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As always, this article is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. For those struggling with feelings of exhaustion, brain fog, moodiness or weight gain, the identification of a thyroid issue is obviously very helpful in getting the most out of life. Thyroid testing at home can be a convenient starting point for getting personalized information and education about hormones, omega 3 status, and more. Remember, a home test can’t get you a diagnosis — no matter what your results say, you’ll have to see your doctor to find out for sure.
In general, however, at-home test kits are not a reliable substitute for visiting your primary healthcare professional. Since thyroid concerns are common and you can have thyroid issues without symptoms, you can still get tested as part of your preventive healthcare routine. Testing your thyroid levels at home is convenient and accurate when done correctly, and with the range of home test kits to choose from, you may find one that you like.
Best for support from thyroid specialists: Paloma Complete Thyroid Blood Test Kit
Thyroid function testing is often ordered when patients have symptoms of a thyroid disorder. Testing can assist with diagnosing or ruling out thyroid problems as a cause of your symptoms. It may be more affordable to have your tests done through your healthcare provider, however.
That’s where you’ll get the results, since the online portal provides you with greater security than an email. We also liked that the company includes a sample report before you purchase the test to better understand how your results will come. The only drawback to this report is that you must provide an email address for imaware to send the report. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences. Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being, a personalized, proactive, patient-centered medical practice with a unique focus on integrative endocrinology. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only.
Does Insurance Cover At-Home Thyroid Tests?
However, the company will not disclose test results to anyone without the persons permission. If the test is suitable for the person, the doctor approves it, and the company sends a test kit to them. The person then follows the instructions in the kit to collect the necessary samples and sends them through the mail to undergo testing in a laboratory.
Their additional antibody tests can detect Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and other thyroid disorders. One of the major clinical signs of hypothyroidism is low body temperature. Analyzing the body’s basal body temperature through axillary testing is a fantastic way to assess your thyroid function in a low-cost, non-invasive way. Unfortunately, a whopping 60% do not even know they have this condition. This is because most doctors are not testing for it or they are not doing the full thyroid panel that is necessary to diagnose a thyroid condition. In this article, I will show you how to test your thyroid function at home for free.
The Importance of Basal Body Temperature
Your kit should include detailed instructions, a device for drawing blood , a collection device, and a container for mailing it in. Be sure to follow directions carefully and completely fill out any paperwork that’s included. Further accessibility points go to the fact the company offers a staff of nurses helpline to get your questions answered.
Once you mail in your sample, you can expect to receive results within 7 days. Hyperthyroidism is a medical condition due to high levels of thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. I don't practice medicine anymore and instead specialize in helping people like YOU who have thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and weight loss resistance. I also happen to formulate the best supplements on the market (well, at least in my opinion!) and I'm proud to say that over 80,000+ people have used them over the last 6 years. You can read more about my own personal health journey and why I am so passionate about what I do. If you are someone with thyroid disease, and taking thyroid medication, then you know it can be difficult to get all of the right thyroid tests checked by your doctor.
How to Safely Gain Weight If You’re Underweight With Thyroid Problems
Graves' Disease is the root cause of roughly 70% of hyperthyroidism, which itself is present in perhaps 1% of women and fewer men. This article was medically reviewed by Ricardo Correa, MD. Dr. Correa is a board certified Endocrinologist. He completed his MD at the University of Panama and completed an internal medicine residency at the Jackson Memorial Hospital - University of Miami. He has been voted one of the 40 Under 40 Leaders in Health by the National Minority Quality Forum in 2019. Normal values for TSH range from 0.4 to 4.0 milli-international units per liter (mIU/L). If your TSH is elevated, that is a marker for hypothyroid disease, and if your TSH is very low that is a marker for hyperthyroid disease.
Home thyroid tests from reputable companies are usually reliable if you perform the test correctly. To ensure quality and accuracy, choose a company with CAP accreditation and CLIA certification. You have the options to have TSH and free T4 levels tested, but the thyroid panel also includes testing of anti-TPO antibodies and free T3 levels. You may want to undergo testing if you’re showing any symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. As you age, the temperature may be lower which could definitely have to do with the thyroid, but confirmative blood testing is always the best way to know for sure.
For those with particularly low levels of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism is a life-long condition that will need to be controlled with medication on a regular schedule. Thyroid testing is tailored to a persons specific health needs, and there are no universal guidelines for the appropriate use of at-home thyroid testing. Many people choose at-home thyroid tests because they are curious about their own health. However, diagnosing and monitoring thyroid disorders require the interpretation and advice of a physician. Our Thyroid Function home blood test kit checks the two key Thyroid Function hormones to confirm normal thyroid function and indicate an overactive or underactive thyroid. Home thyroid test kits typically include the supplies you need to do a few finger-pricks and collect blood to send back to the company.
The thyroid can be enlarged, have benign nodules and, more rarely, malignant nodules. While results are read by healthcare professionals, for a separate fee, they can provide information about your results, as well as a treatment plan. Paloma Health is a telemedicine company with healthcare professionals who specialize in thyroid disorders. Their main goal is to be a one-stop shop for all aspects of thyroid health. In other cases, the symptoms of hypothyroidism will go away shortly after you start treatment.
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However, if you are taking additional blood tests at the same time — for lipids and glucose, for example — you may need to fast for 8 to 10 hours. You’ll still need to visit a doctor to analyze your results and receive a diagnosis. Don’t change your medication or treatment plan based on home test results. They can provide more interpretation and decide if additional testing or a treatment plan is necessary.
Hashimoto Thyroid Disease Diet Plan
Therefore, healthcare professionals rely on biochemical testing to confirm the presence of any possible thyroid disorder. Tests for thyroid disorders look at thyroid hormone levels in your blood. For an at-home test, you’ll need to draw your blood yourself or have someone help you. However, the FDA does not describe the effectiveness or accuracy of thyroid tests. Thyroid tests can show whether a person has levels of thyroid hormones or antibodies that suggest a health problem. Hypothyroidism can be caused by a variety of different forms of damage or suppression of the thyroid.
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