Hashimoto’s thyroid
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system creates antibodies that damage your thyroid gland. Doctors don’t know what causes your immune system to attack your thyroid gland. Some scientists think a virus or bacterium might trigger the response, while others believe a genetic flaw may be involved. A combination of factors — including heredity, sex and age — may determine your likelihood of developing the disorder.
Inflammation from Hashimoto’s disease, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis Blood is drawn from people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis typically reveals an increased number of antibodies against thyroid-specific proteins, including thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin. T lymphocytes, a type of cell involved in the inflammation process, invade the thyroid gland cause silent, painless inflammation that destroys it; ultimately, the individual produces little or no thyroid hormone and becomes hypothyroid.
.Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. It primarily affects middle-aged women but can also occur in men and women of any age and in children.
Symptoms
You might not notice signs or symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease at first, or you may notice a swelling at the front of your throat (goiter). Hashimoto’s disease typically progresses slowly over years and causes chronic thyroid damage, leading to a drop in thyroid hormone levels in your blood. The signs and symptoms are mainly those of an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism include:
· Fatigue and sluggishness
· Increased sensitivity to cold
· Constipation
· Pale, dry skin
· A puffy face
· Brittle nails
· Hair loss
· Enlargement of the tongue
· Unexplained weight gain
· Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
· Joint pain and stiffness
· Muscle weakness
· Excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding
· Depression
· Memory lapses
Hashimoto’s Thyroid Treatment Options
Since Hashimoto’s thyroid is an autoimmune disease, there is no definitive cure for it. The duration of the autoimmune disease process and the continuation of inflammation are unpredictable. However, the following methods can greatly prevent the progression of the disease:
Hormone therapy for Hashimoto’s disease with hypothyroidism
If Hashimoto’s disease causes thyroid hormone deficiency, you may need replacement therapy with thyroid hormone. This usually involves daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, others). Synthetic levothyroxine is identical to thyroxine, the natural version of this hormone made by your thyroid gland. The oral medication restores adequate hormone levels and reverses all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.
Monitoring the dosage
To determine the right dosage of levothyroxine initially, your doctor generally checks your level of TSH after six to eight weeks of treatment and again after any dose changes. Once the dose that normalizes your thyroid tests is determined, your doctor is likely to check your TSH level about every 12 months as the dosage you need may change. Excessive amounts of thyroid hormone can accelerate bone loss, which may make osteoporosis worse or add to your risk of this disease. Overtreatment with levothyroxine can also cause heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias). Levothyroxine causes virtually no side effects when used in the appropriate dose.
Lifestyle changes to treat Hashimoto’s disease without hypothyroidism
Hashimoto’s disease doesn’t always cause hypothyroidism. The majority of people with this condition have thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies present in their blood. If the levels of thyroid hormone (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are normal. In this case, treatment with thyroid hormone is unnecessary, They only need to have a blood test every 3 to 6 months to assess the status of the hormones. but there are things you can do to possibly improve the underlying thyroid autoimmune condition:
· Minimizing or eliminating gluten intake
· Avoiding nicotine (even second-hand exposure)
· Consuming 100-200 mcg of selenium per day
· Boosting your omega-3 fatty acids intake
· Keeping your vitamin D level in the normal range
· Doing yoga exercises and sports activities
· Adhere to a healthy diet and avoid processed foods
· stress management
Reference
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hashimotos-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351860
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hashimotos-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20351855
https://www.medicinenet.com/hashimotos_thyroiditis/article.htm
https://www.thyroid.org/hashimotos-thyroiditis/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/hashimotos-disease-treatment-3233013
