{"id":48017,"date":"2022-01-13T09:30:01","date_gmt":"2022-01-13T14:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=48017"},"modified":"2022-01-18T10:53:56","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T15:53:56","slug":"normal-thyroid-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/normal-thyroid-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"How to understand thyroid panel test results"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is thyroid hormone?<\/a> | What\u2019s included in a thyroid panel?<\/a> | Normal thyroid levels<\/a> | Thyroid test results chart<\/a> | Other types of tests<\/a> | Next steps<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Your healthcare provider may recommend a thyroid panel test to determine if you have a thyroid condition. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck. It produces hormones that regulate metabolism. When these hormones are out of balance, it can cause myriad health problems, including unexpected weight loss and fertility problems. The good news is most thyroid diseases are treatable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But thyroid testing can be confusing. Here, learn the different types of thyroid tests and what your results mean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is thyroid hormone?<\/h2>\n

Your thyroid gland uses iodine from the food you eat to produce <\/span>two hormones<\/span><\/a>: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). \u201cYour appetite, gut motility, and even absorption of substances are all affected by thyroid gland hormones,\u201d says <\/span>Carrie Lam<\/span><\/a>, MD, cofounder and medical director of Lam Clinic in Tustin, California. Thyroid hormones aid in digestion, cardiovascular health, brain development, and growth in young people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Two regions of the brain help to regulate how much of these hormones the thyroid produces: the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which prompts the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (<\/span>TSH<\/span><\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

When T3 and T4 are too low in the body, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland produce more TRH and TSH. TSH then prompts the thyroid to put out more T3 and T4. When levels are too high, they secrete less TRH and TSH. It\u2019s important to have normal thyroid levels since an imbalance could throw off metabolic processes in other areas of the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s included in a thyroid panel?<\/h2>\n

If your healthcare provider is unsure what has gone awry with your thyroid, a full thyroid panel can help point toward what\u2019s causing your symptoms. It is a simple blood test. You don\u2019t need to do anything to prepare. Typically, it involves testing:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n