Hashimoto Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Hashimoto Understanding
Hashimoto disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is a type of autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid gland. This disease causes the thyroid gland to become inflamed, destroyed, and eventually the gland is no longer able to produce thyroid hormone.
The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck. This gland works to produce thyroid hormone, which is a hormone that plays a role in the body’s metabolism. Damage to the thyroid gland due to Hashimoto’s disease causes people with Hashimoto’s disease to be in a condition of hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels).
Hashimoto Symptom
Patients with Hashimoto’s disease show symptoms of hypothyroidism. Symptoms that are often found are fatigue, tend to gain weight even though they don’t eat much, and skin tends to be dry.
In addition, other symptoms that can occur are:
- Can’t stand the cold
- There is a lump in the neck which is a sign of an enlarged thyroid gland
- Trouble concentrating and forgetfulness
- Cramps in bones and muscles
- Hair falls out easily
- Pain or tingling in the hands and feet
- Irregular menstruation and fertility disorders
- Snoring while sleeping
Hashimoto Reason
The exact cause of Hashimoto’s disease is not clear. However, in most patients with this disease, antibodies are found that block the thyrotropin receptor (a hormone from the brain that stimulates the release of thyroid hormone). This causes ‘chaos’ in the thyroid gland so that the thyroid gland is no longer able to produce hormones.
Hashimoto’s disease is more common in women. The age of most sufferers ranged from 30-50 years of age.
Hashimoto Diagnosis
During the initial examination, the doctor will conduct interviews and physical examinations. If there is a suspicion of Hashimoto’s disease, as an initial laboratory examination, the doctor will advise the patient to have a thyroid hormone examination, in the form of a TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone ) examination from the blood and free T4. In Hashimoto sufferers, elevated TSH levels will be found and low or normal free T4 levels.
After that, an antibody test, namely anti-TPO (anti-thyroid peroxidase ) will be carried out. Most of Hashimoto sufferers have positive anti-TPO in their blood. To confirm the diagnosis, a thyroid gland biopsy is necessary. Hashimoto’s disease biopsy results will show the number of lymphocyte cells in the thyroid gland.
Hashimoto Treatment
People with Hashimoto’s disease will be in a hypothyroid condition (low levels of thyroid hormone in the body) for the rest of their lives. However, this can be overcome by administering the drug levothyroxine which is taken for life. Levothyroxine is a ‘replacement’ for thyroid hormone. Consuming levothyroxine will keep thyroid hormone levels normal so that the body’s metabolism runs well.
Treatment of this disease is carried out by specialists in internal medicine, especially those who have expertise in the field of metabolic endocrine. Patients with Hashimoto’s disease should be controlled by a doctor and check the level of thyroid hormone in their blood regularly. This is important to prevent a deficiency or excess of levothyroxine being consumed.
In the early stages of treatment, thyroid hormone checks are generally carried out once every 1–2 months. When thyroid hormone levels are stable, examination and control by a doctor is generally done every 6-12 months.
Consuming excessive levothyroxine without proper supervision from a doctor risks causing osteoporosis, increasing the heart’s workload, increasing the thickness of the heart muscle, and causing bones to become more brittle.
Meanwhile, not taking levothyroxine will cause a hypothyroid condition which can lead to complications in the form of myxedema coma, namely decreased consciousness and swelling throughout the body due to too low thyroid hormone.
Hashimoto Prevention
Until now there is no action that can be done to prevent Hashimoto’s disease.