A Thyroid Test is used to detect problems with Thyroid functioning. Thyroid tests are performed by healthcare professionals to monitor how well your thyroid is working and to determine the cause of problems such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism also known as an overactive and underactive thyroid. Visually, the thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. The Thyroid Profile Test measures three parameters from blood known as triiodothyronine, tetraiodothyronine and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The thyroid gland secretes the thyroid hormones, which play a significant role in the body’s metabolism, growth and development.
Overview of Thyroid Profile Test
Human beings are one complex machine and we power this machine through metabolism, which is the process of food being converted into energy. The conversion of this energy is measured as Basal Metabolism Rate (BMR). The value of BMR is directly influenced by the thyroid hormone. Hormones like triiodothyronine and tetraiodothyronine together regulate the body’s metabolism and growth whereas, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is a direct marker of the thyroid gland’s functioning. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland and helps to regulate the function of the thyroid gland. For the age group of 18 to 50 thyroid test normal range is 0.5 to 4.1 milliunits per litre (mU/L). Thyroid hormones control how the body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body even your heart.
When is the Thyroid Profile Test prescribed?
The thyroid gland’s improper functioning is indicated when a person is experiencing the following conditions:
- Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- Lack of energy
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Feeling too cold or too hot
- Not able to put on weight with a healthy diet
- Hair fall
- Swelling in the neck region
- Cramps in the wrist and legs
- Anxiety & mood swings
- Irregular menstrual periods
For people with such complaints, a Thyroid Profile Test is prescribed after consulting the physician. Some health conditions for which a thyroid test can be prescribed are: -
- Goitre
- Menstrual Irregularities
- During pregnancy
- Obesity
- Hereditary thyroid disorders
- Autoimmune disorders
- Diabetes
The test can also be performed as part of a routine health check-up. Thyroid test prices may depend on the city you live in. With Max Lab, you can make an online booking for the thyroid test.
Time Required for Test Report + Next Steps
After you book a thyroid test at home, a lab technician from Max Lab collects the blood samples, he or she will inform the date by which the Thyroid Test report will be shared. The thyroid profile test results are usually available within 24 hours. Individuals can easily collect their test reports at a nearby Max Lab diagnostic centre or download the report from the Max Lab’s official website. The normal ranges are generally mentioned in most laboratory reports. Still, it is wise to take the report to your doctor so that they can interpret the results and prescribe further treatment accordingly.