The thyroid gland is a small gland, but it plays a key role in regulating many vital functions: metabolism, energy, mood, body weight, heart rate, and fertility. Its proper functioning reflects on the entire balance of the body.
Alterations in thyroid function are much more common than people think, and can manifest with vague or progressive symptoms such as: persistent fatigue, weight gain or loss for no reason, intolerance to cold or heat, mood swings, menstrual cycle irregularities, and hair loss.
These signs are often overlooked, which is why it is important to include thyroid function monitoring in routine check-ups, even in the absence of obvious symptoms.
To assess thyroid health, the first value to monitor is TSH through a simple blood draw.
TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) is the hormone produced by the pituitary gland that "commands" the thyroid to produce its hormones (T3 and T4): high TSH may indicate hypothyroidism (slow thyroid), while a low value may indicate hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
If the blood test shows altered TSH values, it is essential to refer to an endocrinology specialist who will evaluate the dosage of free thyroid hormones (FT3 and FT4) and any thyroid antibodies to rule out autoimmune diseases (e.g., Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Basedow's disease). A thyroid ultrasound to check its structure and presence of any nodules often proves useful to complete the examination.
Given the insidiousness of some thyroid-related diseases, it is useful to schedule an annual checkup especially in familial cases even in the absence of obvious symptoms and after age 40.
