You may already know Hashimoto’s is not just a thyroid problem. It’s a complex autoimmune thyroid disorder that develops when the immune system launches a direct attack on the thyroid.
This autoimmune attack triggers widespread inflammation and swelling within the thyroid. Over time the thyroid gland stops functioning properly. And as you can imagine this triggers a long list of hypothyroid symptoms.
Concerned your thyroid is under autoimmune attack? This blog post looks at what you need to know about testing for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
How Can You Tell If Your Thyroid Is Under Autoimmune Attack?
Firstly, did you know the #1 sign your thyroid is under autoimmune attack is raised antibodies?
It’s WHY it’s vital to check thyroid antibody levels, especially if Hashimoto’s is suspected.
In fact, I can’t emphasis this enough if you are worried about your thyroid health. The specific antibody tests should be done as part of a complete thyroid panel. I also recommend talking to your healthcare practitioner about ordering a thyroid ultrasound to get a visual assessment of your thyroid and surrounding area.
The Two Go-To Thyroid Tests You Need To Know About
There are two specific tests used to detect the presence of thyroid antibodies:
Anti-Thyroperoxidase (TPO) Antibody Test
Often referred to as the ‘TPO test’. This test is commonly used to confirm an autoimmune thyroid disorder such as Hashimoto’s.
Anti-Thyroglobulin Antibody (TgAb) Test
This test should be done too as these antibodies target thyroglobulin, the protein precursor that’s stored in the thyroid cells. It’s important to know that thyroglobulin is produced by the follicular cells of the thyroid, and is used to form new thyroid hormones.
The thyroid antibody tests measure the amount of thyroid antibodies in your blood. These tests are incredibly useful to find out if you have an autoimmune thyroid disorder. If your doctor is unwilling to run these tests I suggest you get proactive and order your own tests online. Companies such as iscreen, Australia or True Health Labs, USA offer a range of thyroid tests.
Please note: this post contains affiliate links. This means that a special tracking code is used and I may make a small commission if you go ahead and order the thyroid tests you need. The price of the tests is the same for you whether it’s an affiliate link or not, and using affiliate links helps me to maintain this website. To find out more about my affiliate policy please refer to my Terms of Service.
YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN…
- Suspect Low Thyroid? It’s Time To Get Your Thyroid CheckedFatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, dry skin, even hair loss can be warning signs that it’s time to get your thyroid checked. If you’re worried about your thyroid it’s very important to discuss your concerns with a thyroid-literate doctor who will…
- Understanding Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis {A Silent Autoimmune Disease}Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or Hashi is a serious thyroid-immune disorder. First named in 1912 by the Japanese specialist Dr. Hashimoto Hakaru. Today, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Why Does The Immune System Attack The Thyroid? An autoimmune…
- Here’s How To Get Advanced Thyroid Testing In AustraliaWith everything that’s going on in the world right now visiting your local medical clinic to get your thyroid checked is probably not high on your priority list. Thankfully there is a solution…here’s what you need to know about getting…