The Performance of the Thyroid Gland is Affected by the Intellectual and Psychological Pressures that College Students Endure During Exam Time

The thyroid gland is affected by many factors, such as age, gender, and ethnicity. The gland is also influenced by metabolism, stress, and psychological state. In this clinical scenario, establishing a reference period for TSH, T3, and T4 is critical for the diagnosis of thyroid functional disorders before and after screening. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of mental stress on the levels of TSH, T3, and T4 before and after the exam. The study was conducted from December until the end of February 2022 at the Middle Technical College, University of Baghdad. 45 healthy young students, ranging in age from 19 to 23 years, were included in this study. The results found a significant difference between T4 levels in pre- and post-exam in males when compared with females, and there was also a difference between the levels of T3 and TSH in pre- and post-exam. Conclusion: Mental stress affects thyroid hormones by affecting the central regulation of TSH levels.