What Is Thyroid Testing Used For?

Thyroid testing is a common medical diagnostic used to determine how well the thyroid gland is working. There are many different reasons why you may want to examine the function of your hormone-producing gland. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, Simon Wellness Consulting can administer tests and help you move forward with the results.

How Blood Tests Work and Why They Are Important

Thyroid testing is important because it shows how well your body is working. Your hormone gland is an essential organ, and it affects many other areas of the body and things like:

• Heart rate
• Metabolism
• Cholesterol
• Nervous system
• Temperature
• Immune system

If your thyroid gland is working properly, then your body is working in optimal conditions. If it is not working properly, then your health will suffer. So, if you have reason to believe that you have an imbalance of hormones, visit our clinic for thyroid testing in Tampa Bay.

To administer a blood test, a medical professional will take a sample from a vein in your arm. They will wrap a band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood and allow the vein to increase the size of the veins below the band, making it easier to extract from. Then, they will prep the site with alcohol, insert the needle, attach a vial to the needle and fill it up, remove the band, place a cotton ball on top of the site of insertion, and remove the needle. They’ll hold the site of injection under pressure and then place a bandage on top, so the injection site heals. Overall, you should only feel a slight prick upon inserting the needle, and there should be a very minimal amount of blood at the injection site after the needle is removed.

Three Reasons Why You May Need Thyroid Testing

For residents in the Tampa Bay area, there are three main reasons why you may want to go in for testing:

1. To find out why your TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) test results were abnormal. The test can show certain levels of hormones that are present in the body, demonstrating the function of the gland. These tests show levels of free T4 (FT4), total thyroxine (T4), and T3 uptake (T3U).
2. To see if thyroid disease treatment is working. If you have a disorder such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, blood tests can show if the treatment is doing the job or if you need to adjust your medication. The test shows levels of total thyroxine (T4), free thyroxine (FT4), and free thyroxine index (FTI), which medical professionals use to track treatment.
3. To screen babies for gland function. Gland function tests can show whether newborns have normal function, or if perhaps they have congenital hypothyroidism, which can hinder growth and development, amongst other things. Catching this condition early on can improve treatment possibilities.

No matter the reason you want to find out how your hormone gland is functioning, Simon Wellness Consulting in the Tampa Bay area can help.

Visit Simon Wellness Consulting in Tampa Bay for Thyroid Testing

If you live in the Tampa Bay area, trust Simon Wellness Consulting for your health and nutrition needs. We offer testing and diagnostics to determine simple ways to improve your wellness as well as consulting and counseling services. Together, we can improve your life through health and wellness. Call us today at 727-239-9443 or contact us online to schedule an appointment for thyroid testing.