| The thyroid gland is located in the front part of the | | | | Genetics are also considered to affect the risk of |
| neck and produces thyroid hormones that regulate | | | | thyroid issues. The risk is considered to be two times |
| metabolism. The hormones are responsible for the | | | | higher if one parent suffers from a thyroid condition. |
| energy levels of a person, and aid in the use of other | | | | Pregnancy has also been known to increase the |
| hormones and the growth of the body. Under | | | | possibility of a thyroid malfunction. Statistics tell us that |
| production or over production of the thyroid hormones | | | | one in every five newborn children has an underactive |
| causes various problems in the body resulting in | | | | thyroid and most of this does not get detected |
| hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The symptoms that | | | | because a thyroid test is not a mandatory checkup at |
| are caused are very general in nature making a | | | | birth. |
| thyroid test necessary to detect the real cause of the | | | | Two in every five cases of hyperthyroid disorders are |
| symptoms. | | | | caused by the autoimmune hyperthyroidism (Graves' |
| According to the American Association of Clinical | | | | disease). Autoimmune hypothyroidism (Hashimoto's |
| Endocrinologists (AACE) there are about 27 million | | | | thyroiditis) accounts for about 95 percent of the |
| Americans who suffer from some kind of a thyroid | | | | hypothyroidism cases. Swollen thyroid glands account |
| disorder. And it is estimated that about 50% of these | | | | for about 5 percent and may not involve a hormonal |
| cases are undiagnosed due to the nature of the | | | | imbalance. Whether it is Hashimoto's or Grave's, a |
| symptoms. Given that diabetes is estimated to have | | | | thyroid condition can only be established with the help |
| an incidence of 16 million, thyroid disorders are | | | | of a thyroid test. |
| considered to be the most common endocrine | | | | Today you can avail yourself of a home thyroid test |
| problem. Thyroid testing is one way to foster better | | | | that is available in online medical stores so that you |
| diagnosis of the condition ensuring proper and timely | | | | can test the levels of the TSH hormone itself at home. |
| treatment. A home thyroid test can be extremely | | | | The test indicates whether the thyroid is producing |
| convenient to use too. | | | | enough hormones by detecting the level of TSH |
| It is estimated that 80 percent of these thyroid | | | | hormone in your blood. The TSH hormone is produced |
| disorders occur in women. In fact women are 5 times | | | | by the pituitary, not the thyroid, and when the pituitary |
| more likely to have a condition called hypothyroidism | | | | senses there is not enough thyroid hormone it releases |
| than men. This means that women should be far more | | | | TSH. If the level of TSH being released in your body is |
| careful about thyroid testing and ensure that they | | | | not in a good middle range between the poles of too |
| invest in a home thyroid test to avoid thyroid disorders. | | | | much or too little then there may be a problem. |