Normal thyroid hormone levels fall within a wide range. Home thyroid tests also measure T4 along with other thyroid hormones. The treatment for abnormal T4 levels varies depending on whether the levels are too low or too high. About 4. Most people who develop the disease are over 60 years of age. To treat this condition, a person takes the synthetic hormone levothyroxine daily to increase levels of the natural thyroid hormone thyroxine. When a person first starts taking levothyroxine, they require blood tests every 6—8 weeks.
These allow a doctor to monitor their T4 levels so they can adjust the dosage if necessary. Once a doctor establishes the correct dosage, a person may require follow-up blood tests every 6—12 months. Hypothyroidism is usually manageable with the correct medication. A person must continue to take their dosage unless a doctor advises them otherwise. Several different treatments are available for hyperthyroidism.
A person with abnormal T4 levels is likely to require some form of treatment to bring their levels back to within a normal range. Some people need to keep taking medication for several years or possibly for life.
With the right treatment, most people can normalize their T4 levels and go on to live a relatively normal life. T4 is a hormone that the thyroid gland produces.
It regulates metabolism and plays a crucial role in digestion, muscle function, and bone health. T4 levels exist within a normal range. Hypothyroidism is where the thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone, which results in lower-than-normal T4 levels. In people with hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, which leads to higher-than-normal T4 levels. Thyroid function tests are blood tests that measure thyroid hormone levels and can identify abnormal thyroid function.
Hair loss sometimes occurs if the thyroid gland is not working correctly. An overactive thyroid or an underactive thyroid can both cause hair loss…. A hyperactive thyroid is when the body produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Test Types. Reference Ranges. Interpreting Results. Thyroid Disease Healthcare Provider Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF. Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up. How Hypothyroidism Is Treated.
Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What are your concerns? Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Hyperthyroid or Hyperparathyroid? What's the Difference? Thyroid Testing and Diagnosis. How Healthcare Providers Diagnose Hypothyroidism. Diagnosing Hashimoto's Disease.
How Hashimoto's Disease Is Treated. What Is Basedow's Graves' Disease? What Is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone? Why do doctors perform a T4 test? How do you prepare for a T4 test? What do abnormal T4 test results mean? Are there any risks associated with a T4 test? Read this next. Medically reviewed by Kelly Wood, MD. What Is a T3 Test? Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M. Hypothyroidism vs. Medically reviewed by Jason C. Baker, MD. Medically reviewed by Angelica Balingit, MD.
Thyroid Ultrasound. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. T4 and T3 circulate almost entirely bound to specific transport proteins. If the levels of these transport proteins changes, there can be changes in how much bound T4 and T3 is measured. This frequently happens during pregnancy and with the use of birth control pills. Blood tests to measure these hormones are readily available and widely used, but not all are useful in all situations. Tests to evaluate thyroid function include the following:.
A high TSH level indicates that the thyroid gland is not making enough thyroid hormone primary hypothyroidism. The opposite situation, in which the TSH level is low, usually indicates that the thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone hyperthyroidism. Occasionally, a low TSH may result from an abnormality in the pituitary gland, which prevents it from making enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid secondary hypothyroidism. In most healthy individuals, a normal TSH value means that the thyroid is functioning properly.
A Total T4 measures the bound and free hormone and can change when binding proteins differ see above. A Free T4 measures what is not bound and able to enter and affect the body tissues. Patients who are hyperthyroid will have an elevated T3 level. T3 testing rarely is helpful in the hypothyroid patient, since it is the last test to become abnormal.
Some reverse T3 is produced normally in the body, but is then rapidly degraded.
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