Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis/autoimmune thyroiditis

Overview

The thyroid gland becomes inflamed, impairing its ability to produce thyroid hormones. This leads to a gradual decline in function and eventually an underactive thyroid, which causes many functions of the body to slow down.

Common Symptoms

Fatigue, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, pale and dry skin, puffy face, irregular or heavy menstruation, brittle nails, hair loss, tongue enlargement, unexplained weight gain, depression, muscle aches, stiffness, and weakness, joint pain, and stiffness.

Coexisting Diseases and Conditions

Addison’s disease, autoimmune hepatitis, graves disease, autoimmune gastritis, autoimmune hypophysitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, celiac disease, SLE, pernicious anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, type 1 diabetes, and vitiligo, depression, and anxiety.

Risk Factors and Prevalence

Having pre-existing autoimmune diseases, family members with Hashimoto’s, being female, pregnant, and/or being over 30, and exposure to environmental factors such as radiation have all been found to increase the risk of developing Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Read More

KarlaMary’s Story: Finding Yourself After an Autoimmune Diagnosis

Monwabisi’s Story: Growing up with Vitiligo, Growing into Self-Acceptance

Sources

  1. Article Sources and Footnotes

    1. McLeod DS, Caturegli P, Cooper DS, Matos PG, Hutfless S. “Variation in rates of autoimmune thyroid disease by race/ethnicity in US military personnel.” JAMA. 2014 Apr 16;311(15):1563-5. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.285606. 

    2. Caturegli P, De Remigis A, Rose NR. “Hashimoto thyroiditis: clinical and diagnostic criteria.” Autoimmun Rev. 2014 Apr-May;13(4-5):391-7. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2014.01.007. Epub 2014 Jan 13. Review.

    3. The Johns Hopkins University, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Johns Hopkins Health System. (n.d.). Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/hashimotos-thyroiditis#:~:text=Women%20are%20about%207%20times,to%2060%20years%20of%20age. 

    4. Kust, D., & Matesa, N. (2020). The impact of familial predisposition on the development of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Acta clinica Belgica, 75(2), 104–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/17843286.2018.1555115. 

    5. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020, February 11). Hashimoto’s disease. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hashimotos-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20351855.   

    6. Nagayama Y. (2018). Radiation-related thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction. Journal of radiation research, 59(suppl_2), ii98–ii107. https://doi.org/10.1093/jrr/rrx054.