If you are experiencing symptoms like fatigue and weight gain despite trying to eat healthy and stay active, it could be a thyroid gland condition. Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease, cause the metabolism to slow down. The symptoms can develop slowly, meaning many people do not learn they have an immune system condition until they experience poor health that drives them to the doctor. The sooner hypothyroidism and Hashimoto thyroiditis are identified, the quicker the immune system can be rebalanced.
What is Hypothyroidism?
The thyroid is a small gland at the base of the front of the neck. It makes thyroid hormones that affect most of your body’s functions. They include heart rate, digestion, weight, metabolism, mood and breathing.
What Happens to the Thyroid Gland?
Hypothyroidism, also called an underactive thyroid, is the term for a thyroid gland that is not making the amount of thyroid hormones needed to support your body’s functions. Insufficient hormones cause the body’s functions to slow down.
Hypothyroidism Symptoms
Since the thyroid gland regulates so many bodily functions, there are many potential symptoms.
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- More sensitivity to cold
- Dry skin
- Thinning hair
- Muscle weakness
- Puffy face
- Constipation
- Muscle weakness
- Aching, stiff or tender muscles
- Menstrual cycle changes, i.e., heavier or irregular
- Heart rate slows
- Cognitive issues
- Depression
- Goiter, an enlarged thyroid gland
What is Hashimoto’s Disease?
Hashimoto’s disease is a type of thyroiditis. It is an autoimmune disease in which your body produces antibodies that attack thyroid cells.
What Happens with Hashimoto’s Disease?
When you have Hashimoto thyroiditis, your thyroid gland is overpowered by white blood cells. This leads to the scarring of the thyroid gland. The scarring interferes with the thyroid gland’s ability to produce enough thyroid hormones.
Hashimoto Disease Symptoms
Hashimoto's disease leads to an underactive thyroid. The symptoms are the same as hypothyroidism symptoms because the thyroid gland is not producing the right amount of thyroid hormone.
What’s the Difference Between Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease?
Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid gland. It is not working correctly due to one of various factors. They include inflammation, medications and autoimmune disease.
Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages the thyroid gland. One of the most common causes of an underactive thyroid gland is Hashimoto thyroiditis.
Testing for Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Disease
The first step is undergoing a doctor’s physical exam. The doctor will then administer various diagnostic tests to measure thyroid function. Since the symptoms are the same for these conditions, tests are combined.
- Blood tests - Some blood tests measure thyroid hormone levels. The primary tests measure TSH, Free T3 and T4 hormone levels to detect hypothyroidism.
- Antibody tests - Antibody blood tests measure the level of antibodies produced by the immune system. This test helps identify Hashimoto's disease and whether an autoimmune thyroid disease is present.
- Imaging tests - A thyroid scan or ultrasound can detect thyroid gland abnormalities, like a goiter. The radioactive iodine uptake test measures how well the thyroid gland takes up radioactive iodine from the blood after drinking a small amount.
Treatment Solutions for Both Thyroid Gland Conditions
Hypothyroidism treatment and Hashimoto disease treatments are similar because low thyroid hormone levels characterize both conditions. Though an underactive thyroid gland can be treated with hormone replacement therapy, it is important to focus on holistic health.
The following are treatment solutions for both thyroid gland conditions.
Diet - Following an anti-inflammatory diet is recommended because it supports the immune system. The diet should avoid processed foods and gluten. Hashimoto thyroiditis can affect gastrointestinal health. The diet should be rich in protein, fiber and healthy fats. You can also take supplements containing vitamins B and D, zinc, selenium, magnesium, curcumin, and omega 3’s
- Medication - An underactive thyroid can be treated with thyroid hormone therapy. You would take one levothyroxine pill daily. Delete the highlighted and Replace with: Treatment typically involves daily thyroid hormone replacement, tailored to your individual needs. The doctor determines the correct amount based on the blood test results.
- Lifestyle Changes - Also necessary are regular exercise, stress management, and quality sleep. Taking these steps can strengthen the immune system.
Taking the Next Steps
You can take control of your health through diet, lifestyle, and minimal medication. Focusing on a holistic approach to health is the most effective way to ensure all your bodily functions are working as they should. The body is an integrated system, so it requires an integrated approach to healing.
Looking to explore how to improve your health in a personalized, customized way? Contact Dr. Rajka today!
