Reverse T3 Lab Test

The thyroid produces two main hormones - T4 and T3. However, a small amount of reverse T3 is also produced. This is often overlooked when testing thyroid hormones and it can be a mistake. Keep reading to learn more about reverse T3 and why it is so important. NOTE: Reverse T3 is analyzed using a specific technique called liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS). There's a special place in the U.S. where these precise machines needed for LC/MS panels run only on two specific days a week. So, sometimes the clock ticks a bit while we wait for samples to return from their initial collection points. Results may take 7 business days.

Reverse T3 - Symptoms, Causes, and Why Is It Important for Thyroid Health

 

As you probably know already, your thyroid gland is one of the most important organs in the body. It instructs other organs and tissues to produce hormones and exchange chemicals to keep up your metabolism and make you "work" every day.

The thyroid produces two main hormones - T4 and T3. However, a small amount of reverse T3 is also produced. This is often overlooked when testing thyroid hormones and it can be a mistake. Keep reading to learn more about reverse T3 and why it is so important.

What is Reverse T3?

Reverse T3 (rT3) is an inactive form of T3. Your body produces it as a way to eliminate excess T4. T3 should usually be twenty times more than reverse T3. However, in some circumstances, the body converts too much T4 into rT3 instead of free T3.

This is when a patient starts to experience thyroid problems and their associated symptoms. The patient might have subclinical hypothyroidism because there isn't enough T3 produced (because rT3 replaces it). This means that the thyroid doesn't produce enough healthy hormones to make your body function correctly.

Knowing your RT3 number is important for a variety of reasons. For example, your thyroid might produce an adequate quantity of T4, but a lot of it is converted to rT3 instead of free T3. If you go to a doctor for a thyroid test, he might diagnose this condition as hypothyroidism.

The next step would be to prescribe thyroid medicines that usually increase the production of T4. This will not help you, as more rT3 will be produced as a result, instead of free T3. By testing your rT3 and establishing the reverse T3/free T3 ratio, your doctor can detect the real problem that might affect your thyroid gland.

What Is the Normal Range of  Reverse T3?

According to LabCorp, the normal range of rT3 in the body for adults should be between 9 and 24 ng/dL of blood. Anything higher than that means that your body is converting more T4 into rT3 instead of free T3, which is the active thyroid hormone.

When this happens, a patient will eventually develop the classical symptoms of hypothyroidism. That's because less T3 is produced and this will have an effect on health and wellbeing. rT3 competes with free T3 for receptors in the body.

What Are the Symptoms of Having Too Much rT3?

The good thing is that your body will let you know that the thyroid hormones are not balanced out. Here are some of the most common signs of having high levels of rT3. These symptoms are relatively similar to those found in patients with diagnosed hypothyroidism.

• Excessive fatigue, even after a good night's sleep
• Unexplained weight gain
• Anxiety and depression
• Slowed-down heart rate
• Sensitivity to cold
• Dry skin and hair
• Muscle aches and cramps
• Joint pain

In many cases, you might have these symptoms for years before you finally find out that your thyroid is not functioning properly. You shouldn't ignore these symptoms and try to get an rT3 test as well as a T3 and T4 test to determine why your thyroid is not working correctly.

What Are the Causes of Excessive rT3?

Doctors and medical scientists have found ways to discover why your body is converting too much T4 into rT3 instead of T3. Some health conditions facilitate this conversion and can lead to a buildup of rT3 over time.

Here are some of the most common causes of having too much rT3 in your body.

• Chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and fibromyalgia
• Eating disorders such as anorexia and eating low-calorie diets
• Autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's disease, lupus, and others
• Excessive mental/emotional stress
• Extreme training programs including heavy weightlifting and running marathons
• Taking certain drugs such as antidepressants, beta-blockers, and others

These conditions might be the reason why your thyroid is producing too much rT3 instead of free T3. It's important to run an rT3 test and then talk to your doctor to rule out these health issues one by one. In some cases, just a personal problem such as a divorce or the loss of a loved one can spike your rT3 levels.

What Are the Treatment Options for Elevated rT3?

If indeed your thyroid is producing too much rT3 instead of free T3, you need to look at various treatment options to restore its normal function. For example, iodine is a supplement that helps with the conversion of T4 into free T3.

Another important supplement is selenium. Your thyroid requires a decent quantity of selenium to produce hormones the right way. You might want to supplement with this mineral, following your doctor's recommendations.

Zinc is another supplement that can help restore your thyroid's natural function. Supplementing with zinc on a regular basis might make your thyroid switch back to converting more T4 into T3 instead of reverse T3.

At the same time, certain compounds, such as bioidentical T3, can be taken to replenish your stores of free T3 and flush out excess rT3 from your system. Once you get rid of the reverse T3, a process that could take a few months, your hypothyroidism might also cure itself naturally.

Order Your Reverse T3 Test Today!

As you can see, testing your reverse T3 is important because this often-overlooked substance might be the culprit of your constant fatigue and/or depression. Most conventional doctors don't always take rT3 into account, but now you know you shouldn't make this mistake.

At the same time, it's recommended to test your free T3 and T4 levels together with rT3 to get the whole picture. Your thyroid is a complex organ and you need to look at it from various angles to determine exactly why it's not producing hormones correctly.

Go to DiscountedLabs.com today and get your reverse T3 test to learn more about your thyroid and your body in general!. 

Click here to find out how our process works.

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