 20 Americans ages 12 and older suffering from hypothyroidism. Some of the symptoms include:

Fatigue
Feeling cold
Dry skin
Depression
Forgetfulness
Constipation

And just like hyperthyroidism, autoimmune disorders can cause hypothyroidism. The most common is called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It’s important to note that the thyroid can also be affected by cancer. It generally has no symptoms, but is also considered fairly rare.

Let Any Lab Test Now Help

Your local Any Lab Test Now offers a wide range of thyroid lab tests. In all, there are nine different tests that can monitor your thyroid health. One of our experts can help you decide which one works best for you. Some of our most common are:

THYROID PANEL – This panel includes the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Test, the T4 Total, Free T3, Free T4, and the Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies Test.
FREE T3 – This test measures free, unbound levels of triiodothyronine in your bloodstream. Free T3 is considered more accurate than Total T3. Free T3 is typically elevated in hyperthyroidism.
FREE T4 – This test measures the free, unbound levels of thyroxine levels in your bloodstream. Free T4 is typically elevated in patients with hypothyroidism.

A Final Note

Thyroid problems are most likely to occur in women, or in people over the age of 60. There is also a hereditary component. Having a family member with a history of thyroid disorders also increases your risk. Both hypo- and hyperthyroidism can be treated. Getting a diagnosis is the first step. Any Lab Test Now can help you take a big problem and make it manageable.

Safety First! Any Lab Test Now Offers Lab Tests for Athletes

As an MMA fighter, boxer or other combative sports competitor or athlete, you already know that achieving peak performance means taking care of your body and health first. Vitamin deficiencies, hormone imbalances and other health problems can affect your success in the ring and even put you in danger of injury. That’s why many athletic organizations go so far as to require lab testing for their athletes — to make sure they are healthy and fit to compete and won’t be placing themselves in harm’s way.

The good news is, if you need required lab testing before your competition, you can get your results quickly and easily at Any Lab Test Now. Your local Any Lab Test Now location can provide your lab results before your next big fight or other athletic event, with no appointment or insurance necessary. You’ll have your results in 72 hours or less. We are proud to be the Lab Testing Provider for MMA and other combative sports fighters, getting fighters the results they need without the wait or the hassle.

MMA, Boxing and Other Combative Sports

The Fighter Panel at Any Lab Test Now is specially designed to meet the lab test needs of MMA fighters, boxers and other combative sports athletes. To be eligible to compete, many combative sports fighters are required to present their test results to their state athletic commission. The Fighter Panel includes tests for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. These tests will ensure your immune system is not compromised and that you are ready to fight.

While certain tests are required for competition, others are simply recommended for peak health, safety and performance in the ring, including:

Testosterone (Free and Total)
Micronutrient Test
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Cholesterol Tests, such as C-Reactive Protein and Lipoprotein (a)
Heart Health Panel
STD Tests
Pregnancy Tests for Female Fighters
And More!

Make sure you’re taking care of your health first to become the athlete you were always meant to be.

Other Athletes

If you aren’t a combative sports athlete, you may not need the same required lab testing that competitive fighting requires. However, many competitive athletes will still benefit from establishing a baseline for their health and fitness goals. Your baseline will help you improve your performance and let you know what might be going on when something doesn’t feel quite right. Common lab tests for athletes looking to monitor their overall health include:

As an athlete, your health is crucial to staying safe, fit and high-performing on the field, court or fighting ring. Stay at the top of your game by taking care of your health first. Schedule a lab test appointment online or call the experts at Any Lab Test Now to learn what testing options are right for you.

It’s Thyroid Awareness Month!

thyorid Many people have heard of the thyroid, but few actually know how this gland impacts their body. For this reason, January is Thyroid Awareness Month. During this period, both individuals and practitioners are encouraged to become better educated about possible thyroid issues, causes and treatments.

The thyroid is part of the endocrine system. This gland transforms iodine that you consume into two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine(T3). These hormones are then released into your body when needed to regulate the speed at which the body functions. When too much of the hormone is released, this speeds up the body’s functions and is known as hyperthyroidism. Conversely, when too little of the hormone is released, it slows down the body’s functions. This is known as hypothyroidism.

In both cases, the imbalance of hormones can lead to problems for patients. In those affected by hyperthyroidism, people may experience:
weight loss,
persistent vomiting,
increased blood pressure,
increased perspiration,
enlarged liver,
hair loss, or
a persistently fast heart rate.

When the body’s functions slow down due to hypothyroidism, patients often experience:
fatigue,
weight gain,
a short attention span,
dry skin,
thinning hair,
slow heartbeat,
numbness, or
cold intolerance.

Fortunately, many patients can work with an endocrinologist to re-balance their hormone levels and curtail these symptoms. The first step to healing is understanding your current hormone levels. An easy method for gathering data about your thyroid function is done through the take-home hormone kit. Samples are collected at home and then sent to Any Lab Test Now for evaluation. The test measures the amount of hormone in your bloodstream. It also evaluates the levels of various elements, like iodine, Cadmium, bromine, arsenic, mercury, and Selenium that impacts the production of the T3 andT4 hormones. Of course, other patients simply walk in to Any Lab Test Now for the thyroid panel and the Comprehensive Elements Thyroid Profile hormone kit which provide similar information.

