If you’re experiencing strange symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, constipation, and memory loss and your doctor has not been able to diagnose why, you may have Hashimoto’s Disease. Dr. Chris Sterrett of the Holtorf Medical Group in Pasadena explains exactly what it is in our video.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFSyhnUzy2g[/youtube]What Exactly is Hashimoto’s Disease?
It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid. The immune system is designed to keep the body healthy and fight against harmful toxins in our body that make us sick. However the immune system can sometimes attack our body’s internal thyroid gland. With Hashimoto’s Disease, antibodies react against proteins in the thyroid and ultimately kill thyroid cells.
In the beginning there may not be many symptoms of thyroid damage but thyroid cells will eventually release stored hormones. Once this occurs thyroid hormone levels will temporarily become higher than normal. Patients may experience symptoms of hyperthyroidism or hashitoxicosis. Symptoms can include panic attacks, anxiety, diarrhea, fast heartbeat, sweating, quick weight loss and shaky hands.
As the disease is spread more thyroid cells are damaged until the thyroid is no longer functional. Once hormones are not produced patients will then experience hypothyroidism. Their symptoms may change and can include fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, constipation, and memory loss.
As the disease progresses patients may experience symptoms that range from both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The throat may become sore or tender, as the thyroid gland will begin to enlarge. The lack of symptoms can cause patients to be misdiagnosed. Depression, bipolar disorder, PMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or anxiety disorder can sometimes be confused for Hashimoto’s Disease. The right testing is most important in order to begin the correct treatments to regain health.
The Holtorf Medical Group in Pasadena treats a variety of medical conditions including, adrenal fatigue, age management, bone building density, chronic fatigue, cancer prevention, digestive problems, heart disease prevention, hypertension, low libido, Lyme disease, migraines, multiple sclerosis, PMS, pre-menopause and menopause, type 2 diabetes and thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s Disease. Dr. Chris Sterrett of the Holtorf Medical Group helps patients dealing with Hashimoto’s Disease ensuring quality healthcare and the best treatments necessary.
Dr. Chris Sterrett of the Holtorf Medical Group talks about Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis:
Hi my name’s Chris Sterrett I’m a doctor at Holtorf Medical Group, Pasadena. Today I’d like to talk about Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism today. The reason its not diagnosed on many people is because their doctors don’t check for it. Why don’t they check for it? Because there’s really nothing they feel they can do for it.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroiditis that means that your body actually makes antibodies that attack your thyroid gland. Just like many other autoimmune diseases, I’m sure you’re familiar with, you’ve heard of things like rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis, or lupus. These are all autoimmune diseases that attack different parts of your body. Well in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis there are antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. Little by little the thyroid gland will be destroyed and form fibrous tissue. At first the antibodies will start to destroy the thyroid gland and it wont release maybe more thyroid hormone. So you can at the beginning, alternating bouts of hypothyroid and hyperthyroid.
Hyperthyroidism would be when you were feeling anxious, your heart’s racing, you feel hot all the time. Hypothyroidism are the typical symptoms you are, you know people are familiar with. You feel tired all the time, you feel sluggish, you don’t want to get up in the morning, you feel cold, you lose hair, your nails are thin and brittle and even constipation.
For the treatment of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, one thing we want to do is treat for hypothyroidism. So if you are feeling sluggish and we find that people, even after a thyroid isn’t quote on quote way out of range, you know people have a level of, lets say thyroid lapse that their doctor wouldn’t treat them for. We find that treating them for, treating them even if their lapse are quote on quote normal makes them feel better. Then we have ways also to lower the antibodies.
For more information or to schedule your comprehensive initial visit for the Holtorf Medical Group, Pasadena call (877) 508-1177 or visit www.Holtorfmed.com.
