Hashimoto’s disease, also known as chronic lymphatic thyroiditis, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. The condition sets in when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, slowly destroying the gland’s ability to produce hormones. These hormones help regulate a number of bodily functions, and a bunch of problems can set in if the condition affects your hormone levels. Here’s a closer look at the causes, symptoms and treatment options for Hashimoto’s disease.

Causes and Symptoms

As we mentioned above, Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder that damages your thyroid gland. Medical experts are uncertain as to why the body begins to mistakenly attack the gland, but some believe it may be triggered by a virus, bacteria or simply a genetic flaw. While there’s no specific cause, there are some risk factors that increase a person’s likelihood of developing the condition. Hashimoto’s disease is more common in:

• Women
• Middle-aged adults
• People who have a family member with the condition
• Individuals with another autoimmune disease, like rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes

Symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease include fatigue, depression, weight gain, dry skin, heavy or irregular menstruation, constipation and goiter development. In mild cases, symptoms may stay dormant or remain subtle. Since the symptoms mimic other conditions, Hashimoto’s disease can be hard to diagnose.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Doctors can confirm Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism with the help of a simple blood test. Doctors test the blood for appropriate levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and for the presence of irregular antibodies. Once your doctor determines that you are dealing with Hashimoto’s disease and low levels of hormone production, they’ll walk you through your treatment options.

While there is no cure for Hashimoto’s disease, there are a few options to control symptoms. The most common treatment involves giving the patient some hormone-replacing medications to ensure their body is getting enough hormones to regulate bodily functions, like your metabolism and digestion. This method is often very effective, and doctors will continue to monitor your thyroid gland to ensure the condition doesn’t worsen.

In rare cases, surgery is necessary. Surgery is usually only needed in advanced cases of Hashimoto’s disease. If you need surgery, your surgeon will perform a thyroidectomy, where part or all of your thyroid will be removed. You can learn more about the procedure on this page. Medications will likely be prescribed after a thyroidectomy to help regulate your hormones.