Armed with data about thyroid and element levels, an endocrinologist will recommend the right course of action for bringing hormone levels back into balance. Options may include a variety of drug treatments, iodine treatment or (in extreme situations) surgical removal of the thyroid. Typically, it takes several weeks of treatment for the symptoms to subside. It is also important to note that dosage levels frequently need to be adjusted when a patient is first undergoing treatment because each body has very specific hormone needs to stay in balance.

As we enter January, and help to spread the word about Thyroid Awareness Month, we encourage anyone who may be experiencing hormone-related symptoms to stop in to their local Any Lab Test Now location for testing. A quick test may put you on the path to reduced symptoms and healthier living!

Last Minute Gift Ideas — Take Home Hormone Kits

ALTN Hormone Kits Only The world is full of balance — Yin and Yang, day and night, good and evil. Without balance, we have chaos and unpredictability. And just as the world needs balance, so does your body in order to thrive. Many people have a hormone imbalance in their body and don’t even know it — all they know is that something just feels…off.

They may feel like they’ve been battling unexplainable skin ailments, and that nothing they do seems to work. Or maybe they suffer from insomnia and just can’t achieve a restful, relaxing night’s sleep no matter what they do. Perhaps they struggle with overwhelming levels of stress, anxiety, allergies or even illnesses. They may struggle with maintaining a healthy weight, or even experience sudden weight gain despite every effort to maintain a healthy lifestyle. All of these problems can seem vastly unrelated, yet they all have one thing in common: they may be caused by a hormone imbalance.

If someone in your life is experiencing these or other unexplainable health issues, they may be suffering from a hormone imbalance. This holiday season, consider helping your loved one finally take control of their health, once and for all, with a Take Home Hormone Kit from Any Lab Test Now. Show your loved one that you’ve been listening to their concerns, and that you care about their health and happiness.

Give the gift of good health with any of these hormone testing kits available at Any Lab Test Now:

The Skin Vitality Take Home Hormone Kit is perfect for the loved one who feels betrayed by their own skin. Imagine the happiness they will feel when they can finally understand why they have been suffering from excessive dryness, wrinkling, discoloration or acne.

The Sleep Balance Take Home Hormone Kit is ideal for the loved one who just can’t get a good night’s rest. Bring joy to their holiday season by helping them finally learn why they are suffering from insomnia, and giving them the help they need.

The Adrenal Stress Take Home Hormone Kit is the perfect gift for the loved one who feels overwhelmed by stress and unexplainable health problems, from anxiety to allergies and even infertility.

The Elements-Thyroid Take Home Hormone Kit is a great option for those who are wondering if they are experiencing undiagnosed thyroid disease or dysfunction, which can present itself in many different symptoms.

The Weight Management Take Home Hormone Kit is a wonderful choice for the loved one struggling to maintain their ideal weight, despite every effort to do so. Show your loved one you care about their concerns by helping them take the first step toward a real solution and a happier life.

This holiday season, help your loved ones start feeling better all year long. Contact the experts at Any Lab Test Now to learn which hormone testing kits are right for you.

The 5 Best Tests to Use Your FSA On

altn-dec-newsletter-sized-fsa HSA and FSA accounts can help you budget for your healthcare, and ensure you always have the money you need to pay for any unexpected health events. But if you still have money in your FSA, it will expire at the end of the year. Instead of letting your money vanish, put it to use by getting some testing or immunizations you’ve been putting off. Wrap up lingering health concerns now so you can start fresh in the new year.

Allergy Test
The holidays coincide with peak cold and flu season, but if your sniffles won’t go away, you might look into allergy testing. Up to 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. If you experience emotional or physical reactions after you eat, or if you frequently have symptoms like a stuffy nose or trouble breathing, you might have an allergy to something you ate. The Allergy Test goes through as many as 45 different foods and 45 environmental triggers to identify the root of your symptoms.

Intolerance Test
If you’ve been noticing symptoms that aren’t associated with an allergic reaction, then you might have a food intolerance. If you experience fatigue, gas or diarrhea, depression or anxiety, weight gain or a general chronic discomfort, you may want to get a food intolerance test. This becomes especially important as you grow older, because you can develop new food sensitivities or intolerances later in life.

Blood Cortisol Test
If your stress levels are through the roof, the holiday season will likely only make it worse — it can seem like your to-do list never ends! To see if your stress is starting to cause problems for your body, get a blood cortisol test. High levels of cortisol are dangerous, because over time they can lead to high blood pressure, inflammation, compromised immune response and weight gain.

