Autoimmune thyroiditis affects between 2% and 5% of the general population in Western countries. A combination of heredity, gender and age are the main contributing factor to the occurrence of this disease. [Tweet "Are you at risk for #autoimmune #hashimotos disease?"] Heredity There is a genetic predisposition for the development of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. If some of your second degree relatives such as grandmother had any thyroid disease you are at an increased risk to develop … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2010
Should you be concerned about autoimmunity?
One of the basic functions of the immune system is to recognize and eliminate foreign antigens or intruders such as viruses and bacteria in order to protect the body from their harmful actions. The immune system creates antibodies in response to an antigen. This process provides protective immunity that is a part of the normal function of the immune system. Autoimmunity is an over reactive response of the immune system against an antigen. The combination of three factors could lead to … [Read more...]
5 Stages Of Hypothyroidism
According to symptoms and test results patient could be euthyroid, transintly hyperthyroid, subclinical, mild, moderate or severe hypothyroid. The extreme manifestation of hypothyroidism myxedema coma is a rare condition and occurs most often in elderly people. TSH raises in proportion to degree of hypothyroidism. Increased TSH is earliest evidence of hypothyroidism and normally is sufficient to make the diagnosis. However, the measurement of free form of T4 and T3 thyroid hormones and … [Read more...]
List of associated diseases
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a disorder of the immune system, which affects the function of the thyroid gland. There are many findings about the relationship between other autoimmune diseases and Hashimoto’s. The immune system can also mistakenly target any other part of the body causing it to malfunction. In Hashimoto's disease in addition to thyroid antibodies patients can have antibodies to other tissues or enzymes as well that puts them at a higher risk to develop another autoimmune … [Read more...]
What The Thyroid Does As A Part Of Endocrine System
The endocrine system is composed of many different glands, which the main function is to manufacture specific hormones. Hormones are chemical substances that transport a signal from one cell to another and are necessary for cellular communication and regulation. Endocrine glands Pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain and produces hormones that control the activities of numerous other glands. Thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones that control metabolism, the body’s … [Read more...]