Did you know approximately 60% of people with a thyroid disease are unaware of their condition? This astonishing number paints an underlying story about the lack of knowledge of the disease. Let‘s first understand what exactly thyroid is and what a thyroid disease can do.
The thyroid is basically a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that keeps the metabolism in check, and it controls the body‘s vital functions by producing and releasing hormones thyroxine(T4) and triiodothyronine(T3). These hormones help ensure that all the cells in your body receive enough energy to function efficiently.
When the thyroid is not working correctly, it can hinder the body‘s functions massively, along with the ability to affect the heart rate, energy level, and bone health. The thyroid disease itself is divided into various categories, and getting a thyroid function test in Vadodara is the best way to determine the intrinsic type –
Types of Thyroid Disease:
Hyperthyroidism
This condition arises when the thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormones than the body requires, which causes the body‘s functions to speed up. Symptoms may include restlessness, racing heart rate, anxiety, weight loss, and increased sweating.
Hypothyroidism
This condition is the opposite of hyperthyroidism. It is indicative of the fact that the thyroid gland is underactive and is not able to produce enough hormones, which causes the body to slow down. Symptoms may include fatigue, dry skin and hair, memory problems, depression, and slow heart rate.
Hashimoto Thyroiditis
This disease is caused when the body‘s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the thyroid glands gradually by diminishing the body‘s ability to produce hormones. The most common symptoms include mild weight gain, depression, dry, thinning hair, and an irregular menstruation cycle.
Goiter
It is a noncancerous enlargement of the thyroid gland which occurs due to an iodine deficiency in the body. The most common symptoms include swelling or tightening of the neck, hoarse voice, cough, and difficulty breathing or swallowing.
Thyroid Nodules
This disease includes the formation of nodules on or in your thyroid gland. Lack of iodine in the body is a significant cause of this disease. Symptoms include high pulse rate, clammy skin, and weight loss.
The best way to identify the type of thyroid disease is to take a test. These tests are available nationwide, and the Thyroid test price in Vadodara and all over India is set substantially low by the government due to lack of knowledge about this disease.
Types of Thyroid Function Tests
Let us have a look at various tests that can give you an idea about the cardinal type of thyroid disease:
TSH Test
TSH is a hormone made in the pituitary gland that measures the amount of TSH in the blood. A high TSH level suggests that you have hypothyroidism and the thyroid gland is underactive. A low TSH level suggests that you have hyperthyroidism and the body is producing an excess of the thyroid hormones.
T3 and T4 Test
If a high level of T4 is detected in the blood, it is usually a case of hyperthyroidism, whereas low levels of T4 indicate that you have hypothyroidism. T3 is a follow-up test that is conducted if the doctor thinks you might have hyperthyroidism, but the test results of T4 were not evidence of that.
TSI level Test
This test measures the thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) level in your blood. High levels of TSI in the blood can be a symptom of Graves’ disease.
Antibody Tests
Antibody tests like anti-TG (anti-thyroglobulin) and anti-thyroid antibody measures if you have Hashimoto thyroiditis and Graves’ disease, respectively.
Conclusion
These tests can help you gauge the overall condition of the thyroid. If you or your loved ones are facing these aforementioned symptoms or conditions, book your appointment with the best diagnostic centre in India right away!