About Hashimotos Thyroiditis
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, outside of regions which do not have sufficient iodine in the diet. A type of autoimmune disorder, the disease causes the immune system to attack the person's thyroid gland and damage it. Hashimoto's thyroiditis affects mostly women. People with this condition must stay on medication throughout their lives.
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Effects
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The thyroid gland, located in the neck, normally produces the hormone thyroxine. This hormone controls growth as well as metabolism, the rate the body uses energy. Symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, similar to those of other hypothyroid disorders, include fatigue and sleepiness, depression, weight gain, constipation, irregular and heavy menstruation, cold or heat intolerance, dry hair, difficulty swallowing, facial swelling and an inability to concentrate. Fatigue and depression are the most common symptoms.
Features
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As the disease progresses, the thyroid can go through periods where it becomes active again, causing temporary hyperthyroidism and different symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, weight loss and diarrhea. A person with Hashimoto's thyroiditis should see a physician regularly to determine how well the thyroid is working and have the medication adjusted accordingly.
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Considerations
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The disease is hereditary, and somewhere between 80 and 95 percent of those diagnosed are women. The percentage is difficult to gauge because diagnosis procedures are improving, and statistics are regularly changing. The prevalence is estimated to be about 2 to 3 percent of the general population. Hashimoto's may not be diagnosed in men when it should be, because physicians do not expect to find the disease in men. Risk increases with age. Hashimoto's thyroiditis has been linked to other autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Onset can be triggered by gluten intolerance, excessive stress, pregnancy and blood sugar imbalances.
Identification
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People can have hypothyroidism without having Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Hypothyroidism, in which the thyroid does not produce enough hormones, is classified as a condition, while Hashimoto's is a disease. Hashimoto's is also called chronic autoimmune thyroiditis and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.
Treatment
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Hashimoto's thyroiditis is very treatable, although the medication must be taken for the rest of the person's life. Medication is available by prescription, in either synthetic or natural hormone supplements which replicate normal thyroid function. Hypothyroidism causes the thyroid to swell, and this enlarged thyroid is called a goiter. If the goiter causes difficulty swallowing or breathing, or is noticeable from a cosmetic point of view, surgery may be required if drug treatment is not sufficient.
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Resources
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