If you’ve noticed any of these signs, you may have Hashimoto Thyroiditis. The disease is characterized by the overproduction of thyroid hormones, which are essential for regulating your body’s metabolism. In addition to causing symptoms, Hashimoto thyroiditis can cause other health problems, including poor adrenal function, type 1 diabetes, and poor adrenal function.
Fine needle biopsy and imaging tests are not necessary to diagnose Hashimoto thyroiditis. But if left untreated, this disease can alter the way your body responds to medicines. Therefore, you may need to schedule regular blood tests to check your levels.
What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis? It is a common condition that affects the thyroid gland. The condition causes an enlarged thyroid gland and can result in symptoms like pain, swelling, and trouble breathing and speaking.
The symptoms of Hashimoto’s may look like any other health problem, such as an underactive thyroid, and you may not even realize you have it until you have trouble breathing, speaking, and swallowing.
Thyroid hormones are necessary to regulate your metabolism, converting food into energy. When you suffer from an underactive thyroid, your metabolism becomes sluggish. It can even affect the functions of the brain, heart, and muscles.
As you can see, hypothyroidism is a serious condition that can lead to several other health problems. However, there is hope. There are various types of treatments for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, and finding the right treatment for you is essential to your overall health.
People with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis often experience other autoimmune disorders, such as Graves’ disease, or a specific type of thyroid cancer. Other health complications of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis include high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and increased risk of birth defects in women who are pregnant. In rare cases, the disorder may lead to life-threatening myxedema. Fortunately, the disease is highly treatable and affects approximately 14 million people in the United States.
Signs and Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
If you notice any of the following signs and symptoms, you may have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Thyroid hormone production is impaired and your body is not able to produce enough of it. This autoimmune condition can also lead to other autoimmune conditions, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Hashimoto’s disease often progresses without showing symptoms.
Some people develop an enlarged thyroid, known as a goiter. The swelling is never painful and may be noticeable when you touch it. It may also make swallowing difficult and make your throat feel full. Rose wellness explains the signs of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in a broader way.
If these signs and symptoms persist, consult your healthcare provider. Thyroid hormone medicine can help control the symptoms, but it is not a cure. Your doctor can prescribe an effective treatment for you if your symptoms are not controlled with medication.
However, you should make sure to take your medicine as prescribed and undergo regular blood tests to monitor your progress. If you think that you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, you should seek treatment as soon as possible.
The inflammation caused by Hashimoto’s disease can cause an underactive thyroid gland, also known as hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s disease typically affects women more than men. Symptoms can develop during early adulthood, but most often occurs between 30 and 60.
The disease has a strong hereditary connection. As with many autoimmune conditions, it is best to get tested for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis at the earliest possible stage to prevent complications.
Causes of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
There are many possible causes of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Women are five times more likely to develop the disorder than men, and the disease typically starts in middle age. In men, the disease generally peaks between ten and fifteen years later.
Thyroid hormones are vital for the body’s metabolism. They help convert food into energy. Without them, the body’s functions slow down, resulting in hypothyroidism, a condition that can cause weight gain, muscle aches, and fatigue. If you have any of these risk factors, see your doctor right away to avoid a potentially serious disease. You can prevent Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis symptoms with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
When a patient is diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, early diagnosis, prompt institution of levothyroxine replacement therapy, and informed follow-up care are crucial. Failure to diagnose hypothyroidism, institute L-thyroxine replacement therapy, and properly take replacement medications will lead to a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. In addition, a patient may develop anemia, fatigue, and a host of other complications.
Warning Signs of Hashimoto Thyroiditis
One of the warning signs of Hashimoto thyroiditis is an enlarged goiter. This swelling may occur over a short period of time or it could be the result of a more serious issue. The disease generally affects both males and females, but is more common in women. Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland. The following are some warning signs of Hashimoto thyroiditis:
Women are seven times more likely to develop Hashimoto thyroiditis than men. Some research indicates that sex hormones may play a role in this condition. Thyroid problems in women are also common in the first year after giving birth to a child. And radiation exposure is known to trigger this disease. While there are no specific causes of Hashimoto thyroiditis, there are several risk factors that can lead to it, including certain medications, radiation exposure, and too much iodine consumption.
The symptoms of Hashimoto thyroiditis may be nonspecific and may take years to become evident. Physical exams may reveal goiter or hallmark signs of hypothyroidism. A physician may also test serum TSH levels. If serum TSH is high, the thyroid is not producing enough of the T4 hormone, which causes symptoms such as fatigue and weight gain. A goiter is another symptom of Hashimoto thyroiditis and may cause pain in the neck and throat.
How can Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis be Treated?
A thyroid gland can’t produce enough of a hormone called Thyroid hormone due to Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This autoimmune disease occurs when the body develops antibodies against its own thyroid cells. The body’s response is to attack the thyroid, reducing its ability to produce the hormone.
The result is swelling and inflammation of the thyroid, resulting in a visible goiter. Scientists don’t know why the immune system turns against healthy tissue. While there is no cure for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, medicine can help the body produce the hormone it needs to function properly.
Treatment for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis begins with determining the cause of the disease. The immune system attacks the thyroid gland, reducing its ability to produce the necessary hormones. If the thyroid gland isn’t producing enough hormone, doctors can use synthetic thyroid hormones. Prognosis is excellent. Treatment is often lifelong. Patients can live healthy lives after treatment, provided they do not develop other autoimmune diseases.
The most common treatment for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is synthetic Thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Taking synthetic T4 (levothyroxine) is given to the patient when their body is unable to produce its own. Thyroid hormone replacement is a long-term treatment for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, although it isn’t for everyone.
Inflammation of the thyroid gland is often associated with a deficiency in minerals, including iodine. Taking care to ensure you get a healthy diet is essential, and a doctor can test for the disease during a physical examination.
Infections are a leading cause of autoimmune diseases, including Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. The most common cause of Hashimoto’s is the Epstein-Barr virus, which is also known as kissing disease. People with this virus have difficulty controlling it. When this happens, the thyroid may become overactive temporarily and result in hyperthyroidism. The symptoms of both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can vary greatly.
Infections may also trigger Hashimoto’s. One of the most common triggers is an infection with Helicobacter pylori, a parasitic bacterium that lives in everyone’s stomach. Infection with this bacterium can lead to a flare-up in the disease and weaken the immune system. Similarly, chronic exposure to antibiotics can weaken the immune system, triggering Hashimoto’s disease.
Risk factors of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease, and it causes inflammation of the thyroid gland, preventing it from producing the correct amount of hormones. Women are more likely to develop Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis than men.
This autoimmune disorder can lead to goiters, hypothyroidism, and even a specific type of thyroid cancer. Early diagnosis is essential in preventing its progression and improving your quality of life. The only treatment for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is thyroid hormone replacement therapy, which is highly effective.
