Every eighth woman over the age of sixty is faced with such an ailment as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Symptoms and treatment of this disease, as well as its causes and signs will be described in detail in this article. Very often, such an ailment causes great concern, which makes patients come to the endocrinologist. However, in fact, the disease is benign, therefore, with proper treatment, there is absolutely nothing to fear.
What is Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Symptoms and treatment of this disease will be described below. In the meantime, it's worth figuring out what it is. This disease was first discovered and described by a Japanese doctor Hashimoto. In honor of him, it got its name. However, in medicine, this disease has another name - autoimmune thyroiditis.
This disease is considered chronic. As a result, thyroid cells begin to break down under the influence of antithyroid autoantibodies.
The main causes of the disease
In fact, Hashimoto's thyroiditis disease, the symptoms and treatment of which will be described in detail in this article, can appear due to many factors. And, according to scientists, there is no direct fault of the person himself in this. Most patients have a genetic disposition for thyroiditis, since scientists were able to detect some types of genes responsible for the transmission of this disease. Therefore, if your relatives suffer from such a pathology, then there is a high probability that you will too.
Very often, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is preceded by a stress state.
Also, according to statistics, it was found that this disease is much more likely to affect women, especially after fifty years of age. However, pathologies are often seen in adolescents, as well as in babies.
Also, living in areas with poor ecology will contribute to the development of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Symptoms and treatment (photos you can see in this article) allow you to quickly identify an ailment and begin to effectively deal with it. Launch the disease can viral and infectious diseases.
The important role of the immune system
Do not forget that immunity is a function of the body that protects it from foreign organisms and various diseases. If this system fails, then in the body of a person susceptible to autoimmune thyroiditis, antibodies to the cells of the thyroid gland begin to develop. Such a process leads to the destruction of these cells.
Symptoms of this disease
Hashimoto's thyroiditis disease (symptoms and treatment, causes - this is information that can help each patient take the path to recovery) has a fairly wide range of symptoms with varying degrees of severity. Very often, patients complain of constant fatigue and very fast fatigue. In some patients, a palpitations, loss of clarity of mind, and a state of increased nervousness were noted.
If the thyroid gland produces a very large number of thyroxine hormones, then the metabolism is noticeably accelerated in patients, so the symptoms of the disease will be: very fast weight loss, excessive sweating, as well as diarrhea and irritability. So, if thyroxine is produced in large quantities during the disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis (symptoms and treatment methods are described in the article), then the immune system begins to actively attack the thyroid gland.
If this gland, on the contrary, produces an insufficient amount of the hormone, then the patient has an increase in weight, very fast fatigue, constant depressed mood, constipation and a slowdown in heartbeat.
Diagnostics
Hashimoto's thyroiditis (symptoms and treatment of the disease is not always easy to establish) occurs when the thyroid gland does not work properly. To detect this disease is possible only with special laboratory tests. If relatives have any autoimmune abnormalities, then you must go through a complete list of laboratory tests. Pay attention to their list:
- A general analysis to detect the level of lymphocytes in the blood.
- An immunogram with which you can determine the presence of antibodies to thyroid hormones, as well as thyroglobulin and thyroperoxidase.
- Be sure to do an ultrasound of the thyroid gland. It will help determine its size, and also show changes in its structure (if any).
- Pass an analysis that determines the level of hormones T3, T4 and thyroid-stimulating.
- In some cases, a fine needle biopsy is also performed to help detect an increased number of lymphocytes and other cells that are characteristic of a disease such as Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis. Symptoms and treatment, signs of the disease can only be determined by an experienced specialist.
How is the treatment
The main goal of the treatment of this disease is to maintain a normal amount of thyroid hormones. If the disease is in the stage of euthyroidism, then medication is usually not prescribed. But the monitoring of the state of thyroid hormones will have to be done every six months.
If the thyroid gland does not produce a sufficient amount of hormones, then the patient is prescribed drugs that can replenish their reserves. Very often, doctors prescribe Eutirox and L-thyroxine. The dosage is selected purely individually by the attending physician, depending on the state of health. Usually, increasing the dosage goes very gradually, under the strict supervision of specialists. As a rule, such drugs are taken for life.
If hormones are produced, on the contrary, in an excessively large amount, then drugs that reduce their production are usually not prescribed. In this case, doctors recommend symptomatic therapy. Drugs and treatment are selected individually.
Treatment principles
Doctors in no case recommend to cope independently with a disease such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Symptoms and treatment, diagnosis are described in detail in this article, so you have the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the main aspects of this disease.
Please note that only an experienced endocrinologist can choose the drugs for treatment after your diagnosis is accurately established. In the presence of this disease, experts still do not advise taking various immunomodulators. But you should definitely not refuse a healthy diet. Eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. During increased physical exertion, as well as under stress, it is recommended to drink multivitamin complexes, such as Vitrum or Supradin.
Please note that prolonged use of iodine-containing substances, including taking baths with iodized salt, will increase the number of antibodies to thyroid cells.
Recovery Forecasts
Hashimoto's thyroiditis disease (symptoms and treatment, the causes of the disease you can find in the article) has favorable prognosis for recovery. If the disease took the form of hypothyroidism, the patient will be forced to drink hormone-containing drugs for life.
Monitoring of hormonal indicators should be carried out once every six months. In accordance with the results of the analysis, conclusions are drawn about further treatment.
If the ultrasound scan showed nodules that are systematically increasing in size, then experts recommend a thyroid puncture biopsy. This is done to exclude malignant tumor formations. If the diameter of such nodules is less than one centimeter, one must not forget to constantly monitor the state of the thyroid gland.
Why thyroid hormones are needed
In fact, thyroid hormones are involved in many processes in the body, namely:
- regulate heat exchange;
- responsible for the formation of new cells and for the growth of the whole organism;
- participate in the development of the nervous and reproductive systems;
- regulate metabolic processes;
- participate in the formation of blood.
The thyroid gland controls almost all the processes taking place in the body, so when it fails, all systems of the human body begin to work incorrectly. Since thyroid hormones affect the whole body, it is very difficult to determine the symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis disease. Usually in the early stages of this ailment you can only notice an increase in glandular tissue, as well as an increased level of hormones produced by the thyroid gland. That is why this disease is very difficult to start treating.
Thyroiditis in Pregnancy
The course of pregnancy and the simultaneous state of the thyroid gland will primarily depend on the responsible attitude of the future mother to her health and to the health of her future baby. Therefore, all drugs prescribed by the doctor must be taken constantly, on time and in the right dosages. If this is not done, then the lives of women and children will be in serious danger.
If it is correctly treated and hormone levels are constantly monitored, then pregnancy and childbirth are easy, and nothing will threaten the baby’s life.
It is worth considering that a change in the hormonal background in the endocrine system very often occurs in pregnant women. Therefore, it is possible to diagnose an autoimmune disease only using microscopic and ultrasound methods.
Thyroiditis in children
Most often, this disease can be detected in children before and during puberty. Since serious changes occur in the endocrine system during this period, any thyroid gland disorders can occur completely suddenly. However, most often, children's hormonal levels normalize on their own, without the use of special hormonal drugs. In this case, funds with systematic compensation can only be used.
But if, nevertheless, the doctor prescribed hormonal drugs to the teenager, then the treatment should be carried out with special care, because in this case, after sexual development, the disease should recede.
In childhood, the disease most often attacks due to malnutrition, poor ecology, stress, and, of course, hereditary factors.
Take care of yourself, and then you will not be afraid of any diseases. Be healthy.