People who have hypothyroidism are often told that their thyroid gland has stopped working. What exactly does this mean and how to reduce thyroid dysfunction?
One of the most common reasons is autoimmunity. This is when your immune system starts attacking itself.
This condition is called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or simply Hashimoto’s disease. In this, the gland is inflamed which leads to underactive thyroid.
It is seen more commonly in females, especially after pregnancy. It could be related to family history, eating too much iodine or exposure to radiation.
Anti thyroglobulin and anti TPO antibodies are commonly found in these cases. These antibodies block thyroid gland function.
Usually, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels secreted by the pituitary gland are used as markers of thyroid function. However, in cases of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, symptoms may not be relieved even if TSH levels are normal.
