Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Most thyroid diseases are autoimmune disorders. The genes that you inherit determine your susceptibility for developing an autoimmune thyroid disease. The chances of developing an autoimmune disease are also influenced by the way your immune system reacts to certain triggers or environmental effects. Aging, excessive stress, hormonal imbalance and pregnancy can affect the immune system and the course of autoimmune diseases. Here is an overview of causes, symptoms and treatment of such diseases.

Causes
The basic cause of the autoimmune disease lies inside the body; as body's immune system itself produces antibodies against body's own tissues. When the antibodies thus produced, attack the thyroid gland and make it secrete more and more thyroid hormones, the condition is recognized as Graves' disease. Excess and continuous secretion leads to enlargement of the thyroid gland. Increased level of thyroid hormones in the blood, known as hyperthyroidism, in turn leads to several health complications. The actual reason behind the weird behavior of the immune system is still not known. The particular gene that triggers this disease is not yet identified. It is believed that both environmental and genetic factors are responsible for this disease. Environmental factors include stress, infection, steroids, toxins, female sex hormones, iodine intake and so on.

Malfunctioning of the immune system leads to another situation which is known as Hashimoto's disease wherein the damaged thyroid gland slowly becomes less active and fails to produce the necessary amount of hormones and chemicals causing hormonal imbalance in the body. This causes inflammation of thyroid gland. Decreased level of thyroid hormones is known as hypothyroidism which again results in several health hazards, for example, goiter, memory related problems in the patient, etc. The symptoms help diagnose the situation. Check the lists of symptoms given below.

Symptoms of Hashimoto's Disease

• Hypothyroidism
• Chemical imbalance
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Joint pain, swelling of joints
• Change in voice
• Pale, dry skin
• Menstruation problems
• Sudden rise in cholesterol
• Constipation
• Swollen face
• Weakened immune system against cold
• Muscle pain, stiffness or tenderness, weakness in muscles

Symptoms of Graves' Disease

• Hyperthyroidism
• High blood pressure and arrhythmia
• Tachycardia
• Tremors on hands
• Restlessness and insomnia
• Muscle weakness
• Irritability
• Sensitivity to light
• Emotional instability
• Panic attacks
• Weight loss
• Increased hunger and increase in food intake
• Protrusion of eyes and various eye problems

Treatment
Anti-thyroid drugs and radio-iodine are used to treat Graves' disease. Thyroidectomy is rarely needed. Specific medications as well as hormone therapy work great for Hashimoto's disease. Synthetic thyroid hormones might be taken. Various naturopathy treatments are also suggested by doctors. Neglected Hashimoto's disease may result in increased risk of heart diseases and increased fatigue. If an autoimmune thyroid disease happens during pregnancy, it may create serious problems. For example; women with untreated Hashimoto's disease may give birth to babies who might have severe birth defects, increasing depression and mental disorders, unconsciousness (a part of a condition called Myxedema) etc.

Study reports show that autoimmune thyroid disorder and hives are significantly related. Patients with chronic urticaria or hives (skin allergy) were found to have autoimmune thyroid disorder. This type of thyroid disorder is also associated with celiac disease, wherein intestines react abnormally to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, kamut, and other related grains. People diagnosed with celiac disease should keep a 'gluten free food list' handy, to avoid further complications.

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Children
Thyroid problems occur less frequently in children than in adults. The most prominent cause of diminished thyroid functioning in children and adolescents is the autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's disease and the diagnosis may be easily missed for years, as the symptoms of hypothyroidism develop very slowly. Sudden decrease in growth rate and delayed skeletal development are the main symptoms of autoimmune thyroid disorders in children. Swelling of the neck (goiter), unusual tiredness or lethargy, dry itchy skin, increased sensitivity to cold, weight gain or generalized swelling, poor concentration, decreased energy, and constipation are the other symptoms noticed in children with autoimmune thyroid disorders.

Both Graves' disease and Hashimoto's disease are common with a prevalence of about 1% in the US. Living with autoimmune thyroid disease need not always mean living a compromised lifestyle. Once the disease is diagnosed, patients should regularly visit the doctor and religiously follow his instructions. The symptoms can be mitigated to an extent so that they can lead a hassle-free day-to-day life.