The thyroid becomes enlarged due to progressive damage to thyroid hormone producing cells. Most of the time, there is a slow, gradual progression of the condition due to ongoing attack by autoantibodies. It is critical to correctly distinguish this from Grave’s Disease, especially if your doctor is recommending irradiating or removing your thyroid. Initially, Hashimoto’s may appear as hyperthyroidism, (Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis) as the production of antibodies causes an increased release of thyroid hormones due to cell damage. These cells produce, among other things, cytokines, which cause an inflammatory response and cause death of thyroid cells, called apoptosis. In addition to production of antibodies, the immune system mounts a cell-mediated response, infiltrating the thyroid with macrophages, a type of white blood cell, in response to signals from other types of white blood cells called CD-4 and CD-8 helper and cytotoxic T cells.
These tests are included in standard panels offered by Functional Nutrition physicians. Diagnostic ultrasound can discern the few cases where antibodies aren’t identified. Elevated levels of antibodies directed against the enzyme thyroid peroxidase (anti- TPO Ab) and/or against thyroglobulin (Anti-Tg Ab) are used to diagnose the condition. Hashimoto’s often goes undiagnosed for many years as most physicians only perform TSH levels to evaluate thyroid function, which does not identify the disease. Neurological disorders due to antibodies directed against the cerebellum and GAD-65 antibodies leading to destruction of pancreatic islet cells and inability to produce the calming neurotransmitter GABA can all occur together. There is a 50% probability of developing a second autoimmune disease within 5 years of diagnosis of Hashimoto’s. People with Hashimoto’s have a much higher probability of also having pernicious anemia (antibodies against Intrinsic Factor) and celiac disease (Transglutaminase and Endomysial antibodies), as well as gluten intolerance. There are currently over 80 identified autoimmune disorders affecting over 50 million Americans. Other examples of autoimmune conditions include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriasis. As a result it mounts an immune response, including the production of antibodies, to destroy what it perceives as a foreign invader. An autoimmune disease is one in which the body’s immune system erroneously recognizes self-tissues as foreign. Hashimoto’s was the first recognized autoimmune disorder, described in 1912 by Hakaru Hashimoto. This treatment is doomed to fail in the majority of cases as it does not consider the root causes that led to the symptoms.
The standard treatment is simply to prescribe replacement T4 when TSH levels are high, totally ignoring the underlying autoimmune disorder. Treating the symptoms of Hashimoto’s does not address the underlying causes of the disease. It is however critical to appropriate treatment by a physician trained in Functional Nutrition. Unfortunately this distinction seems unimportant to the vast majority of doctors. Please note that Hashimoto’s is NOT a thyroid disease it is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. There has been a huge increase in the frequency of Hashimoto’s in recent years, along with large increases in the rates of other autoimmune conditions. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid and other tissues.
Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s) is the most common autoimmune disease in the United States, affecting 6-8% of the population, mostly women, who are affected 4-10 times as often as men.