Thyroid Home Tests
The thyroid is the gas pedal of the body’s endocrine system, influencing a surprising amount of bodily functions including metabolism, vitamin utilization, mitochondrial function, digestion, muscle and nerve activity, blood flow and reproduction.
Low thyroid function is wide-spread in America because we don’t consume enough of the nutrients the thyroid needs to thrive. The most common symptoms of low thyroid are weight gain, slow metabolism, low body temperature and low mood.
Here are some self-tests you can do at home, without ever stepping foot into a doctor’s office, to tell if you’re having issues with your thyroid.
Thyroid Test #1 – Body Temperature Test
Your cells literally and logically produce heat as they burn energy. Perhaps you’d be surprised to learn that your body generates enough heat every day to boil a gallon of water. Fortunately, our amazing body regulates this heat, keeping our temperature at about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Deviation from this temperature of more than two degrees either way creates a massive impact in the body. When your temperature is low you can be almost assured that your thyroid function is low.
Here is how to conduct the body temperature test to determine thyroid function:
- The night before, shake down the thermometer and place on your night stand.
- First thing in the morning, before getting out of bed, tuck the thermometer in your armpit or your mouth and lay still for 10 minutes.
- Record the temperature on the chart below
- Indicate the first day of your menstrual period (if applicable) by circling the temperature on the chart for that day.
- Indicate the last day of your menstrual period by making an “X” through the temperature on the chart.
If the thyroid is overactive, your temperature will show 1-2 degrees above normal.
If the thyroid is under-active, your temperature will show 1-2 degrees below normal.
The normal temperature is between 97.8 and 98.6 degrees. If your temperature is consistently below this level, blood tests for evaluating the thyroid are encouraged. However, be aware that these tests are often normal even if the thyroid gland is malfunctioning. That is because the tests show only how much thyroid hormone is circulating in the blood and tell nothing about how well the hormones are functioning at the cellular level. Additionally, the loss of up to 70% of thyroid function may occur before blood tests become abnormal.
This test was developed by Broda Barnes, M.D., PhD., a practicing physician. In Dr. Barnes’ opinion this test was superior to standard blood studies for evaluation of thyroid function, because blood tests usually only measure pituitary (TSH) and T4 hormone blood levels, while temperature reading measures the energy being produced by cells and metabolism.
Thyroid Test #2 – Body Type Test
When the thyroid fails, the entire body’s metabolism fails, so the resulting weight gain tends to be evenly distributed. Additionally, low thyroid patients often have swelling and double lines over the thyroid region.
Thyroid Test #3 – The Hair and Eyebrows Test
Low thyroid function in women can result in baldness or thinning hair, either on the head or the eyebrows. The lateral third of the eyebrows generally goes first, indicating low thyroid function.
Weight gain distribution is also a clear sign of thyroid dysfunction. When the thyroid fails, it fails the metabolism of the entire body at once so weight gain tends to be evenly distributed. Additionally low thyroid patients often have swelling and double lines over the thyroid region.
Thyroid Test #4 – Common Symptoms
Symptoms of Low Thyroid (Hypothyroid)
- Evenly distributed weight gain
- Poor muscle tone with sagging skin under arms, chin or midsection
- Craving bread, pasta, chocolate, sweets
- A history of being on low-protein diets
- Weakness, fatigue, and/or lethargy
- Sleepiness
- Often requires afternoon naps
- Tendency to have a low morning appetite or skip breakfast altogether
- Weak nails with vertical ridges
- Hair is coarse and dry
- Dry Skin, especially hands and around elbows
- Eye area appears swollen and puffy with hanging eyelids
- Outer eyebrows thinning or absent (mostly women)
- Increasing periods of depression
- Tendency to get overwhelmed
- Low body temperature
- Cold sensitivity (need to put on socks or more covers while sleeping)
- Poor circulation with cold hands and feet
- Thickening of the tongue which causes indentations on sides
- Hoarse voice with slow speech
- Not being able to maintain curls in your hair
- High cholesterol
- Voice deeper and rougher in sound
- Decreased or loss of libido
- Cellulite on butt, thighs and under-arm
- Goiter nodules on thyroid
Symptoms of Fast Thyroid (Hyperthyroid)
- Greasy Hair
- Bulging Eyes
- Overheating of body, especially hot feet at night
- Emotional extremes
- High appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Excessive sweating
- Heart palpitation and/or fast heartbeat
- Naturally thin with no exercise
- Long thin arms, legs and/or neck
Thyroid Health Pack
If you have hyperthyroid OR hypothyroid, the Thyroid Health Pack may be just the answer you’re looking for.
