Hashimoto’S Thyroiditis, Also Called Hashimoto’S Disease

Week 3 – LOM Assignment The thyroid is responsible for taking iodine and converting it into thyroid hormones which are released into the blood stream and transported throughout the body where they control metabolism.1 The thyroid is a vital part of the human body as every cell in the body depends on it for metabolic regulation. Too much or too little thyroid hormone secretion can result in hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is caused when the thyroid secretes too many thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism causes a rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure and tremors. Other symptoms include increased nervousness, inability to concentrate, weakness, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, frequent bowel movements, weight loss and irregular

Response: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is characterized as a type of immune disorder and is the leading cause of hypothyroidism in America.1 The gradual failure of the thyroid is due to an autoimmune disorder that is causing glandular destruction.2 Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are two hormones

The exact mechanism of the autoimmune disease is unknown. Some of the medications that increase the risk of Hashimoto’s disease are called interferon, lithium, and amiodaron. The environmental radiations that one would be exposed to can increase the risk of getting hypothyroidism as well as having the Hashimoto’s Disease. The symptoms of the disease can develop after a pregnancy and a viral illness. Symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease tend to develop slowly over a period of several years. There are several different symptoms a couple of the visual symptoms are the enlargement of the thyroid and growth of the nodular. Other symptoms for the disease are that of being fatigue, having an intolerance for the cold, the menstrual cycle changes as well as infertility, can have an unexplained weight gain can happen and many more symptoms. There are some experiences of the patient having tenderness and prolonged pain, but pain is not a common symptom of the

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is considered an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid, first discovered in 1912, by a Japanese doctor, Hakaru Hashimoto. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis disease is currently considered a genetically predisposed disorder caused by both environmental and endogenous conditions. Genetically predisposed Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, occurs more often in Caucasians over other ethnicities. Environmental factors that produce the autoimmune disorder are infections, disproportionate iodine intake, drugs, as well as chemical and radiation exposure, according to Syrenicz, Anhelli (2013) This paper will discuss the importance of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis disease, symptoms, Metabolic and Physiological effects, treatment options, and side effects associated with treatments.

Hashimoto thyroiditis is a common disease caused by hypothyroidism. The immune system cells attack the thyroid gland, causing inflammation and eventually destruction of the gland. This reduces the thyroids ability to make hormones. These hormones are known as thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) (Better health channel 2015).

Diagnosis: patients who present with signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as low energy, weight gain, cold intolerance, and amenorrhea, should be tested for the disorder with serum measurements of TSH and free T4. High TSH and low free T4 levels suggest hypothyroidism. Conversely, measurement of anti-thyroid antibodies may also be tested, such as anti-thyroglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxidase, and anti-TSH receptor. Clinical suspicion should still be present when patients do not have these characteristic hypothyroid symptoms, but present with primary amenorrhea in the

TSH not only stimulates the thyroid gland to churn out more hormones. If in excess, can cause overwhelming cell growth and division to result in goiter.

Hashimoto's disease can also be called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroiditis. An autoimmune disease happens when the body's immune system attacks it's own cells and organs instead of its normal job of protecting the body from infection. Hashimoto's disease specifically attacks the thyroid gland, causing inflammation interfering with the ability to produce thyroid hormones. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hashimotos-disease/basics/definition/con-20030293) A large number of white blood cells also accumulate in the thyroid. These white

Graves’ disease was named after Robert J. Graves, MD, around the 1830’s. It is an autoimmune disease indicated by hyperthyroidism due to circulating autoantibodies, which is an antibody that attacks the person’s own body. The immune system attacks the thyroid gland, which causes it to produce too much thyroxine. Thyroxine is a hormone that helps control growth and also regulates metabolism in the body. While the thyroxine levels are high the patient’s metabolic rate increases, which can have an effect on their physical appearance as well as their frame of mind. Graves’ disease is the number one cause of hyperthyroidism in the U.S.

There are many causes of hyperthyroidism, but the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are the same no matter what causes the over expression of thyroid hormones. The main symptoms of hyperthyroidism are fatigue, shortness of breath, weak muscles, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and heart palpitations. Interestingly, even with an increase in appetite the patient will have weight loss.

Scientifically, Hashimoto’s Disease is, “a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid, a small gland at the base of your neck. The thyroid is a part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body’s activities. The resulting inflammation from Hashimoto’s often leads to an under active thyroid” (Mayo Clinic.) Unfortunately, my thyroid didn’t work properly, and my body attacked it because of this.

Graves’ disease, also known as hyperthyroidism is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when antibodies overstimulate thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Hyperstimulation of TSH receptors leads to an increased amount of circulating triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). An increased production of T3 and T4 lead to an increased metabolic rate. This can lead to clinical manifestations of diaphoresis, heat intolerance, increased cardiac output, tachycardia, exophthalmos and weight loss. If untreated, hyperthyroidism can turn into a thyrotoxic crisis, triggered by stressful events. Thyrotoxic crisis exceeds the metabolic strains on the body. Clinical manifestations such as hyperthermia, tachycardia, and heart failure can lead to death within forty-eight

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the thyroid. The thyroid is a small gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones and that help control most of the bodies activities. Inflammation to the thyroid, from Hashimoto’s, often leads to hypothyroidism, an underactive thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s disease is the number one cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. It mainly affects middle aged women but Hashimoto’s can affect men, women of any age, and even children (“Hashimoto’s Disease-National Library of Medicine-PubMed Health,” 2014).

Both hypo and hyperthyroidism are a result of a disease in caused by malfunction of the thyroid gland located in the neck as represented by the image below left. The causes of chronic hypothyroidism are fairly distinct. Around the world in third-world and developing countries, iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. This used to be true as well for developed countries, but today this is a less common cause as iodine usually finds its way into our diets without too much trouble. In modern-day developed countries, hypothyroidism is mainly a result of Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a birth defect which lacks a thyroid gland or a deficiency of hormones from either the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland.

The thyroid is a gland that is shaped like a butterfly located at the front of the throat and is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolism. The hormones that the thyroid releases affect every part of the human body from the bones, to the tissues and the organs. If you have an overactive thyroid (or Hyperthyroidism) this means that the thyroid is inflamed and releases too much hormones. One cause of this is Grave’s disease which is when the body’s immune system produces an antibody that causes the gland to make a ridiculous amount of the thyroid hormone. The problems concerning health that are caused by having an overactive thyroid are: shaking. Weight loss, anxiety, heart problems such as atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat) and