The TSH test is used to evaluate thyroid function and is usually requested by your family doctor or endocrinologist to assess whether the gland is functioning properly or to control thyroid diseases such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or in case of surveillance differentiated thyroid cancer, follicular to papillary, for example.
Thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH) is produced by the pituitary gland and aims to stimulate the thyroid gland to produce the hormones T3 and T4. When TSH values increase in the blood, this means that the concentration of T3 and T4 in the blood is low. When concentrated at low concentrations, the hormones T3 and T4 are present in high concentrations in the blood. He knows more about the normal values of T3.
- The reference values for TSH vary depending on the age of the person and the laboratory where the test is performed.
- Usually:.
Symptoms associated with high TSH are typical of hypothyroidism such as fatigue, weight gain, weight loss, cold sensation, increased facial hair, which makes it difficult to concentrate, dry skin, fragile and broken hair and hair. Learn more about treating hyperthyroidism.
TSH-related symptoms are typical of hyperthyroidism such as restlessness, heart palpitations, insomnia, weight loss, nervousness, tremors and decreased muscle mass, in this case it is normal for TSH to be low and T4 high, but if T4 is still between 01 and 04 I/mL, this could indicate subclinical hyperthyroidism. TSH below and T4 below may indicate anorexia nervosa, however any diagnosis is made by the doctor who requested the test.
The TSH test is done from a small blood sample that should be taken within 4 hours and sent to the lab for testing.
The best time to do these tests during the week, as your blood TSH concentration varies by day, before testing, it is important to indicate whether you are taking medications, especially thyroid medications such as levothyroxine, that may interfere with the test result.
The ultrasensitive TSH test is a more advanced diagnostic method that can detect minimum levels of TSH in the blood, different from the normal test. The diagnostic method used in laboratories is quite sensitive and specific, with the ultra-sensitive TSH test being commonly used.
The TSH test may be requested from healthy people to evaluate thyroid function and also for hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s thyroid thyroiditis, thyroid hypertrophy, presence of a benign or malignant thyroid nodule, when and also to control doses of thyroid replacement medications in case this gland has been removed.
These tests are usually requested by your doctor from the age of 40, so there are no cases of thyroid disease in the family, but preventively. Learn about the 5 thyroid trials and how they are done.