Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder in which a malfunction causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation. Approximately 14 million American adults suffer from this condition each year. People may have it for years without experiencing symptoms or perhaps have mild symptoms but not link them to a thyroid condition.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, also known as chronic lymphocytic Thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s disease, occurs when antibodies and immune cells damage the thyroid gland and decrease the thyroid gland’s ability to produce thyroid hormone, resulting in Hypothyroidism. Also, a person’s thyroid gland can enlarge and form a goiter.

Causes and Risk Factors

A problem with the immune system causes Hashimoto’s disease. A properly functioning immune system activates and protects the body against foreign invaders, including bacteria, viruses, and substances. In the case of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, the immune system mistakenly sees thyroid cells as foreign invaders and begins making antibodies to destroy those cells. The thyroid becomes inflamed when this occurs, and enough thyroid hormones cannot be created for the body, causing many symptoms.

Several factors can increase your risk of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, including:

• Age—Although young individuals can see it, Hashimoto’s typically occurs in individuals between 40 and 60.
  • Autoimmune Diseases—An autoimmune disease increases the likelihood of developing Hashimoto’s disease. 
• Female—Women are more likely to develop Hashimoto’s disease than men. Additionally, this autoimmune thyroid disorder may begin during pregnancy.
• Family History—Hashimoto’s disease is often seen in families, although researchers have not found one particular gene that carries the autoimmune thyroid disease.
• Excess Iodine—Too much iodine consumption can increase the risk of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.
• Radiation Exposure—If exposed to radiation, your risk of developing antibodies to your thyroid gland increases.

Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that progresses over several years. The damage to your thyroid gland causes reduced thyroid hormone in your blood. Initially, you may not experience any symptoms or signs; however, numerous symptoms can appear over time. Because individuals may not experience any symptoms or mild ones for several years, this disease can remain undiagnosed until a person either develops a goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) or has bloodwork drawn revealing abnormal thyroid testing. Symptoms are generally rooted in low thyroid hormone levels or pressure from an enlarged thyroid.

The first sign of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is often a painless swelling of the thyroid gland, usually referred to as a goiter. The thyroid gland lies in the front of the neck, below the larynx. The enlargement (goiter) places pressure on the surrounding tissues, causing swallowing difficulties, breathing difficulties, and a raspy voice.

As Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis continues, this may cause Hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease affecting every body area. The severity of Hashimoto’s symptoms depends upon the level of thyroid hormone deficiency. Some of the most common symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis include the following:

