Also known as the Hashimoto thyroid, the Hashimoto disease is part of the inflammatory thyroid diseases, among the acute thyroid and sub- acute thyroid. The Hashimoto disease has a media of 0.1 and 5% especially in western countries and it affects more frequently women, especially middle aged ones.



The auto immune acute thyroid is most times triggered because of antibodies (antibodies which affect their own tissue), which target proteins in the thyroid structure: thyroperoxidase and tireoglobulin. Because of the presence of these antibodies an inflammatory process occurs, most frequently with a circular evolution, which can affect in time the functionality of the thyroid.



Because it also happens to people who have a genetic predisposition for auto immune diseases, the Hashimoto disease can easily be associated with vitiligo, psoriasis or rheumatic polyarthritis. It is assumed that an increased consume of iodine favors the Hashimoto disease.

Clinical signs - Most of the times, the Hashimoto disease does not have any clinical symptoms, because this disease is usually diagnosed in a laboratory after some tests. Sometimes, one of the Hashimoto’s disease symptoms is an increase of the thyroid gland because of the chronic inflammatory process- any increase in the volume of the thyroid is called gout. If after the inflammatory process the thyroid cannot fulfill its function of producing thyrotropin hormones, there is a lack of thyroid hormones in the body, known as hypothyroidism.

Some of the Hashimoto’s disease symptoms are: fatigue, weight gain, depression, excessive sleepiness, cold intolerance, dry hair, constipation, dry skin, muscle cramps, increase of the cholesterol level, decreased concentration, vague aches and pain or swelling of the legs. At the moment there is no known cure for the Hashimoto disease. There is also no way to know how long the autoimmune process and inflammation will continue. For most patients, the Hashimoto disease results come from the inflammatory process.

Thyroid hormone drugs can replace the hormones which the thyroid made before the inflammation occurred. There are two major thyroid hormones secreted by a healthy gland (T3, T4). Replacing one or both of the hormones can ease the symptoms caused by the absolute or relative lack of hormones as a consequence of Hashimoto's disease. Without medication, there are few chances for the thyroid to be able to maintain hormone levels within the normal scale, and symptoms and signs of Hashimoto’s disease will occur or worsen.

Many women are worried because of this disease, especially if they are pregnant. But the Hashimoto disease is not a reason to avoid pregnancy. However, some women with Hashimoto's disease might have trouble conceiving a baby. For some patients, treatment with selenium is used to try and diminish antibody levels. The story is that lower antibody levels may direct to success in conception. Both before and during pregnancy, the levels of thyroid hormones need to be monitor to make sure they are in the optimal level for pregnancy. This usually happens within the range for non-pregnant women, but at the higher end of this level.



If you think you may have Hashimoto's disease, you should ask your doctor to check your thyroid and have some blood tests to help make a diagnosis. If you know you have Hashimoto's disease, stay on your medication as required by your doctor and follow up with him or her for regular thyroid blood tests, which will help you to optimize the treatment for the Hashimoto’s disease.