[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/hashimoto-disease-and-hypothyroidism\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/hashimoto-disease-and-hypothyroidism\/","headline":"Understanding Hashimoto\u2019s Disease and Hypothyroidism","name":"Understanding Hashimoto\u2019s Disease and Hypothyroidism","description":"Your thyroid may be little, but it can have a big impact on your health! When it malfunctions, it can cause illness called hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is a condition called Hashimoto\u2019s disease, which affects about 5 percent of the population. Learn more about hypothyroidism and Hashimoto's Disease in our blog!","datePublished":"2019-12-23","dateModified":"2022-04-12","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","name":"UPMC Harrisburg","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-harrisburg\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/hashimoto-disease-and-hypothyroidism.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/hashimoto-disease-and-hypothyroidism.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/hashimoto-disease-and-hypothyroidism\/","about":["Living and Wellness"],"wordCount":897,"keywords":["Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"The thyroid is a little, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Most of us don\u2019t give it any thought.\u00a0 But the thyroid serves a critical function. It emits hormones that control how your body uses energy. It can affect how energetic you feel and even the pace of your heartbeat.What is Hypothyroidism?When your thyroid malfunctions, it can cause an illness called hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. (\u201cHypo\u201d means less than normal.) Without enough thyroid hormones, many of your body\u2019s functions slow down. You may feel run-down, depressed, and gain weight. \u00a0During pregnancy, untreated hypothyroidism can harm your baby.Thyroid GlandThe thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that lies in front of the windpipe (trachea), just below the voice box (larynx). The thyroid gland uses iodine from food to make two thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid gland stores these hormones and releases them as they are needed.How Hashimoto\u2019s Disease Causes HypothyroidismThe most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States is a condition called Hashimoto\u2019s disease, which affects about 5 percent of the population.Hashimoto\u2019s disease is an autoimmune disease. That means that your\u00a0immune system\u00a0attacks your thyroid. When the thyroid becomes damaged and can\u2019t make enough thyroid\u00a0hormones, it causes hypothyroidism.Risk Factors for Hashimoto\u2019s DiseaseResearchers aren\u2019t sure why some people get Hashimoto\u2019s disease. Most likely, it\u2019s a combination of\u00a0genetics and some kind of outside trigger, like a\u00a0virus. However, some people are more likely to get Hashimoto\u2019s disease than others. Your risk increases if:You are a woman: Hashimoto\u2019s disease is eight times more common in women than men.You are between 40 and 60 years old: Although the disease may occur in teens or young women, it more often appears between ages 40 and 60.Other members of your family have it: Your chance of developing Hashimoto\u2019s disease increases if other family members have the disease.You have other autoimmune disorders. These include type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Addison\u2019s disease, and Grave\u2019s disease.Symptoms and Warning Signs of HypothyroidismThe hypothyroidism of Hashimoto\u2019s disease is what\u2019s called subclinical. That means it has no symptoms and you may not be aware you have it, particularly in its early stages. But as the hypothyroidism progresses, you may start seeing these symptoms:Tiredness.Weight gain.Trouble tolerating cold.Joint and muscle pain.Constipation.Dry, thinning hair.Scant or irregular menstrual periods and problems becoming pregnant.Depression.Memory problems.A slowed heart rate.The most obvious sign of hypothyroidism is the goiter. That is a visible swelling in the neck, a sign that the thyroid is getting larger as a result of the damage being done to it. The goiter may create tightness or fullness in your throat, but it is usually painless.Most people with Hashimoto\u2019s disease develop hypothyroidism. That may lead to high cholesterol or heart disease. In rare cases, severe, untreated hypothyroidism may lead to serious issues and be life-threatening. However, that is rare.Thyroid Hormone ProductionThe thyroid gland produces two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and releases them as needed by the body. The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland help control the thyroid gland. The hypothalamus produces thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which stimulates the pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). A low level of T3 tells the hypothalamus to release more TRH, and it tells the pituitary to release more TSH. The thyroid gland releases T3 and T4 until the body is receiving the required amount.Diagnosing Hashimoto\u2019s DiseaseYour doctor will order one or more blood tests to find out if you have hypothyroidism. One of the blood tests looks for antithyroid antibodies known as thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPO), which are a sign of Hashimoto\u2019s disease.In most cases, that\u2019s all you\u2019ll need. However, if your doctor suspects Hashimoto\u2019s disease but you don\u2019t have antibodies in your blood, you may have an\u00a0ultrasound\u00a0of your thyroid. The images will show the size of your thyroid and other features of Hashimoto\u2019s disease. The ultrasound also can rule out other causes of an enlarged thyroid.[hwvideo id=”abp5488″ title=”Thyroid Blood Test: Understanding the Test”]Treatments for Hashimoto\u2019s DiseaseYour treatment will depend on whether Hashimoto\u2019s disease has led to hypothyroidism. If you don\u2019t have hypothyroidism, your doctor may simply monitor your condition.If you have hypothyroidism, you will be treated with the hormone that your own thyroid can no longer make. You will take levothyroxine, a thyroid hormone medicine. It is identical to the hormone your thyroid makes.You will need a blood test about six to eight weeks after you start the hormone, and your dosage may be adjusted. Once you\u2019ve reached a dose that works for you, you will probably repeat the blood test in six months and then once a year.The good news is that your hypothyroidism can usually be completely controlled with hormone medicine. However, you will need to take it for the rest of your life and you shouldn\u2019t stop taking it without talking to your doctor first.If you suspect you might have a thyroid issue, talk to your primary care provider.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on December 23, 2019, and was last reviewed on April 12, 2022."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2019","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Understanding Hashimoto\u2019s Disease and Hypothyroidism","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2019\/12\/hashimoto-disease-and-hypothyroidism\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]