One factor often overlooked when working on weight loss is a thyroid panel test. The thyroid can impact a person’s ability to lose weight if it is not functioning properly.
What is a Thyroid Panel Test?
A thyroid panel test is a group of tests used to assess the health of the thyroid gland. This test measures the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in the blood.
These hormones control the body’s metabolism, energy, and other functions. A thyroid panel test is typically done to diagnose or monitor conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, goiter, and thyroid cancer.
Types of Thyroid Tests
Thyroid antibody test (TPOAb and TGAb)
This test can help determine if you have an autoimmune disease by looking for antibodies that attack the thyroid. There are two types of antibodies found in the thyroid, thyroglobulin (TG) antibodies and thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies. This test will check for both. While having these antibodies doesn’t necessarily mean you have an autoimmune disease, most patients with thyroid dysfunction have either no antibodies or high levels of them. A positive test result does not mean that you’ll develop an autoimmune disease but that you are at higher risk of developing one than someone with negative antibodies.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
This test measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. Thyroid-stimulating hormone is produced by the brain and sent to the thyroid to trigger the production of thyroxine (T4). TSH levels rise when the hypothalamus notices that there’s not enough T4 in your blood. This causes the pituitary gland to release more TSH, triggering the thyroid to release more T4.
Free thyroxine (free T4)
This test measures the free thyroxine (T4) level in your blood. There are two forms of the hormone thyroxine: free thyroxine and bound thyroxine. Bound thyroxine is attached to proteins called globins. Free thyroxine is not attached to proteins. Because of their different binding effects, free T4 levels are better indicators of thyroid function than total T4 levels.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrxysmograph)
This test uses a thyrxysmograph to measure your thyroid-stimulating hormone levels over 24 hours. This differs from the serum TSH your doctor might run on a blood test.
The pituitary gland releases a thyroid-stimulating hormone when it’s needed to signal the thyroid to release thyroid hormones. The thyrxysmograph can measure these hormonal bursts and determine if they’re on schedule (at the right times of the day).
The Importance of Thyroid Testing
Thyroid testing is important to an individual’s overall health and well-being. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck that produces hormones that regulate metabolism, energy levels, and body temperature.
If the thyroid is not functioning properly, it can lead to various health problems, including weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, and depression. Regular thyroid testing is important to detect any underlying issues and help prevent further complications. Thyroid testing can also detect thyroid cancer, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. Additionally, thyroid testing can help identify other conditions, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, that can cause unpleasant physical symptoms.
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