The thyroid is a small gland
below the skin and muscles at the front of the neck, at the spot where a bow tie would
rest. It makes two types of thyroid hormones: T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine).
It helps the body do many things, such as get energy from food, grow, and go through
sexual development.
The pituitary is a pea-sized gland at the bottom of the brain
that makes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH triggers the thyroid to make more
thyroid hormone. The pituitary gland and the thyroid gland send messages back and
forth to each other about how much hormone to make to keep the levels normal.
What Is Thyroid Disease?
Some diseases of the thyroid or pituitary gland cause the thyroid to make too much
or not enough thyroid hormone:
If the thyroid is overactive, it releases too much thyroid hormone, causing hyperthyroidism.
The body use up energy more quickly than it should, and chemical activity (like metabolism)
in the cells speeds up. Symptoms include sweating, trembling, weight loss, and fast
heartbeat.
If the thyroid is underactive, it makes too little thyroid hormone, causing hypothyroidism.
The body uses up energy more slowly, and chemical activity (metabolism) in the cells
slows down. Symptoms include tiredness, feeling cold, constipation, dry skin, and
slow height growth in children.
What Are Thyroid Blood Tests?
Doctors use blood tests to check for thyroid or pituitary problems. In kids already
diagnosed with thyroid or pituitary problems, the tests are used to guide treatment.
Commonly ordered thyroid blood tests include:
T4 test:
This is done to measure the blood level of the hormone T4 (thyroxine).
It might be done in one or both of the following ways:
total T4, which measures the entire amount of thyroxine in the
blood, including the amount attached to blood proteins that help carry the hormone
through the bloodstream
free T4, which measures only the thyroxine that's not attached
to proteins. This is the part of T4 in the blood that affects how the body's cells
work. The results of the T4 blood tests can help diagnose hyperthyroidism or
hypothyroidism and guide treatment.
TSH test:
A thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test can help tell how well the thyroid
is working. If a thyroid disease prevents the gland from making enough thyroid hormone,
the pituitary gland releases more TSH into the blood. If the thyroid is making too
much thyroid hormone, the pituitary releases less TSH, which can lower the levels
of TSH in the blood.
T3 total test:
The T3 total test measures the other major thyroid hormone in the blood.
It often helps doctors diagnose hyperthyroidism.
In some cases, abnormal thyroid test results can be due to a medicine, an ongoing
medical condition, or pregnancy. In these cases, there may be nothing wrong with the
thyroid or pituitary glands themselves.
The normal ranges of thyroid function test results vary by age. Doctors think about
this carefully when they interpret them.
What if I Have Questions?
If you have any questions about a thyroid blood test, speak with your doctor. You
can also talk to the technician who's doing the blood draw before the procedure.