The thyroid gland is one of the most important human organs. It produces a number of hormones, without which the existence of a person is simply impossible. Currently, disorders in the functioning of the thyroid gland are found more and more often, therefore an analysis is becoming popular that allows you to determine the amount of hormones in a particular person. You can find more about the blood test for thyroid diseases and the norms for each of them in this article.
Thyroid
The thyroid gland is located in the throat and is located directly beneath the larynx. Outwardly, it resembles a butterfly, 2.5-4 cm in length. The size of this organ does not depend on gender or age and is individual. All vertebrates, including humans, have a thyroid gland. This is the most important endocrine organ, which normally produces hormones involved in metabolic processes, and also stores iodine. In the modern world, various disorders in the functioning of the thyroid gland are often observed. In most cases, this is due to the climate and insufficiently varied diet deficient in nutrients. As a result, the organ suffers and ceases to function properly.
When diagnosing the thyroid gland, a blood test is done to identify possible abnormalities and take action in time. Symptoms of malfunctions in the body can be depression, drowsiness, sudden weight loss and loss of strength.
Thyroid hormones
The thyroid gland produces a number of hormones that are involved in the vital processes of the body.
- Thyroxine T4 serves as a regulator of metabolism and energy status in the body. If this hormone is normal, then a healthy mental and nervous system is maintained, calcium is well absorbed and the body functions well in general.
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone. What is TTG? It is produced in the anterior pituitary gland and is responsible for the activation of the synthesis of other thyroid hormones. Together with other hormones, TSH is involved in the regulation of the body's heat metabolism, activates the production of proteins and provides adequate nutrition of the thyroid cells with iodine.
- Triiodothyronine (T3) in the blood is combined into protein compounds, which are released if necessary. In addition, this compound stabilizes blood pressure and stimulates mental processes.
- It is very important to know the list of all hormones and what they are called. A blood test for the thyroid gland is a very important diagnostic method. Using it, you can find out the amount of calcitonin, which is produced by special C-cells. It regulates the metabolism of calcium in the body and improves the absorption of this trace element.
- Thyroglobulin (TG) is a precursor of thyroid hormones that is found in the body in small doses. Most of it is located in the gaps of the follicles. Exceeding the norm of TG in the blood may indicate inflammation or infection of the blood.
Absolutely all thyroid hormones are involved in the metabolic processes of the body. They, in turn, regulate almost all body systems: psycho-emotional, sexual, mental, cardiovascular and digestive. Therefore, in case of poor health, doctors often recommend checking the thyroid gland, a blood test will help identify possible abnormalities.
Hormone T4
Thyroxine is a combination of several iodine molecules and two molecules of amino acid residues. This hormone in the blood binds to protein compounds and then penetrates into various cells of the body. Thus, protein plays the role of transport, which helps T4 "travel" through the body. If T4 is low, hypothyroidism begins, which can be identified by the following symptoms:
- low pressure;
- recession of energy;
- emotional instability and irritability;
- dry skin
- hair loss.
Deviation from the norm is considered not only low, but also high thyroxine in the blood. Usually this can be determined by the following criteria:
- accelerated heartbeat;
- tremor;
- insomnia;
- sweating
- causeless concern.
Analysis of TSH and T4 is often prescribed to those people who live in the northern latitudes and complain of poor health. A regular analysis of these hormones allows you to identify and eliminate problems in the body in time.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
What is TTG? This is the main thyroid hormone that regulates the activity of others. In the event that the level of thyroid hormones in the blood becomes too high, thyrostatin begins to be produced in the body, which reduces the production of TSH. As a result, the production of T3 and T4 is also reduced. Thyroid-stimulating hormone lowered - what does it mean? In the case of a decrease in the amount of T3 and T4, the body begins to produce more TSH. Its synthesis problems are most often found in women than in men. Even the slightest violation affects the functioning of the thyroid gland, sex and gonadotropic hormones. As a result, the level of TSH in the body directly affects almost all organs and systems in the female body. When diagnosing the thyroid gland, a blood test for TSH is done in cases where the following symptoms appear:
- weight gain or weight loss;
- chilliness;
- menstrual irregularities;
- disruption of the nervous system;
- decreased attention span;
- swelling
- dry eyes
- tachycardia;
- low-grade fever;
- fragility of bone tissue.
