Understanding your thyroid lab tests is one of the most important things you can do as a thyroid patient. Most doctors only check TSH, but that’s just one piece of the puzzle. These articles break down every thyroid lab test including free T3, free T4, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies so you can understand what your results actually mean.
Are you suffering from high DHEA-s? If so maybe you are experiencing symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, or signs of hirsutism. All of these symptoms and more may be caused by high levels of DHEA, but the question is what causes high DHEA to begin with? Once you understand WHY your DHEA levels are …
Checking your total T3 and free T3 may be the most important thyroid tests you can look at. Unfortunately, many physicians aren’t even ordering these tests which may lead to a missed diagnosis of low T3 syndrome. Fortunately, there are several therapies that you can do to increase this important thyroid hormone and take steps …
SHBG is short for sex hormone binding globulin and it is a serum blood test that can give you valuable insight into your hormones! Low levels of SHBG may be associated with low thyroid function and low estrogen status while high levels may bind up testosterone leading to weight gain, depression, and other symptoms. Most …
Have you been told, or are you suspicious, that you have a high TSH? If so there are many things you want to consider before pursuing treatment. While your TSH is important for assessing thyroid function it’s certainly not the only test, or the best way, to identify thyroid disease. We are going to take …
It’s estimated that up to 10% of people in the US have subclinical hypothyroidism. Statistically speaking that means you have a pretty high chance of having this issue even if you have tested “normal” for thyroid lab tests. Because subclinical hypothyroidism represents a treatable condition on the hypothyroid spectrum it’s critical to accurately diagnose and …
Would it surprise you to know that you can have a low TSH but still be hypothyroid? This situation is not uncommon and may be occurring in your body right now. On the flip side, a low TSH can also be an indicator of hyperthyroidism. Your TSH can be a helpful tool in evaluating thyroid …
Ferritin is an indication of the amount of iron in storage in your body. Low ferritin levels are often associated with symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, inability to exercise, and even hair loss. Diagnosing and treating low ferritin is important because it can actually reverse these symptoms and improve quality of life. Having …
Getting a complete thyroid hormone blood test is critical to understanding and evaluating your thyroid function. Complete thyroid testing includes so much more than the traditional TSH (which can be inaccurate in certain medical conditions). Without the right thyroid tests, you won’t understand if your body is converting thyroid hormone appropriately or if your cells …
Your anti-TPO antibody levels mean that your thyroid may be functioning sub-optimally. The presence of these antibodies indicates an inflammatory state in your body that needs to be treated. You can focus on certain therapies to help reduce these antibody levels and improve your thyroid function. In this guide, I will walk you through optimal …
Weight gain, crushing fatigue, the inability to sleep… These are only some of the symptoms associated with adrenal problems and yet this condition is ignored by so many physicians and Doctors. In addition, there is much confusion regarding which is the best way to actually evaluate your cortisol levels and which is the best cortisol …
