Chronic thyroiditis, also commonly referred to as Hashimoto’s disease, is a condition in which the body’s immune system destroys the thyroid. The thyroid is a gland located in the neck that produces and distributes hormones that help the body function properly. Its primary functions include regulating body temperature and metabolizing food into energy. As the body attacks the thyroid, it can cause the gland to slow its functioning and become underactive. An underactive thyroid causes a condition known as hypothyroidism.
The immune system is a set of mechanisms in the body that help the body destroy bacteria, viruses, diseases, and other foreign substances that make their way into the body. Chronic thyroiditis is caused by the body’s immune system fighting against the thyroid gland as if it were a foreign substance. The cause of this malfunction of the immune system is known, but the condition appears to be genetic and tends to occur most often in middle aged women.
Chronic thyroiditis generally develops gradually over several years before it ever causes any noticeable symptoms. The symptoms of the condition tend to not be apparent until well after the thyroid gland has been severely damaged. People with the condition may experience sudden inexplicable weight gain, decreased levels of energy, and pain or stiffness in the muscles and joints. They may also have increases in the amount of cholesterol in their blood stream. The condition may cause mental or neurological health symptoms, such as decreased ability to quickly process thoughts, as well as forgetfulness and depression.
One of the most common forms of treatment for chronic thyroiditis is with medications. Since the condition results in the thyroid gland not being able to actively perform, a doctor may recommend a patient take synthetic thyroid replacements, medications that use manmade versions of the hormones naturally produced by the thyroid gland. This may help the body’s organs begin to function properly and relieve any symptoms caused by the condition.
If chronic thyroiditis is not discovered and treated, it can result in health complications due to the thyroid gland’s decreased ability to distribute hormones throughout the body to other organs. The pituitary gland, a gland in the brain that produces hormones to stimulate other glands, may produce more hormones to stimulate the thyroid if it notices the thyroid is not functioning correctly. These hormones can build up in the thyroid since the gland may be too damaged to distribute them and result in a goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland that causes a large bump on the front of the neck. Goiters may make people self-conscious about their appearances, as well as cause difficulty breathing or swallowing. Other complications from not treating the condition include birth defects in children whose mothers have the condition and heart problems caused by the excess cholesterol levels brought on by the underactive thyroid.