Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the cells of the immune system attack and destroy the tissue of the thyroid gland. Symptoms do not have to appear at the beginning, and as the inflammation progresses, thyroid hormones decrease, which leads to hypothyroidism. Hashimoto's disease occurs in both sexes, somewhat more often in women after the age of 40, and cases are also recorded in teenagers, research shows.
The thyroid is an endocrine gland located at the front of the neck, below the Adam's apple. It is responsible for the production of T3 - triiodothyronine and T4 - thyroxine, hormones that regulate the metabolism of body cells.
Other names, besides Hashimoto's disease, are Hashimoto's thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis. stethoscope.info.
The cause of Hashimoto's disease has not been discovered
The exact cause of Hashimoto's disease is still unknown, but it has been proven that autoimmune processes play a significant role. The body's immune response causes an inflammatory process that over time destroys the structure of the gland and causes characteristic symptoms.
Doctors in America cite statistical data according to which in the United States, for every 100 people, five people suffer from Hashimoto's disease.
Although it occurs more often in women after the age of 40, Hashimoto's affects both sexes. Research shows that the risk of inflammation increases if there are patients in the family, or those who already suffer from an autoimmune disease. Some of the triggers of autoimmune processes are viruses, stress, infections or radiation.
The disease is initially hidden
At first, the clinical picture is scarce or there are no symptoms at all. As the inflammation progresses, the thyroid gland becomes enlarged, which is noticed by the patient or discovered incidentally during examination due to other problems. When its function is significantly reduced, drowsiness, fatigue, lassitude, easy tiring, insomnia, nervousness appear... which is an alarm to go to the doctor as soon as possible.
As the disease progresses, some of the following symptoms may occur:
- weight gain
- poor quality and hair loss, brittle nails, dry skin
- disturbed menstrual cycle,
- joint pain and muscle cramps
- cardiac disorders,
- reduced sweating
- sensitivity to cold
- prison
- hoarseness
- numbness/tingling, poor memory, depression
All these are signs of reduced function of the thyroid gland, which can be felt on the neck as an enlarged, fine-grained structure. The ailments that affect patients are different, they can include only a few or more symptoms, they cause different systemic problems. It is a serious disease and it is important to see a doctor who will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
Biochemical blood tests are a good indicator
During the first examination, the doctor will talk to the patient and ask for all the important details about the symptoms the patient has noticed, about the family medical history, and feel the neck. If it is Hashimoto's disease, it will be necessary to do laboratory tests.
Among other things, the presence of antithyroid antibodies (TPO), then the level of thyroid hormones in the blood and TSH, which stimulates the work of the thyroid gland, is determined. In some patients, the finding of TPO is normal, so additional diagnostic procedures, ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland and, rarely, puncture biopsy are applied.
A cure is not possible, and the therapy is lifelong
There is no cure for Hashimoto's thyroiditis. If the patient has a mild clinical picture, a small enlargement of the gland without subjective disturbances, with regular controls and checking the hormonal status, treatment is not necessary.
Hashimoto's disease should be taken seriously, if it is not treated it can affect the appearance of cancer.
Hormonal therapy, which is taken in tablets, achieves a good regulation of hormone levels in the body, which in the next few months leads to the loss of symptoms and the regulation of metabolism. Therapy is taken for life. If the thyroid gland is too enlarged, surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid may be indicated.
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