Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease

The body’s protection against viruses, bacteria and other types of invasions is our immune system (Tortora, 2014).

Hashimoto’s Disease is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s disease causes inflammation to the gland causing chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, resulting in hypothyroidism (Mayo clinic, 2014). This is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the US and the symptoms are manifested by fatigue, cold intolerance, constipation, weight gain, pale , dry skin, hoarse voice, pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles, menorrhagia, and depression (Mayo clinic, 2014).

Hashimoto’s disease also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism. An autoimmune disease is a disease that stems from an irregular response from the immune system to attack the patient’s own cells specifically those in the thyroid gland. In Hashimoto’s disease the antibodies actually attack and destroy cells of the thyroid gland. This destruction leads to a drop in the production of the triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). When the body detects the decreased production of T3 and T4 it begins to try to correct the imbalance and creates an increased production of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus which then stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release the thyroid

Hypothyroidism is not a disease itself, but is a condition that a disease state causes (Buckley & Schub, 2008). Many of the causes of hypothyroidism are related to autoimmune conditions, where the body attacks itself, rendering the thyroid useless (Raisbeck, 2009). In fact, this is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (Raisbeck, 2009). Second to autoimmune disease is overcorrection of hyperthyroidism by surgery or radiation treatment (Walker, 2009). Thyroidectomy is the third most-prevalent cause, usually for the treatment of cancer

The purpose of this abstract is to examine Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, also known as Hashimoto’s disease, and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, which is an autoimmune disease. By researching this condition through medical journals, related associations, and relevant reports, I was able to gather information on the effects to health associated with this disease. The causes of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are not clearly understood, however certain people are more likely than others to have this condition. Also, those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are more likely to have other autoimmune diseases. Normally, the condition develops slowly, and its signs and symptoms are indistinct, and can be similar to other conditions. To diagnose Hashimoto’s disease,

The immune system is a system of biological structures made up of many types of cells that work to protect the body against illness and infection (Blum & Bender 11). The immune system runs along 70% of the digestive tract and attacks viruses, bacteria, mold, parasites and foreign proteins in food that may cause harm to the body (Blum & Bender 11). The immune system has two main types of cells that it uses to fight off foreign invaders, which are killer B and T cells. T-killer cells directly attack anything they do not recognize while the B-cells produce antibodies that grab onto anything they find foreign and dangerous (Blum & Bender 11). The immune system also has two types of regulator cells that control the production of the killer T and B cells. These are the T helper cells and T regulator cells that turn on or off the immune response (Blum & Bender 11). When the immune system is healthy, both the T cells and B cells are in balance. However, when the immune system becomes ill more killer T and B cells are produced than T regulator and helper cells. This causes an imbalance in immune function and leads to autoimmune

Hashimoto's disease is a condition in which your immune system attacks your thyroid, a small gland at the base of your neck below your laryngeal prominence(Adam's apple.) The thyroid gland is part of your endocrine system, which produces hormones that coordinate many of your body's need.(Mayo Clinic, November 17, 2016) According to www.womenshealth.gov one the reason of having Hashimoto include genes. Research is still be done to determine how genes are involved in having Hashimoto. Genes are one the factors that related to cause hashimoto. Another factor that is believed to be a cause for having hashimoto is gender. Somehow hashimoto affect women more than men and once again research cannot determine why women are more suitable to autoimmune

Foreign particles such as bacteria, viruses, toxins and parasites, enter the human body in ways people would never guess. For example when a rusty nail pokes a hole in your foot, the first part of the immune system is damage, the skin. The bacteria enters your wound. Bacteria starts using up the body’s supplies in order to reproduce. At first they go without being detected but when a certain number of bacteria is present, they damage the body by changing their surroundings. The immune system’s job is to work as quickly as possible, in order to stop this.

Hypothyroidism is a disorder of the thyroid. The thyroid is a large gland located in the lower front of your neck. The thyroid releases hormones that control how the body works. With hypothyroidism, the thyroid does not make enough of these hormones.

The thyroid gland is definitely susceptible to several disorders and problems that can trigger hyperthyroidism which is overproduction of thyroid testosterone and thyroid problems which is underproduction of thyroid growth hormones. In this particular healthcare guidebook on the thyroid gland, you find out about the most popular diseases that may impact the hypothyroid.

Hypothyroidism is a condition in where the thyroid does not produce enough hormones. When your thyroid doesn’t produce enough hormones it throws your whole system off. Every organ/system is affected from your metabolism, to your nervous systems and at that point they goes into battle with each other, it’s like a chemical warfare that goes off in your body. Things starts to slow down, moods changes, along with other side effects. Hypothyroidism can have a major impact on one’s health.

If a pathogen breaches barriers: innate immune response result into an immediate effect of non- specific response. All Innate immune systems derived from plants and animals, when a pathogen evades the innate response, a third layer of protection is possessed by vertebrates in which activation of adaptive immune system takes place. The immune system response adopts itself within an infection and pathogen recognition is improved. As a result of the improved response, its then retains itself when the pathogen is eliminated in form of an immunological memory and allows the adaptive immune system to mount faster and stronger when pathogen is encountered each time.

The immune system in biological entities consists of those behaviors, structures and processes that protect against assault from outside forces. In medicine, only the latter is usually considered under the heading of "immunology" but to biologists consider all three mechanisms as part of the defense system. Behaviors can be a simple gesture such as pulling a tick out of the skin is technically an immune response. So are spitting and crying. In fact, the act of crying entails two of the responses: bulk

My tryst with our body’s ingenious immune system began when I first learned about innate and adaptive immunity during my school days. I was surprised by how both host and microbes engage in battles waged over both minutes and millennia and the mechanisms by which our cells protect us from this wide range of invaders which come in various size, shapes and composition. Even more intriguing was the knowledge of the fact that there are various levels of defence that our body offers against the pathogens and it involves myriad variety of molecules, cells, pathways and organs in order to accomplish this feat.

For the immune system to able to keep us healthy it needs to be able to recognise what is a danger to our body and therefore needs to be removed, and what is safe. Proteins are used to do this. Pathogens have proteins on their surface called antigens, which activate the immune system. Our own cells also have surface proteins which the immune system recognises as part of the body and therefore doesn’t attack. (1)