The Daily Pill is a series of very short daily posts where I share the definition of a medical term I think we should all know. Read it every morning and build up your medical vocabulary.
🛢️ Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that regulates the activity of the 🥁drumroll… thyroid gland. 🤯
TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which control the body's metabolism, energy levels, and growth. All of which are very important for all of you superstars.
Because of this stimulating effect, we can use TSH levels in the office - measured in blood tests, to easily assess thyroid function. Maintaining balanced TSH levels is crucial for metabolic health and overall well-being.
🤔Why you need to know:
Monitoring TSH levels is essential for diagnosing thyroid disorders such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). These conditions can affect your energy, weight, mood, and overall health.
In addition - and perhaps more importantly, symptoms attributed to other disorders, such as low testosterone, chronic fatigue, insomnia, and many others, may actually be due to thyroid dysfunction. Hence, identifying and treating thyroid imbalances can provide a more straightforward solution and address the root cause of these symptoms. This is why you have to talk to your PCP yearly about all your symptoms and let them do their thing.
🧠Trivia:
The thyroid was one of the first endocrine glands to be recognized for its hormone production role. The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and is located in the neck.