Thyroid - Pituitary
Urine
Thyroid Hormones T3/T4
The
thyroid is the body’s metabolic thermostat
controlling body temperature, energy use, growth rate, and
affecting
the operation of all bodily processes and
organs.
The
diagnosis of hypothyroidism is
usually made almost exclusively from
measurements of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
(TSH) and Thyroxine (T4) levels found in
blood tests. However this method is thought
to be largely ineffective at diagnosing
cases of milder hypothyroidism, more
accurately termed ‘thyroid dysfunction’.
Laboratory blood test techniques give information only
about the hormonal status of a patient at a
particular point in time. The elevation of
hormone levels in urine however, assess
tissue exposure to thyroid hormones over a
24-hour period.
The urine thyroid test
therefore serves as a valuable tool for
detecting thyroid dysfunction that may otherwise
go undetected through standard blood tests.
It is important to use this test as an
adjunct to other indicators of thyroid
function, such as body temperature,
symptomology and standard blood thyroid
tests.
The
role of the thyroid
The
thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped gland
that sits in the throat on your vocal cords
just under the Adam’s apple. This small
gland has an incredible amount of
responsibility – it affects every cell in
your body, regulating cell metabolism. Like
a thermostat the body needs a constant
regulation of heat to perform its functions. How cells function depends on how warm or
cold they are. When the thyroid is low
(what is commonly called sluggish) it
doesn’t produce enough active hormones, so
your whole body system become inert. As the thyroid
regulates burning of calories weight
tends to increase as your thyroid function
decreases.
What
are the causes?
- Family
History
- Yoyo
dieting
- High
stress levels
- Low calorie & nutrient deficient
diets
- Hormonal
events (puberty, childbirth,
menopause)
- Vegetarianism
- High
Soya intake
- Physical injury
Common
signs & symptoms:
- Uncomfortably
heavy during or since childhood
- Quiet
and shy child
- Weight
gain after first period, pregnancy,
miscarriage, abortion, menopause or
starvation diets
- Low
energy, fatigue, lethargy, need lots of
sleep (8 hours or more) and slow to get
going in the morning
- Tendency
to feel cold especially in hands and
feet
- Tendency
to significant weight gain and
difficulty in losing weight
- Depression
- Low
blood pressure and heart rate and high
cholesterol levels
- Menopausal
problems including severe cramping,
early and late onset.
- Low
sex drive
- Poor
concentration and memory
- Swollen
eyelids, face, general water retention
- Thinning
and loss of hair
- Headaches
(including migraines)
- Infertility
and impotence
- Weak
and brittle nails
- Goitre
– enlarged, swollen and lumpy thyroid
- Anaemia
- Adult
acne
- Hypoglycaemia
- Constipation
- Dry,
coarse or thick skin
- Nervousness,
anxiety and panicky
Pricing
To order test go to
Having
a Test
