The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck, located just in front of your windpipe. The thyroid produces hormones that control many vital functions in your body including your heart rate and body temperature.
Symptoms of Thyroid Problems
If your thyroid hormone levels are not normal, you could experience a myriad of symptoms such as fatigue, racing heart, and inability to control your body temperature, among others.
If you are feeling out of sorts, fatigued, anxious for no reason, are inexplicably losing or gaining weight, are having trouble sleeping, are sensitive to the heat or cold, experiencing changes in your menstrual cycle or voice, or have vision and hair problems, you may need to have a blood test for thyroid.
Get Your Thyroid Tested
To be sure your thyroid level is normal, a simple blood test will indicate your thyroid hormone levels. This is also known as a thyroid function test. The TSH blood test (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and T4 blood test for thyroids are performed by taking blood and examining specific thyroid hormone levels in your blood. If your thyroid levels are not normal, there are thyroid medications to help return your thyroid hormone levels to a normal range. This often helps you on your way to feeling yourself again.
Thyroid Full Profile Test (TF)
This test checks the function of your thyroid gland and measures levels of:
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Free T4 (FT4).
These results give a good indication as to whether your thyroid is functioning normally or not. The TF test is often a good place to start if you’re concerned about your thyroid levels or just want to ensure that your thyroid is working as it should.
Full Thyroid Blood Profile (TF2)
This is a more comprehensive analysis that tests for:
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
- Free T4 (FT4)
- Free T3 (FT3)
- Thyroglobulin Antibodies &
- Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies
It provides a more complete picture of how your thyroid is functioning and will also give you an indication of whether you have an autoimmune condition that might be affecting your thyroid – this is one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism.
Anna Pharmacy Group can assist you with Thyroid Function Blood Tests to ensure your thyroid check-up is worry-free and carried out swiftly. Put your mind at rest by booking a thyroid function blood test in one of our pharmacy branches: Carshalton, Sutton, Hackbridge, Wallington & Croydon.