Autoimmune Thyroid Conditions: Hashimoto’s and Graves’ Disease
When the body’s immune system targets one of its internal parts, it is considered to have an autoimmune disorder. There are autoimmune diseases that affect almost every internal part.
Hashimoto’s disease and Graves’ disease are two different autoimmune illnesses that may destroy the thyroid gland, which is in control of producing the hormones that help with maintaining your body’s basal metabolic rate. If you or someone you know suffers from this disorder, contact Dr. Sudha Challa for treatment options.
Autoimmune thyroid conditions: Hashimoto’s and Grave’s disease
- Hashimoto’s disease
Your immune system becomes dangerous due to Hashimoto’s disease. It particularly impacts your thyroid gland, shrinking it and resulting in hypothyroidism, an illness that occurs when the thyroid is underactive. One of the many potential causes of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s disease.
Risk factors
- Certain individuals are more vulnerable than others to developing Hashimoto’s disease. Furthermore, several environmental factors can increase a person’s risk of getting the illness.
- One’s chance of acquiring Hashimoto’s disease increases if a family member has the illness. Many genes have been found that increase the disease’s risk factors.
- Women are more likely than males to develop Hashimoto’s disease.
- People between the ages of 30 and 50 are more commonly affected by Hashimoto’s disease than are children.
- Grave’s disease
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition that impacts the thyroid, identical to Hashimoto’s disease. The difference between both of them depends on the type of thyroid antibodies that the immune system deploys to target it, as well as how the attack impacts the thyroid.
While Graves’ illness causes hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease results in hypothyroidism. Graves’ illness is the reverse of Hashimoto’s because hyperthyroidism is characterized by an overactive thyroid that produces excessive hormones.
Risk factors
- Graves’ is a little less discerning, affecting persons of any age above 30 with greater frequency. Hashimoto’s is more common in adults aged 30 to 50.
- A specific list of autoimmune conditions increases a person’s chance of developing Graves’ disease. These include rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, and autoimmune gastritis.
- You are at greater risk of developing Graves’ disease if you smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco-based products because nicotine negatively influences thyroid function.
Diagnosis
- Physical exam
Physical symptoms of an underactive thyroid gland could involve goiter, which is the common appearance of the condition. An enlarged thyroid is simply referred to as a goiter in medical terms.
- Blood test
Blood testing will indicate a lot if your doctor is concerned that you may suffer from thyroid issues. Thyroid hormone levels that are above or below normal are usually the first sign of problems. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a different hormone that controls the thyroid; thus, its level will also be examined.
