Tired of Feeling Tired? The small gland that can make a big difference!

More than 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. However, an estimated 60 percent of people are unaware they have a problem with their thyroid. The thyroid is a small gland, but when it comes to your health, plays a big role. The butterfly-shaped thyroid sits inside your throat, just under your voice box. Small in size, this gland plays a major part in several bodily functions, including your metabolism.

Your thyroid makes two hormones — T3 and T4. These hormones regulate the speed at which your cells work. Too much of these hormones, and you may find yourself with a pounding heart, sudden weight fluctuations, and feeling exhausted all the time.

As we observe National Thyroid Awareness Month this January,
let’s take time to understand the most common thyroid diseases and their symptoms.

Hyperthyroidism

When the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine (T4), this is hyperthyroidism. Hyper, of course, means overactive, which describes what is happening to your thyroid. It drives your body’s metabolism into high speed, which may lead to unexpected weight loss and rapid or irregular heart palpitations.

Other hyperthyroidism symptoms include:

Nervousness, anxiety, and irritability
Increased appetite
Changes in menstrual patterns
Increased sensitivity to heat
Thinning skin
Fine, brittle hair
Trembling
Muscle weakness
Problems sleeping
Irregular bowel movements
Goiter – swelling at the neck from an enlarged thyroid

If not treated, hyperthyroidism can lead to other health problems, including:

Graves’ Disease – This autoimmune disorder is a common cause of hyperthyroidism. A classic symptom of Graves’ disease is that the tissues and muscles behind the eyes swell, which makes the eyes bulge or protrude.

Osteoporosis – Too much thyroid hormone can block calcium absorption into your bones, making them brittle and subject to breaking.

Infertility – Women with an overactive thyroid can have difficulty getting pregnant. The condition can also be harmful to the mother and baby during pregnancy.

Hypothyroidism

The opposite of hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, occurs when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough T4 or its counterpart hormone T3 (triiodothyronine). The result is a slowing down of many bodily functions. Sometimes people write off the symptoms of hypothyroidism as a component of aging. However, left untreated, it can lead to obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

Unexplained weight gain
Extreme fatigue
Hypersensitivity to cold
Constipation
Dry skin
Hoarseness
Puffiness in the face
Muscle aches, tenderness, stiffness, and weakness
Elevated blood cholesterol
Thinning hair and dry skin
Slower heart rate
Depression
Forgetfulness

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis– The most common cause of hypothyroidism. It is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the thyroid. With Hashimoto’s, your body produces antibodies that attack and destroy the thyroid gland.

Diagnosing Thyroid Issues

If you’ve ever had a yearly physical, your doctor most likely placed their hands gently on each side of your windpipe and asked you to swallow. This is the most basic way to check for any abnormal bumps or enlargement of your thyroid gland.

Your doctor can confirm a thyroid issue with one simple lab test. The Basic Thyroid Panel offered by Any Lab Test Now combines convenience and affordability. This panel consists of three tests, which measure the balance of the three main hormones in the thyroid system.

They include:

TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is the most important of the hormones in the thyroid system. It stimulates or acts on the thyroid gland, telling it how much of the actual thyroid hormones need to be produced.
T4: This hormone is made by the thyroid, travels throughout the body, and is converted into T3.
T3: The active form of T4. This is the hormone that goes into the cells and controls their function throughout the body.

What to Expect During Your Visit

There is no need to make an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome. There is no need for a doctor’s order either, so you can skip the step (and the co-pay) of making an appointment with your doctor to get a prescription for testing.

The results of your thyroid screening will serve as a blueprint for your physician to prescribe the correct dose of medication. Then later in the year, you can continue to follow up with Any Lab Test Now for additional testing to find out if the treatment is working.

New Year, Better You…Take Care of Yourself

Whether you believe in setting a New Year’s resolution or not, the start of a new year is always an opportune time to create a new habit or three that’ll lead to a healthier, more fulfilling life.

To help you have a fresh start in 2022, utilize Any Lab Test Now for access to 8000+ lab testing options designed to help you monitor the health of your body. We want you to Take Control of Your Health® when it comes to seeking out any type of lab work, including determining the health of your thyroid.

We provide you with a safe and clean alternative location for lab work. 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.

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

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.

January is National Thyroid Awareness Month!

Although relatively small in size, the thyroid gland plays a very large role in the human body. The thyroid gland is a small gland located at the base of the neck and is responsible for manufacturing thyroid hormones, necessary for the body to run smoothly and effectively.

There are an estimated 15 million Americans living with undiagnosed thyroid issues. Some people have either an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), sending the body into overdrive, or an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), slowing down bodily functions.

There are other conditions as well, including:

In this month of January, all of us at Any Lab Test Now® aim to raise thyroid awareness to the general public because it is estimated that up to 50% those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.

Before heading to a physician, you can perform a simple neck check in the comfort of your own home. Should you have any concerns, be proactive with your health in 2015 and let your local Any Lab Test Now® help! We offer an array of thyroid tests, including a comprehensive thyroid panel. Call us today to make an appointment!