Why Does a Doctor Check a TSH Level?
A doctor draws a TSH to check for thyroid disease. At the same time TSH is checked, levels of thyroid hormones, T3 and T4 are determined to see if they’re abnormally high or low. Knowing the levels of these three hormones makes the diagnosis of an over or under-active thyroid easier. Doctors often order these tests when a patient complains of symptoms consistent with thyroid disease or when they feel an enlargement or nodule in the thyroid gland. TSH levels are also monitored in patients receiving medications for an over or under-active thyroid gland – to make sure they’re taking the right amount.
