Is Your Low Thyroid Function Actually Hashimoto’s?
Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function, is a common diagnosis. However, did you know that an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis causes more than 90 percent of hypothyroidism cases?
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid, a butterfly shaped gland located at the base of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid produces hormones that help regulate many functions in the body. In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland, gradually reducing its function resulting in low thyroid hormone production.
It is important to understand the symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and what lab tests to order can help you better manage your low thyroid condition. One of the most common signs of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is that you continue to have these low thyroid symptoms despite taking your thyroid medications:
- Fatigue
- Low libido
- Weight gain
- Hair loss
- Constipation
- Heart palpitations
- Cold hands and feet
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Nervousness and anxiety
Most doctors do not test for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis because it does not change how they treat you. Testing for thyroperoxidase antibodies and thyroglobulin antibodies is necessary to identify and diagnose Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. If either of these markers are positive, then you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
The standard treatment is to prescribe thyroid hormone replacement medication. However, a piece of the puzzle, the immune system response, is often overlooked leading to more thyroid gland tissue destruction over time. Your doctor may have to continually increase your dose of thyroid medication over time because of the continued destruction of the thyroid gland. Even though your thyroid gland function is worsening, the medication produces normal thyroid lab results, masking the overall problem.
Our goal is to regulate immune function and drive autoimmune expression into remission. We can do this by identifying your immune triggers and eliminating them. Immune triggers can consist of food sensitivities, chronic or acute stressors, environmental toxins, hormone imbalances, glucose dysregulation, and more! We also implement strategies to dampen inflammation and improve immune system regulation.
Be sure to contact Dr. Bose for a thorough work-up to identify if you have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and get started on an individualized treatment plan today!