The most common and simple test for hypothyroidism is to measure the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone or TSH being produced from the pituitary gland. A high level of TSH indicates that the thyroid gland is not producing sufficient levels of thyroid hormone (thyroxine and triiodothyronine).
Unfortunately measuring just the TSH doesn’t always properly diagnose secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism, which requires further blood testing if the TSH is normal and an underactive thyroid is still suspected. Additionally testing for antithyroid antibodies need to be performed for evidence of any autoimmune system diseases that could be causing damage to the thyroid gland itself.
Hypothyroidism is treated with the synthetic polarized versions of the thyroid hormone thyroxine and triiodothyronine although both synthetic and animal-derived thyroid tablets can be used. In a small minority of patients, only animal-derived thyroid-stimulating hormones are effective In the recent past most animal-derived hormones came commonly from a porcine source.
With sourcing and religious concerns some manufacturers have turned to bovine sources which are also coming under FDA scrutiny due to the amount of steroids and antibiotics found in the entrails used for hormone production. This is becoming a major problem as people have been known in common cases to have a negative or unresponsive reaction to synthetic hormones. There has also been controversy about the use of both thyroid-stimulating hormones as opposed to just one or the other in a single treatment regime.
