What is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is a type of
autoimmune thyroid disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys the thyroid gland. The
thyroid helps set the rate of
metabolism - the
rate at which the body uses energy. Hashimoto's prevents the gland from producing enough thyroid hormones for the body to work correctly. It is the most common form of Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
What is an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system becomes
misdirected and attacks the organs, cells or tissues that it was designed to protect. About 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women, most frequently during their childbearing years.
What are the symptoms of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?
Some patients with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis may have no symptoms. However, the common symptoms are fatigue, depression, and sensitivity to cold, weight gain, muscle weakness, coarsening of the skin, dry or brittle hair, constipation, muscle cramps, increased menstrual flow, and goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland). |
