Choosing the right thyroid hormone

Low levels of thyroid result in a condition that is commonly referred to as hypothyroidism. The low levels of the thyroid hormones are a result of the thyroid gland not functioning properly. The improper functioning of the thyroid function is normally a result of Hashimoto’s disease whereby the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland just like it would bacteria and other forms of foreign substances in the body.

A hormonal replacement is the most common treatment that is used to treat the condition.

A sufferer has usually prescribed pills that they normally take on a daily basis for the rest of their lives. The pill’s content is a replacement hormone for the deficient hormones in the sufferer’s body system. There are two forms of pills that are available in the market-the T4 and the T3 types.

The T4 type is the inactive form of the thyroid hormone and the T3 type is the active form of the thyroid hormone. In the body, during the normal functioning of the body, the body converts the T4 type hormone to the T3 to help in the metabolic processes in the body.

When a patient takes the T4 type of hormone, the body converts it into T3 before they can help in the metabolic processes. There are hormone receptors in the thyroid glands that are responsible for sensing the T4 hormone presence and subsequent conversion of the T4 hormone into the T3 form that is active. Most of the pills in the market contain both the two forms of the hormone but in different ratios- the dominant form giving the pill its name.

If the T3 forms the dominant part of the drug, the hormone is called the T3 hormone.

These are not the only types of replacement hormones that are available in the market though. The other type of hormone is known as the bio-identical hormone. There has been a fierce debate in recent times as to the most effective of the three hormones, especially between the T3 and the T4 types.

Some critics argue that the T3 is the most effective form of hormonal replacement, their basis of argument based on the fact that the body has to convert the T4 into the T3 before the hormone can be of much use in the metabolic processes.

There is no one right answer to the debate as the answer depends on the patient and the underlying cause for the condition in the first place. Have a doctor prescribe to you the best hormone to take.

You can also change your hormone intake if the previous one is not working well with you but you need a medical practitioner to determine and approve the switch.

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