Articles — Hashimoto's thyroiditis

One of the challenges that patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and hypothyroidism face is the persistence of fatigue, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and some time many other annoying symptoms, despite achievement of normal thyroid tests with thyroid hormone therapy. These persistent symptoms can significantly alter the quality of life, work performance, and can disturb relationships. When Hashimoto’s patients express their lingering symptoms in the face of normal thyroid tests, doctors oftentimes dismiss these symptoms, and may not believe that the root of the symptoms is the thyroid condition, leaving patients feeling at a loss and frustrated. But these symptoms are real and...

Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland) is a condition that can be triggered by infectious diseases, pregnancy, radiation, and toxins. Thyroiditis is often the result of attacking antibodies and inflammation chemicals produced by the immune system. Our bodies must be able to differentiate between “self” and “non-self” cells in order to fight off infections from bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The immune system makes antibodies to accomplish this task. The structures of these antibodies are specifically designed to bind to certain molecules, ideally to those associated with infectious organisms. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system makes a mistake, producing autoantibodies...

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disease characterized by the continuous attack upon cells of the body’s own thyroid gland. Although the cause of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is not entirely clear, it is generally understood to result from a combination of genetic and environmental influences. According to research, Vitamin D deficiency may play a role as one of the environmental factors that contributes to the occurrence of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Vitamin D, increasingly viewed as a hormone, is involved in many processes in the human body, including so-called “immunomodulatory” functions. Vitamin D increases the body’s ability to regulate immune activities. There is a...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. With thyroid disease on the rise, more and more Americans suffering from fatigue, depression, anxiety, sluggishness, and stubborn weight gain are asking themselves “Could it be my thyroid?” Although they may not always be right, it would certainly not hurt to get it checked as thyroid disease is so underdiagnosed and misunderstood. Knowing this, I feel it would be of tremendous value to present research-backed information on the thyroid and heart connection. Being aware of your health risks is...