What can such a state say? Thyroid-stimulating hormone lowered - what does it mean? This is usually a consequence of an increase in thyroid hormones. This occurs with hyperthyroidism and thyrotoxicosis and can be the result of a variety of diseases:
- benign and malignant tumors;
- disruption of the hypothalamus;
- brain injuries;
- pituitary gland;
- cystic drift.
Sometimes, when diagnosing the thyroid gland, a blood test for TSH can give the wrong result. It is worth considering that sometimes some medications influence the result of the study, therefore, before taking any medications, you should consult your doctor. The level of thyroid stimulating hormone depends on many factors: age, weight, gender, day of the menstrual cycle in women.
Norms of TSH by age:
- For newborns from 1 to 17 μMU / ml.
- Up to three months: 0.6-10.
- From a year to five years, the indicators should not exceed the value of 0.5-6 μMU / ml.
- From 5 to 14 years, the TSH norm in the body decreases even more: 0.5-5 units.
- After 14 years in adults, indicators from 0.4 to 4 are considered the norm.
- Pregnant women have other standards: from 0.2 to 3.5.
Hormone T3
What is the name of the thyroid hormone, which is involved in the proper laying of the internal organs and systems of a person? Triiodothyronine is a key hormone that synthesizes the human body. It is similar in composition to T4. The difference between them is that during the decay T4 loses one molecule, as a result of which only three iodine molecules remain in the composition. This property provides T3 activity several times greater than that of its predecessor.
Total T3 plays a large role in the human body. What functions does it perform?
- Increases blood supply to body cells, resulting in increased oxygen supply.
- Normalizes heart rate.
- Lowers cholesterol.
- Stimulates cell renewal.
- Participates in metabolic processes.
- Synthesizes Vitamin A.
Thanks to triiodothyronine, energy from food appears in the cells. In addition, T3 plays an important role in the formation of the internal organs of the fetus, so the analysis for total T3 is often prescribed for pregnant women. For all others, a blood test for this hormone is prescribed with the following complaints:
- painful PMS;
- swelling
- violation of the cycle in women;
- a sharp change in weight for no apparent reason.
Elevated hormone T3 is easily determined by the following symptoms:
- prostration;
- frequent urination
- arrhythmia;
- insomnia;
- emotional instability.
A reduced level of triiodothyronine is expressed as follows:
- low temperature;
- vomiting and nausea;
- convulsive syndrome;
- numbness of the arms and legs;
- low energy potential.
When do you need to do the analysis?
Violations of the thyroid gland do not depend on age and gender and can occur in every person. Nevertheless, women are more prone to the appearance of violations in the work of this body. In people of different ages, the symptoms of thyroid disease can vary. In women, problems appear as follows:
- Squeezing the trachea and causeless cough can often indicate an increase in organ size. The thyroid gland compresses the trachea, and a feeling of stiffness begins to appear in the throat.
- Sometimes a tumor visible to the eye appears, and upon examination, uneven nodules and an increase in the thyroid gland are felt.
- Deterioration of health and a variety of symptoms such as weakness, tachycardia and insomnia can indicate many other diseases. But doctors recommend taking a blood test for the level of hormones TSH and T4, and only then draw conclusions.
The child’s body is especially sensitive to changes in the functioning of internal organs, therefore, with prolonged poor health, it is necessary to take the child to the doctor and pass all the necessary tests. But the problem is that it is almost impossible to determine the lack of thyroid hormones in children under 7 years of age. At this age, children often get sick, so parents often attribute everything to ARVI or the common cold. In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, a blood test for thyrotropin is taken on the 4th-7th day of the baby's life. A timely detected high level of TSH, coupled with other factors, allows for preventive treatment and protects babies from manifesting cretinism and impaired many metabolic functions. In older children, doctors are advised to pay attention to the following symptoms:
- tongue enlargement;
- underdevelopment of the genitals;
- bloating;
- fragility and dullness of the nail plates;
- hair loss, including eyebrows;
- lag in physical or mental development;
- decreased concentration and attention;
- growth retardation.
