Monday, February 10th, 2025

In Autoimmune Thyroiditis, the body can destroy itself, pay attention to the symptoms, how to reduce its risk.


The thyroid is a small gland in the front of the neck that produces hormones and helps control almost every organ. When thyroid hormone levels are too high or too low the body cannot function properly. It affects your energy level, mood and weight. Thyroiditis occurs when the thyroid becomes inflamed. Sometimes this happens because when our body produces antibodies, they mistakenly attack the thyroid. This condition is also called autoimmune thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or Hashimoto’s disease.
(All photos courtesy: freepik)

What is Autoimmune Thyroiditis?


It is an autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland. When the immune system starts attacking healthy tissue, the problem of autoimmune disorder occurs. In this disease, cells of the immune system destroy thyroid hormones. In this disease there is a decline in hormone production (hypothyroidism). This problem can happen to anyone. This is especially more likely to occur in middle-aged women. Its primary treatment is thyroid hormone replacement.

Symptoms of Autoimmune Thyroiditis

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You may not see any symptoms in the beginning, but as the disease progresses, your thyroid may also become larger. This condition is called goiter. In this, the front part of your neck will look swollen and your throat will also feel full. The thyroid may or may not feel soft to the touch. Symptoms of autoimmune thyroid disease are as follows

  • Tiredness
  • sensitivity to cold
  • swollen face
  • trouble defecating
  • swollen tongue
  • pale dry skin
  • hairfall
  • weight gain
  • muscle and joint pain
  • depression
  • low memory
  • Heavy bleeding during periods

cause of autoimmune thyroiditis

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The immune system attacks the thyroid cells as if they were bacteria or viruses. The immune system mistakenly recruits disease-fighting agents that damage cells and cause them to die. Usually the immune system protects our body from bacteria and viruses but this does not happen in autoimmune thyroidism. Although there is no clear reason for this, but the beginning of this disease can be like this-

  • Your immune system produces antibodies that attack your thyroid tissue for unknown reasons.
  • Large numbers of white blood cells (especially lymphocytes) accumulate in your thyroid.

Over time, this damage can prevent your body from making enough thyroid hormone than it needs, causing hypothyroidism. However, it is not necessary that anyone who suffers from Hashimoto’s disease has hypothyroidism.

Diagnosis of Autoimmune Thyroiditis

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Your doctor may recommend a blood test to check your thyroid hormone levels. Thyroperoxidase antibodies are also detected with this test. If things are not clear through blood test then ultrasound can also be done. Especially if someone in the family already has thyroid problem, then the doctor can advise you.

Treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis

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If you have the problem of high antibody levels but do not have clinical hypothyroidism, then after checking your thyroid levels, the doctor may advise you to take some medicines.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It cannot in any way be a substitute for any medicine or treatment. Always consult your doctor for more information.

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