Thyroid Test
The holiday meals sure are delicious, but do you know what isn’t so great? The holiday pounds. If your weight gain tends to stick around a bit too long after the holidays, you should get your thyroid tested. Your thyroid controls metabolic activity, which is vital for maintaining a healthy weight. Poor thyroid health is associated with symptoms like fatigue, short attention span, weight gain and numbness or cold intolerance. Thyroid disorders can also cause conditions like osteoporosis and heart disease.

Proof of Immunizations
Are you traveling for the holidays or early next year? The first thing on your list should be to make sure your immunizations are up-to-date, which you can do by getting a proof of immunization test. These tests ensure that you have gotten the immunizations you need and provide valid paperwork to prove that you are immunized, which can be helpful if you’ve lost any documentation.

Don’t wait for the new year to address your lingering health concerns. If you have an FSA that is going to expire soon, get the important lab tests you need before 2017! For more information, visit your local Any Lab Test Now.

What Is The Difference Between Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism?

Did you know that January is Thyroid Awareness Month? According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, 50 percent of those with a thyroid disease are unaware that they have it. That represents a large population of people at risk.

What are the possible complications with my thyroid?

The two most common thyroid diseases are hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Let’s take a closer look at these two diseases so you can get the information you need.

Hypothyroidism, the most common form of thyroid disease, is when the levels of thyroid hormone in your body drop. That means your body is “slowing down” in production. The signs and symptoms associated with this disease are:

Fatigue
Drowsiness
Forgetfulness
Difficulty with learning
Dry, brittle hair, nails and skin
Weight gain and fluid retention
Increased sensitivity to many medications

Hyperthyroidism is when you have increased levels of thyroid hormone in your body. That means your thyroid gland is producing too much hormone. This form of the disease occurs in approximately one percent of Americans and tends to affect women five to 10 times more often than men. Hyperthyroidism leads to a goiter, which is an enlargement of the thyroid. The signs and symptoms associated with this form are:

Increased heart rate
Becoming anxious, irritable, argumentative
Weight loss, despite eating the same amount or even more than usual
Intolerance of warm temperatures and increased likelihood to perspire
Loss of hair
Muscle weakness, especially of the upper arms and thighs
Accelerated loss of calcium from bones, which increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures

Thyroid disease, if left untreated, can lead to many complications, such as heart disease, infertility and osteoporosis. It has also been linked with autoimmune disorders such as diabetes and anemia. That’s why you need to know if you’re in the 50 percent of those affected but aren’t yet aware that they have a disease.
At Any Lab Test Now, we offer a Thyroid Panel which tests for TSH levels, T4 Total and T3 Uptake. We also offer a variety of Saliva Hormone Tests, as well as a Comprehensive Thyroid Panel.. High or low results of any of these hormone levels will help you and your doctor determine if any further action is needed.

What Your Feet Reveal About Your Health

Our feet have a full-time job. They hold us up all day long, day in and day out. They constantly support us no matter what we are doing — except when we’re sitting, of course. But what you may not know is that our feet can actually do so much more for us. They can be a signal for you when something is wrong somewhere else in your body. Are you ready to start feeling like your best self? Take a look at your feet. All you have to do is know the signs and pay attention.

Hairless Feet or Toes

Have your friends always marveled at your completely hairless feet and toes? This may seem like a dream come true for some, but you may want to pay a little more attention to those smooth steppers. Completely hair-free feet could be an indicator of poor circulation, which in turn can be a sign of vascular disease. But how can you know for sure? If the pulse in your ankles feels weak or you can’t feel it at all, it may be time to talk to your doctor.

Spoon-Shaped Toenails

If your toenails turn upward at the ends, forming a concave spoon shape, this may be a sign that you have iron-deficiency anemia. This occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin in the blood, which helps transport oxygen throughout the body. Other symptoms may include fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath and headaches. If your toenails appear spoon-shaped, and you exhibit any of these other symptoms, it is recommended that you get tested for anemia.

Numbness

If your feet feel numb a lot — and not just from sitting for too long — there could be some more serious issues at play. Tingling or the inability to feel your feet at all could mean there is damage to your nervous system. This could be a warning sign of diabetes, so be sure to consult your doctor if you experience this symptom.

Cold Feet

Cold feet? It might not just be the temperature. This could be a sign of many things, including poor blood circulation and anemia. The most serious indication, however, is hypothyroidism. Other symptoms of an improperly functioning thyroid include dry skin, fatigue and weight gain. While the most immediate relief will come from bundling up those toes, hypothyroidism is best handled by a medical professional. If any or all of these symptoms sound familiar, it might be time to get tested.

A Swollen Big Toe

Has your big toe suddenly become red, sore and twice its usual size? This is a pretty sure warning sign that you have gout, a form of arthritis caused by too much uric acid in the body. At lower temperatures, uric acid crystallizes, and your outer extremities, especially your feet, tend to have the lowest temperatures of any spot in your body; hence, the swelling in your big toe.This can be a painful condition, so if you are showing signs of gout, it is best to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

So what are you waiting for? Check out those toes! What are yourfeet tellingyou? What they have to say just might help you improve your health in the long run.