Factors Affecting Hashimoto's Disease

2. The subject who was diagnosed with secondary hypothyroidism was given levothyroxine (synthetic Thyroxine). After 6 weeks of

Background: An 83 year old female is taking her levothyroxine medication to help treat her thyroid disorder induced by Hashimoto. She has been taking this medication for thirty years. While always being adherent to taking her medication, she has never really understood what Hashimoto thyroiditis actually is, or why levothyroxine is the best choice of therapy for treating her hypothyroidism caused by the disease. She is also positive for hypertension, GERD, and insomnia.

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).

Whereas Hashimoto’s is an under active or under developed thyroid gland, Graves’ disease is the opposite. Graves' disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones, better known as hyperthyroidism. Although a number of disorders may result in hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease is a common cause. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/graves-disease/basics/definition/con-20025811)

III. Today I want to inform the class of Hashimoto’s disease and how it is an autoimmune disease, the leading cause of hypothyroidism, and the diagnoses and treatment of the disease.

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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.

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The differential diagnosis for Mary is hypothyroidism as her TSH was 6.5 mIU/l, along with antithyroid antibodies: 1:1,800. The pathophysiology entails having the thyroid hormone imbalance which results in the signs and symptoms of fatigue, cold intolerance, a crenulated tongue, headaches, and periorbital swelling. According to Garber et al. (2012), primary hypothyroidism differential diagnosis is made by the TSH, along with the T4 levels which is addressed by ensuring euthyroid state. There is a need to ensure that there is a balance between hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. This is called the euthyroid state where the TSH that should be between TSH 0.35 to 5.5 mIU per L. Levothyroxine is the medication that is used to replenish a hypothyroidism

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, also called Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland. It was named for the Japanese surgeon who discovered it in 1912 The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck. The thyroid makes hormones called T3 and T4. These hormones regulate metabolism. The thyroid is controlled by hormones of the pituitary gland, which is also called the “master gland.” It is a pea-sized gland located in the base of the brain which, among others, makes thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. TSH stimulates the thyroid to make thyroid hormone. With Hashimoto’s disease, the thyroid cells are damaged resulting in the inability to make enough thyroid

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease in which the over activity of the thyroid gland causes the overproduction of the thyroid hormone. This disease was described by Robert J. Graves a doctor from Ireland and is also known as Basedow’s disease. Even though there are several disorders that may result in hypothyroidism, grave disease is one of the most common type of hypothyroidism that occurs in 1 percent of U. S population (Anderson 2010). Furthermore, Grave disease is a disease that can affect anyone, but is more common amongst females before age 40. Concerning, grave disease will attack the immune system making antibodies that will cause the thyroid to enlarge and produce more than the amount of thyroid hormone that your body will need. These hormones that cause the thyroid to enlarge are called thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins. Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulins are antibodies that tells the thyroid gland to become more active and release excess amounts of thyroid hormone into the blood (U.S. National library of medicine).

My mom has had hyperthyroidism because she has Hashimoto’s disease and three nodules on her thyroid. She got very sick and lost a lot of weight, lost a lot of hair, had to go to the ER for anxiety attacks. The extra hormones made her body shake, and gave her headaches and stomach aches. The doctors scheduled surgery to remove her thyroid. We ended up moving so she didn’t get the surgery, but now she is taking iodine and some other pills to feel better. She has Hashimoto’s disease so the symptoms may come back later but for now she is okay. Thyroid problems are very common but most people have the opposite problem called hypothyroid disorder, which is where the thyroid doesn’t make enough thyroid hormone. Hyperthyroidism is harder to treat and has many negative consequences, but it’s not as common. As you can see Hyperthyroidism can be very painful and