When to do a Thyroid Profile Test?

When to do a Thyroid Profile Test?

There are certain classic symptoms if you have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism - The thyroid is overactive and the body's metabolism is high. You may experience the following-

• Nervousness
• Irritability
• Palpitations or faster heartbeats
• Hand tremors
• Increased sweating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Brittle hair
• Weakness of muscles of upper arms and thighs
• Frequent bowel movement
• Longer durations between each menstrual cycle in women
• Weight loss even with a normal appetite
• Intolerance to heat

If there is Grave's disease - a common cause of hyperthyroidism- eyes may look like they are bulging out. One may also experience dry eyes, excessive tearing and discomfort in the eye, red-looking eyes or sometimes even reduced eye movement.

Hypothyroidism - Symptoms and signs of hypothyroidism(4^✔) include

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Muscle weakness
• Pain and stiffness in joints
• Slow heart rate
• Heart block
• Depression
• Impaired memory
• Increase in cholesterol level
• Irregular menstrual cycle with heavy flow
• Thinning of hair
• Constipation
• Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)

Goiter - is a swelling of the thyroid gland, which is seen as a lump in the neck that moves up and down on swallowing.

It can develop due to Hypo or Hyperthyroidism or if there is not enough iodine in your diet. Other rarer causes include radiation to the neck, hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy or menopause. Anyone can develop goiter but women are at a higher risk.

When Should You Order for a Thyroid test?

The thyroid profile blood test in the first instance will most often be ordered by your doctor if you complain of symptoms of hyper or hypothyroidism. However, if you are already taking medication and if you are having an annual health check-up you should request for this additional test if it is not part of the package.

If you do not have access to a doctor you may request for such a test if you experience the following before going to see the doctor.

1. You have a swelling in the neck- Goitre
2. High Cholesterol
3. Fertility Problems, irregular menstrual cycles, low libido, recurrent miscarriage
4. Family history of autoimmune disorders like type 1 diabetes, vitiligo
5. Osteoporosis - thin and fragile bones
6. Thyroid abnormalities during pregnancy can lead to many complications like miscarriage, preterm delivery, postpartum thyroid inflammation in mothers, brain abnormalities in the baby.

(5)

Before planning a pregnancy or during early pregnancy if you have a family or personal history of thyroid disorders, a past history of postpartum thyroiditis(inflammation of thyroid gland post-delivery), any other autoimmune disease history like type 1 diabetes you should request for a Thyroid Profile tested.

Recommended Thyroid Profile test to be done once a year if-

There are special circumstances as mentioned earlier when a thyroid test is required at least once a year and these include -

• History of thyroid disease
• Underwent any head and neck cancer surgery followed by radiation
• Undergoing treatment for hyperthyroidism
• If you are taking any of the following drugs- Amiodorone or Lithium - test should be done before starting the treatment and then at 6 months and then yearly once

References:

1. Thyroid Function Tests - (https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests/)
2. Information About - Thyroid Function Tests - (https://www.btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests)
3. Thyroid Dysfunction: Screening - (https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/document/evidence-summary7/thyroid-dysfunction-screening#table-1-classification-of-thyroid-dysfunction-biochemical-definition)
4. Clinical Thyroidology for Patients - (https://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/vol-3-issue-11/vol-3-issue-11-p-9-10/)
5. Dietary Goitrogens - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK285556/table/tyd-iodine-deficienc.goitrogenm/)
6. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) - (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypothyroidism/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350289)
7. Nair R, Mahadevan S, Muralidharan RS, Madhavan S. Does fasting or postprandial state affect thyroid function testing? Indian J EndocrinolMetab. 2014 Sep;18(5):705-7. DOI:10.4103/2230-8210.139237. PMID: 25285290; PMCID: PMC4171896

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