Memphis, Tennessee’s Commercial Appeal published a story recently about how half of people with a thyroid disorder don’t even know they have it. Experts attribute this to people often thinking the symptoms they’re experiencing, like weight problems, are just part of their normal daily life. This is why it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of a thyroid disorder so that if you feel you’re experiencing any, you can get a thyroid test.
The article notes that women are typically more affected by thyroid problems than men. And during pregnancy, the thyroid usually enlarges. If you’re pregnant, taking a thyroid test can be a good measure to take, especially if you’re at risk for having thyroid problems. The risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature delivery, the article says, is increased when a pregnant woman has an under-active thyroid. Plus, a new baby might not grow normally when the mother has an under-active thyroid.
Other symptoms of a thyroid disorder include gaining weight for no apparent reason, or struggling with weight problems. When there’s too much thyroid hormone being produced, a person can suffer from sweating, weak thighs and upper arms, tension, erratic pulse and frequent bowel movements. On the other hand, too little thyroid hormone being produced can result in hypothyroidism, where a person can experience dry skin, hair loss, sore muscles, depression and exhaustion. When the thyroid isn’t functioning as it should, it has an effect on the rest of the body, as it’s essentially the metronome for all of your body’s cells.
If you believe you may have a thyroid disorder, don’t hesitate to take a thyroid test. HealthCheckUSA offers several different kinds of lab tests and thyroid screenings. There’s the Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Test, or TSH test, which is the most important test for determining the status of the thyroid. Every five years, everyone over the age of 35 should get a TSH thyroid screening, as recommended by the American Thyroid Association.
Two economical thyroid screening panels are also available at HealthCheckUSA. These thyroid screenings combine multiple thyroid lab tests with the TSH thyroid screening — and it’s all at an affordable price. There’s the Thyroid Panel, which includes the T3 uptake, T4 total, T7 thyroid screening tests along with the TSH thyroid screening. There’s also the Thyroid Panel II, which includes the free T3 and free T4 thyroid screenings as well as the TSH test.
HealthCheckUSA also offers the TSI (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) thyroid test and the anti-thyroid antibodies screening.
HealthCheckUSA is the nation’s leader in low cost, direct-to-consumer blood and lab testing and provides people the ability to access all types of blood tests without a physician’s referral and at half the price.
HealthCheckUSA has packages that make it simple for consumers to measure, monitor, and improve their health by being able to order their own lab tests without a doctor’s order. HealthCheckUSA serves customers without insurance, have high deductible insurance plans, and taking control of their health because their doctor won’t order the test.
The blood tests available through HealthCheckUSA are the same medically accepted lab tests ordered by doctors for their patients. The blood tests are analyzed by an accredited medical reference laboratory. The results are confidential, and are available by fax to you or your doctor, or by mail to you (please allow 10 working days for mailing). Results are also available on the HealthCheckUSA Web site within 3-4 business days. An information sheet with an explanation of each test, including normal reference ranges, accompanies all results.