Timely examination for the level of thyroid hormones allows at any age to quickly determine the source of the problem and eliminate it.
Deciphering the results
Deciphering the tests is a difficult task that is accessible only to specially trained people. To decrypt, you need to know the patient’s history, the list of drugs he takes and the individual characteristics of the body. In addition, by passing an analysis in different private clinics, you can get different indicators. In order to avoid such situations, choose only trusted medical centers.
Normal indicators in adults should be as follows:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone should be contained in the blood in a volume of from 0.4 to 4 mU / l.
- AT-TG - from 0 to 18 U / ml.
- The hormone T3 should not fall below 2.5 and rise above 5.7 pmol per liter of liquid.
- For T4, values from 9 to 22 pmol / L are considered normal.
In the event that the level of hormones is below normal, a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is made. If the values are higher than permissible, then the patient has hyperthyroidism. These diseases differ in symptoms and treatment, so it is important to determine what kind of problem a person has.
Risk groups
Reduced or increased thyroid activity occurs in four out of a hundred people. But some people are more prone to hyper- or hypothyroidism than others. Who needs a regular thyroid test?
- People over 50 years old. Age increases the risk of cancer and other thyroid diseases.
- For women - according to statistics, problems with this internal organ are found in the female half of humanity.
- Family predisposition. If the closest relatives of the patient have already met with thyroid diseases, there is a good chance that he himself will become a victim of metabolic disorders.
- Medical tests containing iodine contrasts can cause temporary effects of hypothyroidism.
- The area of residence and the environmental situation have a significant impact on human health. If you live away from the sea or in a polluted industrial area, check your thyroid gland more often.
- Bad habits, such as smoking, can become a catalyst for neoplasms, including the development of tumors in the thyroid gland.
- Pregnancy puts women at risk. The fact is that hormones produced in the body of a pregnant woman can affect the decrease in TSH levels, as a result of which many processes in the body are disturbed.
- A blood test for thyroid disease should also be given to those who have suffered an injury or surgery in the area of the thyroid gland.
What tests to take?
Assign tests for thyroid hormones only a specialist. The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of several diagnostic procedures: visual examination, laboratory tests and ultrasound. Nevertheless, from time to time, each person may take the necessary tests independently as a prophylaxis. However, if you have unpleasant symptoms, and you began to feel bad, it is better to consult a doctor - only he can figure out your problem. How to take tests for the thyroid gland for pregnant women? Usually, doctors prescribe a comprehensive diagnosis at 16-17 weeks of gestation. It is necessary to pass tests for the following hormones:
What tests for the thyroid gland to take for children and adults with suspected illness? First, the same set of hormones is prescribed. If one of the results exceeds or does not reach the norm, then the doctor prescribes more detailed studies.
Prevention
The thyroid gland is the most important endocrine organ that regulates metabolic processes throughout the body. In order not to constantly take a blood test to check the thyroid gland, you can follow simple preventive measures:
- Regular exercise helps to heal the whole body. It is proved that physical activity 3-4 times a week positively affects the production of hormones in the body.
- Diet is the most important factor on which the state of the thyroid gland directly depends. If your diet contains seafood, nuts and vegetables in sufficient quantities, then you probably should not worry about the appearance of hyperthyroidism. If you live away from the sea, then experts advise eating marine fish and algae (kelp).
- If you refuse sweet and flour products, and write daily walks in the fresh air in your daily routine, then metabolic processes in the body quickly normalize.
Specialists advise that people over 35 perform preventive examinations at least every two years. A blood test for TSH hormones needs to be taken once a year. This will allow you to identify unpleasant symptoms in time and begin preventive treatment.