Thyroid Tester

The thyroid gland is your body's gas pedal: It controls how much get-up-and-go you have. To get a quick read on your thyroid function, answer these questions:

• Are you tired even after a low-key weekend?
• Have you gained more than 10 pounds since your fatigue began?
• Do you often have a body temperature under 98 degrees Fahrenheit?
• Are you achy more than 1 hour a day?
• Do you have high LDL cholesterol or low HDL cholesterol?
• Do you like the house warmer than your partner does?
• Do you have dry skin?
• Do you have thin hair?
• Do you have heavy periods?

If you have chronic fatigue or pain and at least three of the above symptoms, ask your doc to consider testing your blood for thyroid dysfunction. If it's positive, he or she might give you a trial prescription of Armour Thyroid. This form contains the active thyroid hormone (called T3), and many experts in this field find that it works better than the more commonly used Synthroid. No data prove this, but some patients swear it makes a difference to them.

Learn more about possible thyroid problems in this interactive RealAge article. And read "Exactly Why Is Your Thyroid So Important?" at our partner site, HowStuffWorks.com.