How to check thyroid at home

Wouldn’t it be nice to check your thyroid at home? 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. What if you could test your own thyroid at home instead of relying on your doctor? The good news is that there are ways to approximate how well your thyroid is working at home and that’s exactly what we are going to talk about today. The only issue is that these tests are not quite as accurate as blood work which means you may still need to get your blood drawn at some point. Diagnosing Hypothyroidism We’ve become accustomed to thinking that the only way we can look at how well our thyroid is functioning is by ordering certain blood work. While blood work is great and necessary, it isn’t the only way to look at how well your thyroid is working. Remember: Your thyroid controls many different functions in your body ranging from Because your thyroid impacts so many different systems we can look directly at those systems to get an idea as to how well the thyroid is functioning. The only downside to using this method is that, in some cases, more than just your thyroid contributes to the regulation of certain systems. But this isn’t a huge deal because you can actually test multiple systems to get a fairly good idea of how your thyroid is doing. Can you Test Yourself At Home? The answer is yes, sort of. While you can’t draw your own blood to check your thyroid fun...

Your thyroid helps regulate your metabolism, body temperature, heart rate, and brain function. Numerous companies offer the convenience of testing yourself for various diseases and conditions in the comfort of your own home, including whether your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). If you're experiencing symptoms of thyroid dysfunction, a home test can help you determine if the problem warrants further examination by a doctor. However, a home test can't provide an official diagnosis of hypothyroidism and shouldn't be used as a substitute for medical care and treatment. X Research source Assess the risk factors. If one or more of the risk factors apply to you, it may be more likely that you have a thyroid disorder. This is especially true if biological family members have had thyroid problems. Other risk factors include: X Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals • Biological sex (females are more likely to get thyroid disease than men) • Age (50 or older) • A personal or family history of thyroid disease • Thyroid surgery • Radioactive iodine treatment • Cigarette smoking • An iodine deficiency (more common in developing countries where table salt is not iodized) • Medications, including immunosuppressants, antiretrovirals, and lithium • Consumption of certain foods, including Brussels sprouts, broccoli, turnips, radishes, cauliflower, millet, kale, and soy foods (particularly processed soy foods) ...

Checking your thyroid at home with a neck self-exam can help to detect lumps or enlargements in the neck that may indicate a potential thyroid condition. You can check your thyroid at home with a neck self-exam to help with early detection and check for lumps or enlargements in the neck that may indicate a potential thyroid condition. You will need: • A handheld mirror • A glass of water How to do a thyroid neck check: • Hold the mirror in your hand, looking at the lower front area of the neck, above the collarbones, and below the voice box. The thyroid gland is located in this area of the neck. • Don’t confuse the Adam’s apple with the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located further down on the neck, closer to the collarbone. • While focusing on this area in the mirror, tip your head back. • Take a sip of water and swallow. • While swallowing, check the neck for any bulges or protrusions in this area while swallowing. • If you see any bulges or protrusions in this area, see your doctor. • This may be a sign of an enlarged thyroid gland or a What Is the Thyroid and What Does It Do? The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located below the The thyroid plays a role in a number of bodily functions, including: • Metabolism of • Metabolic rate (oxygen consumption) • Growth and development • Resistance to infection • Maintaining bone health • Maintaining muscle control • • Preserving brain function and development • Maintaining heart and digestive functions • Repro...