Endocrine glands are responsible for production of hormones directly released into the blood rather than passing through a duct system. TSH or Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is produced by one such endocrine gland called pituitary gland.
Top 10 TSH Facts and Figures
This is the common misconception about TSH. Thyroid hormones Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4) are produced by thyroid gland, a tiny butterfly shaped gland located in front of the trachea(or wind pipe) and just at the base of larynx (or voice box). These hormones are produced as and when they are required. TSH is produced by pituitarygland in a joint venture with thyroid gland.
In simple words, TSH or Thyrotropin stimulates and facilitates the production of T3 and T4 hormones.
TRH translates to Thyroid Releasing Hormone; it is produced by hypothalamus located within the brain and is known to control the functioning of the pituitary gland (helping to produce TSH) apart from influencing scores of body mechanism like sleep, hunger, thirst, body temperature, and mood swings.
Hence, both TRH and TSH act jointly to maintain the optimum level of thyroid hormone within the blood stream.
The primary role of TSH is to act as the feedback system along with TRH to alert the thyroid glands to secrete more and more of T4 and T3 when thyroid level in the blood takes a dip (hypothyroidism). When reverse happens, that is when the level of thyroid hormone is above the desired level (hyperthyroidism), TSH signals thyroid gland to produce T4 and T3 in minimal quantity. Thus, it helps in maintaining equilibrium.
Generally thyroid gland produces T4 in the blood which is comparatively inactive than T3. T4 gets converted to active T3 within the liver and tissues of the human body. Both these hormones are responsible for producing energy because numerous biochemical and metabolic functions are facilitated by them.
Poor secretion or excessivesecretion ofthyroid hormones can be medically diagnosed with TSH test which is mandatorily followed by another test called radioactive iodine uptake scan. The second test is to identify the root cause behind the suppressed production (either due to Goitre, Grave’s disease or Thyroiditis).
Periodic check up via TSH test should be done to keep thyroid disease at bay. It helps in:
Multivitamins, OTC medications, hair and nail supplements may affect proper screening of thyroid level via TSH test.
Pregnant women should be checked for TSH to ensure the birth of a healthy offspring because there might be crucial changes in the functioning of the endocrine system of the body.
Small children, especially below three years, should be screened for thyroid hormones level because they have a direct impact on the intellectual development. In case of imbalance intellectual disabilities might occur. They also influence the movement of food from mouth to the digestive tract.
An enlarged goitre (symptom of hyperthyroidism) is the one of the most common signs that you have thyroid hormones imbalance within body. Hypothyroidism symptoms are sudden weight loss, increate heart beat, diarrhea, mood swing and heat intolerance whereas hyperthyroidism symptoms are weigh gain, dry skin, fatigue, cold intolerance and depression.
