When it comes to thyroid-related concerns and problems, making sure your metabolism works properly and doing everything you can to correct the problem before it becomes more serious should be your prime concern. However, it’s hard even for some of the best medical practitioners to determine what’s wrong just by looking at your symptoms.
This is why the TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test was developed. According to Synthroid, this test can help patients determine the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone in their blood, accurately diagnosing what the thyroid-related problem you’re struggling it really is.
What Does the Test Actually Do?
In order to fully understand what the test does, you have to first have a clear understanding of how your butterfly-shaped endocrine gland works. Thyroid-generated hormones are produced when the thyroid-stimulating hormone – a hormone generated by the pituitary gland – triggers their production at the right time (just when T3 and T4 hormones are low). In some cases, however, the hormonal balance is gone, and your metabolism ends up acting erratically.
The TSH-testing practices are in place to measure the amount of the thyroid-stimulating hormone. This is the initial thyroid blood test used to diagnose hypo-thyroidism, and it has proven to be extremely accurate in that respect.
TSH-Testing Concerns – How Does It Work?
The test requires very little preparation. All you have to do is visit your doctor and ask to be referred to a specialized clinic where you can go to get tested, and you can have it on a short notice.
Even though it’s a blood test, you don’t have to take it on an empty stomach. In fact, the only real requirement is to tell the medical expert conducting the test about any disorders you might be suffering from and any medication you might be on. This information will help them give you a more accurate assessment of what is happening to your body.