Thursday, July 10, 2014

Decoding Your Health Test Results

What's not: An hs-CRP level more than 3.0 mg/L indicates a high risk.

CRP levels too high? Get doctor-recommended tips for a healthy heart ^[1].

4. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
This simple blood test will tell you if your body is producing enough TSH. The hormone is produced by the pituitary gland to help control hormones produced by the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower part of your neck just above the collarbone.

The thyroid controls many body processes, including bowel function, energy level and menstruation.

An underactive thyroid slows metabolism, creating hypothyroidism. Symptoms include unexplained weight gain, decreased appetite, feeling too cold, oversleeping, constipation, hair loss, reduced sex drive, infertility, depression and excessive fatigue.

An overactive thyroid speeds up your metabolism, a condition called hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include unexplained weight loss, increased appetite, feeling too hot, sleeping troubles, pounding heartbeat, diarrhea and feeling wound-up.

"Your TSH will be elevated as it tries to push your gland to produce more thyroid hormone," says Laura C. Knobel, M.D., a family physician in Walpole, Mass., and a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

"If too much thyroid hormone is being produced, your TSH will be very low, or not even detected," Dr. Knobel says.