Hashimoto’s disease

Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the body’s own defense mechanism, the immune system, acts against itself, by creating antibodies that damage the thyroid gland.

Hashimoto’s disease (also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) affects the thyroid gland located at the base of the neck. The disease results in an inflammation of the thyroid, making it underactive (hypothyroidism). This inflamed thyroid condition is called lymphocytic thyroiditis.

Hashimoto’s is a chronic disease; the symptoms may take years to develop. The first noticeable sign is a swelling in the front of throat. As the disease progresses over the years, the level of the thyroid hormone in the blood drops.

The symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism are the same, which include:

• A puffy face
• Unexplained weight gain
• Fatigue and sluggishness
• Constipation
• Hoarse voice
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Pale, dry skin
• Muscle weakness, especially in the lower body
• Tenderness in the muscles
• Muscle aches and stiffness, especially in the shoulders and hips
• Pain and stiffness in joints
• Swelling in knees
• Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
• Depression

Some risk factors increase the chances of a person being vulnerable to Hashimoto’s. They are:

• Gender: Hashimoto’s disease is seen more in women.
• Age: Hashimoto’s appears more often during middle age.
• Heredity
• Other autoimmune diseases: If a person suffers from other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus, risk of developing Hashimoto’s is increased.

The thyroid gland produces hormones that manage many of the body’s activities. When that gland dysfunctions, many different symptoms appear if the condition is left untreated.

Some consequences are: goiter, heart problems, mental health issues, birth defects, and myxedema (a rare, life-threatening condition with intense cold intolerance and drowsiness followed by intense lethargy and unconsciousness).

Hashimoto’s disease is managed by replacing hormones with medication to regulate the thyroid hormone levels. This brings relief from the symptoms of Hashimoto’s, and restores the normal metabolism.

The FDA recommends 55μg daily supplement of selenium for adults; Low-level laser therapy and gluten-free diet have also worked for patients in many cases.