Hashimoto Disease: What It Is And Its Effects On Thyroid

[LoShiNi]

Hashimoto’s disease (also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or just chronic thyroiditis) is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid. Over time, Hashimoto’s disease causes a decrease in the production of thyroid hormones. This condition is called hypothyroidism.

The exact cause of the disease is still unknown to doctors. Some of them believe that Hashimoto’s disease is called by a virus or a bacterium, while others state that the development of the disease is affected by genetic factors.


Below are some factors that can increase the risk of Hashimoto’s disease:

>> Sex — women suffer from this disease 7 times more often than men.

>> Age — in most cases, middle-aged patients suffer from Hashimoto’s disease. However, the disease can develop at any age.
other autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis.

>> Exposure to radiation.

Hashimoto’s disease is usually accompanied by certain symptoms. In the early stages of the disease, the most common symptom is goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland. If you suffer from Hashimoto’s disease, you can observe swelling at the front of your neck. Usually goiter does not cause pain, but it can provoke problems with breathing and swallowing.


Other symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease include the symptoms of hypothyroidism:

>> constipation
>> dry and pale skin
>> hoarse voice
>> high cholesterol in the blood
>> depression
>> weakness of the muscles in the lower limbs
>> fatigue and sluggishness
>> intolerance to cold
>> hair loss
>> irregular or profuse menstruation
>> difficulties with conceiving a child.

If you notice the above-mentioned symptoms, you should immediately contact a doctor and make an appointment for an examination. The examination includes tests of thyroid hormones and the thyroid-stimulating hormone.

If your thyroid gland is functioning correctly, no treatment will be required. However, you will have to do a regular blood test to monitor the level of your hormones.



In case you have a deficiency of thyroid hormones, you may be prescribed a hormone replacement therapy. For these purposes, a synthetic analogue of the hormone thyroxine, called levothyroxine, is used. In addition, you will need to annually (or even more often) take tests for this hormone, which will help maintain the correct dosage of levothyroxine. Before starting the treatment, you should also discuss with your doctor any other medications that you are taking, as they may be incompatible with the hormone replacement therapy.



If not diagnosed and treated in time, Hashimoto’s disease can result in the following complications:

>> heart problems
>> increased cholesterol
>> problems with mental health, among them depression, decreased libido and cognitive abilities
>> anemia (low level of blood lymphocytes).