The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating how your body uses energy.The thyroid also produces hormones critical to proper cell and system functioning. The Thyroid Panel screens for thyroid disease, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism by examining your body’s production of the thyroid hormones TSH, T3 and T4.

1. THYROID
By Any Lab Test Waco

2. INTRODUCTION
o Frequently misunderstood, and too often overlooked and
misdiagnosed, thyroid disease affects almost every aspect of
health, so understanding more about the thyroid, and the
symptoms that occur when something goes wrong with this small
gland, can help you protect or regain good health.
o Women are at the greatest risk, developing thyroid problems seven
times more often than men, a risk that increases with age and for
those with a family history of thyroid problems.

3. THYROID’S LOCATION AND ITS ROLE….
o Thyroid is a small bowtie or butterfly-shaped gland, located in your neck, wrapped
around the windpipe, behind and below the Adam's Apple area.
o The thyroid produces several hormones, of which two are main: triiodothyronine (T3)
and thyroxine (T4). These hormones help oxygen get into cells, and make your
thyroid the master gland of metabolism.
o The thyroid is the only cells in the body capable of absorbing iodine. The thyroid
takes in iodine, obtained through food, iodized salt, or supplements, and combines it
with the amino acid tyrosine.
o The thyroid then converts the iodine & tyrosine into the hormones T3 and T4. The "3"
and the "4" refer to the number of iodine molecules in each thyroid hormone
molecule.
o When it's in good condition, of all the hormone produced by your thyroid, 80% will be
T4 and 20% T3. T3 is considered the biologically more active hormone -- the one that
actually functions at the cellular level and is also considered several times stronger
than T4.
o Once released by the thyroid, the T3 and T4 travel through the bloodstream. The
purpose is to help cells convert oxygen and calories into energy.

4. o As mentioned, the thyroid produces some T3. But the rest of the T3 needed by
the body is actually formed from the mostly inactive T4 by a process
sometimes referred to as "T4 to T3 conversion."
o This conversion of T4 to T3 can take place in some organs other than the
thyroid, including the hypothalamus, a part of your brain.
o The thyroid is part of a huge feedback process. The hypothalamus in the
brain releases Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone (TRH).
o The release of TRH tells the pituitary gland to release Thyroid Stimulating
Hormone (TSH). This TSH, circulating in your bloodstream, is what tells the
thyroid to make thyroid hormones and release them into your bloodstream.

5. CAUSES OF THYROID DISEASE
o Exposure to radiation
o Over consumption of isoflavone-intensive soy products, such as
soy protein, capsules, and powders
o Some drugs, such as lithium and the heart drug cordarone, can
cause hypothyroidism.
o An overconsumption or shortage of iodine in the diet can also
trigger some thyroid problems.
o Radiation treatment to head, neck, chest, tonsils, adenoids,
lymph nodes, thymus gland problems, or acne.
o Overconsumption of uncooked foods, such as brussels sprouts,
broccoli, turnips, radishes, cauliflower, cabbage and kale

6. RISK FACTORS
…You have a family member with a thyroid problem
…You have another pituitary or endocrine disease
…You or a family member have another autoimmune disease
…You've been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
…You've been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia
…You're female
…You're over 60
…You've just had a baby
…You're near menopause or menopausal
…You're a smoker
…You've been exposed to radiation
…You've been treated with lithium
…You've been exposed to certain chemicals (i.e., perchlorate,
fluoride)

7. HYPERTHYRODISM
 When the thyroid gland becomes overactive and produces too
much thyroid hormone, a person is said to be hyperthyroid.
 The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is the
autoimmune condition known as Grave's Disease where
antibodies target the gland and cause it to speed up hormone
production.

8. o Autoimmune disease refers to a condition where the
body's natural ability to differentiate between its
tissues, organs and glands, vs. outside bacteria, viruses
or pathogens, becomes disrupted.
o This causes the immune system to wrongly mount an
attack on the affected area, by producing antibodies.
o In the case of autoimmune thyroid disease, antibodies
either gradually destroy the thyroid, or make it
overactive.
Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

9. Goiter/Thyroid Nodules
 Sometimes the thyroid becomes enlarged due to
Hashimoto's disease, Graves' disease, nutritional
deficiencies, or other thyroid imbalances. When the
thyroid become enlarged, this is known as a goiter.
 Some people develop solid or liquid filled cysts,
lumps, bumps and tumors, both benign and
cancerous in the thyroid gland. These are known as
thyroid nodules.

10. Thyroid Cancer
o A small percentage of thyroid nodules are cancerous.
Even thyroid cancer is a rare cancer, but it's on the
rise now.
Thyroiditis
o When the thyroid becomes inflamed, due to bacterial
or viral illness, this is known as thyroiditis.

11. TREATMENT
o Surgery is usually performed for thyroid cancer, for
some cases of goiter or nodule, and less commonly, as a
hyperthyroidism treatment.
o Thyroid drugs are an important part of treatment for
many patients.
o Treatment of Graves’ disease and hyperthyrodism
considers anti thyroid drug treatment, radioactive
iodine ablation, and surgery for an overactive thyroid