"Hashimoto's" and "Hypothyroidism"

So the past few days we've been talking about the "thyroid gland" and its destruction.

Well today we're going to talk about "Hashimoto's and "hypothyroidism".

So let's better understand . . .

"Hashimoto's disease" is another autoimmune disorder that can cause "hypothyroidism" which is an "underactive" thyroid function. Again . . . with this disease, the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and at this point the thyroid becomes "damaged" and can't make "enough" thyroid hormones to make the "metabolism" of the body function correctly.

We spoke yesterday about Graves' disease causing "hyperthyroidism" making the thyroid gland produce "too many" thyroid hormones in the blood. Well . . . as you can see . . . "hypothyroidism" is just the opposite causing the production of "too few" thyroid hormones in the blood.

Which in both diseases, messes up the "metabolism" of the body. You're either burning "too many" calories . . . or "not enough".

Some of the symptoms of "Hashimoto's disease" or "Hypothyroidism" are fatigue, increased sensitivity to "cold" (remember Hyperthyroid was sensitivity to "heat"), constipation, dry skin, weight gain (Hyperthyroid was weight loss), puffy face, hoarseness, muscle weakness, feeling sad or depressed or pale skin.

Since "hypothyroidism" is an" underactive" thyroid gland that can lead to inadequate production of thyroid hormones . . . it can also slow vital body functions such as facial expressions, speech, eyelids drooping and the eyes, face becoming puffy, reduced energy levels and reduced bowel movements. In this case . . . Everything slows down.

And unfortunately . . . this malfunction affects 1 in 7 adults in the United States.

Now "Hashimoto's" is also known as "Chronic Lymphocytic Thyroiditis", an autoimmune disorder in which antibodies are directed to attack the thyroid gland leading to chronic inflammation. This inflammation actually damages the thyroid where as in Grave's disease and hyperthyroidism, the thyroid is just producing to many hormones.