6 Important Health Checks for People with Hypothyroid
Nov 25, 2022
Even if the thyroid numbers appear "normal", you can be showing signs your thyroid and therefore your body are not functioning at 100% by looking at the value of these test results.
These tests are a great screening tool to perform while on medication and/or using a functional approach to make sure you are on the right track to healing.
1. Lipid Panel: This test looks at the lipids, or fats, in your blood. People with hypothyroidism may have elevated total and LDL cholesterol levels. Total cholesterol, which includes your good HDL cholesterol, in Functional Medicine, should be between 180- 220 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Medicine has lowered the bar on cholesterol and wants to see people with cholesterol under 200, which isn’t a problem unless is starts to go too low. Cholesterol is essential to the immune system, wound healing, and making other hormones. When cholesterol is too low we often see people with hormone problems, chronic fatigue, and autoimmune conditions.
2. CBC Complete Blood Count: With more severe hypothyroid disease, you are at risk for mild anemia and bleeding problems, and that can have an effect on clotting factors and platelets.
A CBC includes blood components and the ranges vary from male to female. Another reason working with a Functional Doctor is key to your health.
- Red blood cell count: 3.9-4.5 for females
- Hemoglobin: 13.5-14.5 for females
- Hematocrit: 37-44% for females
- White blood cell count: healthy range is between 6-8 male or female
- Platelet count: 150-385 x 1000 male or female
3. Liver Enzymes: Not only does the liver play a role in the chemical process that develops thyroid hormones, but untreated hypothyroidism can cause problems in liver function over time.
Additionally, sometimes people with hypothyroidism also have liver problems that need attention. The results of a liver panel test can't diagnose a condition, but the pattern of results along with symptoms will help your doctor decide on any next steps.
4. Total Protein, Globulin, and Albumin Tests: These tests, along with the liver enzymes are found on the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel.
Protein absorption is affected by stomach, pancreatic, or small intestine dysfunction: as such serum protein can be used to screen for nutritional deficiencies, and functional digestive problems which are an underlying trigger to hypothyroidism.
A decreased total protein can be an indication of malnutrition, digestive dysfunction due to a need for HCL, or liver dysfunction.
5. Nutritional Deficiencies: People with hypothyroidism and certain other deficiencies may have too little magnesium, an essential mineral, according to a study published in July 2018 in Scientific Reports. Normal blood test results are 2.2-2.5 mg/dL, per optimal Functional Medicine Guidelines.
The same goes for vitamin D, notes a review published in September 2017 in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Vitamin optimal levels are between 60-80 pg/ml.
These tests are usually only needed in the case of muscle aches that persist despite hypothyroidism treatment.
6. Inflammation and Antibody Panel: These tests look at how the immune system is reacting. Inflammation and autoimmune markers are a sign that your immune system is unable to complete its’ cycle of heal and repair. There are several markers that can be used, however, the most common when it comes to the thyroid are Hs-CRP, ESR, LDH, Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin Antibodies.
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