Common Symptoms of Hashimoto's Disease, and Who is At a Greater Risk of Developing It

Jun 22, 2018

 Hashimoto's disease is a common disorder that affects the thyroid. Nearly 1 in every 20 people (mostly women) have dealt with, or are currently dealing with this disease. In Hashimoto's disease, the body's immune system attacks the thyroid, which causes an abnormal about of hormones to be released into the bloodstream. Thyroid hormones keep the metabolism in check, and if your body is not producing enough hormones, several symptoms can appear. Sometimes unexplained non-specific symptoms can show up at any time, thus making it harder for doctors to diagnose Hashimoto's disease.

Hashimoto's disease can begin with no noticeable symptoms; however, once the disease gets worse, the following symptoms can slowly start appearing:

• Swollen neck
• Unexplained tiredness or feeling of fatigue, even if you get the recommended amount of sleep
• Unusual weight gain
• Aches and pains in joints throughout the skeletal system
• Weak nails Fragile hair Irregular periods
• More frequent mood swings
• Constipation Slower heart rate
• Pale face
• Increased sensitivity to cold temperatures

Someone with Hashimoto's disease will not experience all the above symptoms; and symptoms can range in severity, depending on the condition of the thyroid. If you start to experience any of these symptoms with any explanation, consider calling your doctor.

Hashimoto's disease is commonly found in middle-aged women ages 40-60. Women are eight times more likely to develop this disease than men. In addition to age and gender, the following factors can increase the risk of developing Hashimoto's disease:

• Having a family member with Hashimoto's disease
• A previous autoimmune disease
• Recent radiation exposure

If you are diagnosed with this disease, you will be prescribed a synthetic form of thyroxine by your doctor. Shortly after consuming this medication, your symptoms will slowly disappear.

Other than medication, you will be asked to make some changes to your diet. Your doctor will decide how much extra iodine your body needs. An abundance or deficient of this mineral can further damage the thyroid. If you enjoy eating seaweed, you will most likely have to cut that out of your diet while treating this disease. Seaweed is high in iodine.

If you know of someone who is dealing with a common symptom of Hashimoto's disease, consider forwarding them this article to help them get better. We encourage you to make sure that all of your older female friends are aware of this disease.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!