THE ROLE OF THE THYROID According to the Center for Disease Control and prevention, thyroid dysfunction is especially common in older people and women, affecting over 30 million people in the U.S. If you have been experiencing unexplained weight gain, mood changes, fatigue or sudden weight loss, you may benefit from thyroid testing. These blood tests measure the levels of the hormones that influence the function of the thyroid, and may indicate a hormonal imbalance is the cause of changes in your metabolism. As a result, the thyroid may be overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). A healthy functioning thyroid needs a balanced level of thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH, T3, and T4. Together these hormones stimulate the gland and store hormones that increase or decrease energy expenditure. The thyroid is also related to the role of other body systems and may cause certain symptoms if it is not functioning at optimum. The role of these hormones may include: The thyroid stimulating hormone or TSH signals the thyroid to perform its job and burn calories. T3 is the active thyroid hormone that informs the body cells to use digested food as energy and to not store it as fat. T4 circulates in the blood and influences how other organs and the heart function in the body.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 23:55:12 +0000