• Brain Fog and Memory Loss—Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism affects the brain and can cause several brain-related symptoms, including memory loss and brain fog. Other neurological symptoms include dementia and confusion. Typically, these symptoms are reversible with adequate treatment.
• Cold Intolerance—Your thyroid gland helps control body temperature and is like the body’s generator. Without enough thyroid hormones, you may experience diminished blood flow to your extremities, resulting in cold hands and feet. Additionally, your body requires calories to maintain life (respiration, heartbeat, digestion, etc.) while resting and experiences decreased body temperature. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis can cause the heart to slow down, which reduces blood flow to the extremities. People with Hashimoto’s disease may also notice less sweating.
• Constipation—Your thyroid hormones affect every system and organ in the body. It also impacts how your body uses energy. The digestive system slows down when your thyroid gland produces insufficient thyroid hormones. Typically, the muscles in the digestive tract contract and relax to move stool through the digestive tract. Reduced thyroid function reduces the frequency and strength of those muscle contractions, resulting in constipation.
• Depression—Depression affects millions of Americans each year. One cause of depression is a malfunctioning thyroid gland. The symptoms of depression include a loss of interest in activities, a significant reduction in the enjoyment of life, and a depressed mood. Researchers have associated antithyroid antibodies with several mood disorders, including clinical depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia. 
• Dry Skin—When thyroid hormone production slows, body processes are altered. The skin may develop fine lines and wrinkles or become scaly with deep cracks.
• Eyebrows—Low thyroid levels can cause eyebrow hair loss. Oftentimes, this is one of the first signs that your thyroid is not functioning correctly. Typically, you will lose the last third of your eyebrow (the part closest to your temple). In the beginning, the hair may begin to thin; however, soon, you will notice the last third of your eyebrow will be very sparse or completely free of hair.
• Fatigue—People with Hashimoto’s may experience excess fatigue and desire more sleep and naps. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland. It is unlike the tiredness you experience after a poor night’s sleep. Instead, it is extreme exhaustion that can interfere with your day-to-day activities. It may be challenging to get up in the morning. You may be unable to get through the day without taking a nap, need more sleep than usual, or fall asleep very quickly at bedtime.
• Fluid Retention—Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis causes swelling, puffiness, and fluid retention, known as edema. Swelling often occurs in the face, around the eyes, and in the hands and feet.
• Fingernails—Thyroid dysfunction also affects your nails. Your nails may develop an abnormal nail shape or abnormal color. It can also cause the nail to have an abnormal attachment to the nail bed. If you are experiencing splitting or peeling nails, ridges in your nails, dehydrated cuticles, or ongoing hangnails, your thyroid may not function properly. 
• Forgetfulness—Researchers have associated Hashimoto’s with several cognitive and memory issues and have discovered that low thyroid hormone levels can affect the areas of our brains where memories and cognitive skills reside. You may experience brain fog and other forgetfulness when your thyroid levels decline.
• Fungal Infections—Patients with Hashimoto’s disease often have a weakened immune system. This decrease in immunity increases the risk of fungal infections and low-grade rashes. These rashes frequently occur in the body’s skin folds and cause a burning red rash, typically treated with topical antifungal ointments or creams.
• Goiter—A goiter is simply an enlargement of the thyroid gland. As the disease progresses and the thyroid gland can no longer produce the necessary thyroid hormone for optimal health, the thyroid gland begins to grow to try to counteract the reduced output of thyroid hormone. Goiters cause a bulge on your neck. Although goiters are benign, they can cause several problems, like difficulty speaking, breathing, or swallowing. As they continue to grow, you may also experience pain.
• Hair Loss—Hair loss is a common symptom of a thyroid issue. Hashimoto’s disease can cause three types of hair loss, called autoimmune alopecia. First, you may experience diffuse hair loss. This type of hair loss is the most common form of hair loss. You may notice hair in the shower, pillow, or clothing. Diffuse hair loss causes thinning over all of your head. Changes in testosterone levels lead to androgenetic alopecia. This type of hair loss typically occurs around your temples and the crown of your head. Alopecia areata is autoimmune hair loss that causes discrete circles or patches of hair loss. Once thyroid hormones are normalized, hair loss is often reversible.
• Infertility—Women with Hashimoto’s disease are at an increased risk of infertility, making it difficult to become pregnant. Reduced thyroid hormone levels affect ovulation, and some women with Hypothyroidism do not produce eggs for fertilization. Luckily, once your hormone levels are balanced, your infertility should reverse, and you should be able to become pregnant.
• Irregular, Prolonged, or Excessive Menstrual Bleeding—Your thyroid gland is a tiny gland that affects many different systems in your body, including your reproductive system. When thyroid hormones decrease, your body produces other hormones, affecting ovarian function and leading to irregular menstrual periods. Women may experience heavier than regular periods, absent periods, and irregular periods.
• Muscle Weakness—Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis can also cause muscle weakness, cramping, and aching. Hypothyroidism can cause weakness in the muscles in your body. Most often, your shoulder and thigh muscles are affected. You can experience difficulty climbing stairs or brushing your hair when muscle weakness occurs.
• Non-Specific Aches and Stiffness in Joints and Muscles—A poorly functioning thyroid gland can cause systemic inflammation, which leads to stiffness and pain in the joints and muscles.
  
• Puffy Face—Hypothyroidism, which occurs with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, slows vital body functions. The voice may become hoarse, facial expressions dulled, eyelids may droop, and cause facial swelling. Although the swelling can occur all over your face, it typically occurs around the eyes. The swelling usually worsens in the early morning and reduces throughout the day. Using cold compresses and getting a facial massage can help clear puffiness. 
• Reduced Sweating—Your thyroid gland and thyroid hormones regulate the mechanism that causes you to sweat. When your thyroid gland is not functioning correctly, you will not sweat. You may think this is a good thing; however, sweating is one way the body eliminates toxins. If you do not sweat, toxins accumulate, causing unpleasant internal and external symptoms.
• Skin Issues—There are several skin conditions associated with Hashimoto’s disease. Dry skin is one of the most common symptoms of low thyroid function. Dry skin often occurs on the back of your legs, forearms, and hands. You may notice that the skin on your knuckles becomes thicker. Finally, acne and rashes are common with Hypothyroidism.
• Slow Heart Rate—Thyroid hormones affect heart rate. When thyroid hormone levels decrease, the heart may beat between ten and twenty beats per minute, which is lower than usual.
• Thinning or Brittle Hair—Hashimoto’s can affect the scalp by decreasing oxygen flow, causing hair to thin or become brittle.
• Weight Gain—If you have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, you probably fight with your weight. Low thyroid function affects your metabolism due to the decline of your resting basal metabolic rate. Another reason you can experience weight gain with Hashimoto’s is systemic inflammation. When you have an autoimmune disease, the hormones in your body can become imbalanced. When this occurs, your adrenal glands activate and release cortisol into the body. Cortisol and other hormones affect how the body stores fat and how quickly it burns calories for energy, leading to excess weight gain.

Holistic Treatment for Hashimoto’s

Finding the underlying root cause of your low thyroid levels will help you deal with the side effects of Hashimoto’s disease. Functional doctors understand that all systems in the body work together to promote good health. When one system is not functioning correctly, it can impact all others.

Our clinicians adopt a holistic approach to treating Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, using a combination of supplements, diet, nutritional improvements, stress relief techniques, and medications if needed. In some instances, you may require thyroid hormone replacement, which provides the body with the thyroid hormones it needs to maintain proper health. Our team of providers will closely monitor your thyroid levels, as too much or too little thyroid hormone can cause various medical issues.