The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating how your body uses energy through the production of hormones critical to proper cell and system functioning.  The three main hormones in thyroid system ideally will be working in balance:

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

A thyroid hormone panel screens for thyroid function and can help diagnose potential thyroid disease by examining your body’s production, levels, or usage of the different thyroid hormones.  There are two types of thyroid and thyroid hormone related disorders:

• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) – symptoms may include fatigue, weight gain, a short attention span, and numbness or cold intolerance.
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) – symptoms may include weight loss, persistent vomiting, increased blood pressure, hair loss or a persistently fast heart rate.

WHY DO I NEED THIS TEST?

If there is a thyroid level imbalance in your body, you may be more susceptible to everything from osteoporosis and heart disease to infertility and fatigue.

Thyroid disorders are more common in women and they often occur with changes is other hormone levels, such as with pregnancy or with older age.