Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an immune based destruction of thyroid tissue, and is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the Untied States. They symptoms of this thyroid condition were first described by Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto in a 1912 German publication.
Are you having problems regulating your thyroid medicine? Have you been on thyroid medication for years with no noticeable improvement or change? Are your lab tests normal but you still experience the same symptoms? If you answered yes to any of the above you most likely have Hashimoto’s.
The major medical approach to this condition is to monitor Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) levels.
However, these levels will wax and wane naturally over time. So it is not surprising that many people with a thyrod disorder, especially Hashimoto’s, present with normal lab results unless their thyroid antibodies are tested. A positive thyroid antibodies test indicates the presence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
The effects of Hashimoto’s can be pervasive and systemic. A patient may experience one or all of the following: changes in digestion and energy levels, accelerated aging, depression and weight gain. Hashimoto’s can leave you feeling fuzzy, fat, frustrated and not knowing where to look for help.
It is necessary to modulate the immune system and to be aware of the effects of the condition can have on multiple systems of the body. The various symptoms of patients with Hashimoto’s need to be considered as a whole instead of as unrelated issues.
Specific supplements are required to support and regulate the immune system so it becomes balanced. Once the immune attack on the thyroid is diminished a person tends to notice a decrease in the symptoms. For some patients continued hormone supplementation is necessary in addition to the immune support.
Learning more about Hashimoto’s could be your first step towards becoming healthy, energetic and excited about life once more!
