Hashimoto's Disease
What is Hashimoto's disease? Information on the causes, symptoms, and treatments of this type of thyroid dysfunction.
Symptoms and Causes
Hashimoto's disease (also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis of Hashimoto) is an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks thyroid cells and causes chronic inflammation. As a result, insufficient hormones are produced, and the metabolic, digestive, neural, cardiac, and circulatory functions regulated by the thyroid are affected. It can occur at any age, though it is more common in middle-aged women.
In the case of pregnant women, it is essential to find a balance between the needs of the fetus and the mother.
In most cases, the prognosis for Hashimoto's thyroiditis is good, and with appropriate treatment, it does not pose a serious health risk.
Symptoms
Hashimoto's thyroiditis affects many systems in the human body, so the symptoms can vary widely. Among the most common are:
- Apathy, drowsiness, and indifference. Difficulty concentrating.
- Fatigue.
- Dry skin.
- Mild weight gain.
- Cold intolerance.
- Constipation.
- Swelling of the neck or goiter.
- Menstrual irregularities.
Causes
Hashimoto's disease is caused by an immune system disorder, which can be due to genetic or environmental factors, including stress, infections, or exposure to radiation.
Risk Factors
The primary factors that increase the risk of developing Hashimoto's syndrome are:
- Being female.
- Being between 40 and 50 years old.
- Being pregnant or in the postpartum period.
- Having undergone radiation treatment or treatment with radioactive iodine.
- Suffering from other autoimmune diseases.
- Having a family history of the disease.
Complications
Although infrequent, complications of untreated or undiagnosed hypothyroidism include heart or respiratory failure, generalized edema, depression, other mental disorders, reproductive problems, and myxedema coma.
Prevention
Currently, there is no known way to prevent Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
What doctor treats Hashimoto's disease?
Hashimoto's disease is diagnosed and treated in the endocrinology consultation.
Diagnosis
To diagnose Hashimoto's disease, the following tests are usually performed:
- Hormonal analysis to determine TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels, free thyroxine (T4L), and free triiodothyronine (T3L). Generally, TSH levels increase, and T4 levels decrease in cases of this type of thyroiditis.
- Thyroid antibody tests to determine if the disease is caused by an autoimmune disorder, although this is not essential.
- Thyroid ultrasound only in cases where a thyroid nodule is palpated or suspected.
Treatment
The treatments for Hashimoto's disease are based on hormone replacement therapies that must be followed for life. The most common are:
- Thyroxine replacement: A synthetic hormone known as levothyroxine is administered. The dose depends on age and weight.
- Triiodothyronine (T3) replacement: Usually, levothyroxine is sufficient to replace both T4 and T3. In cases where a higher dose is needed, synthetic triiodothyronine is used.
