Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders

The most common thyroid conditions are autoimmune in nature, meaning that the immune system causes inflammation and or emits chemicals to damage the thyroid gland and alters its function.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a chronic ongoing autoimmune attack to the thyroid gland that causes inflammation and destruction of cells in the thyroid gland. The inflammation often causes an enlargement of the gland ( ie: goiter). The inflammation often makes the gland become less efficient producing thyroid hormones and this is called underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis affects more than 10% of the population.

Graves’ disease is also an autoimmune condition that typically results in overactive thyroid and affects one to two percent of the population. The damaging antibodies of Graves’ disease can also attack the eyes.

Both Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease are much more common in women than men. These diseases tend to occur more frequently in certain periods of the reproductive cycle in women, such as menopause, and the postpartum period, implying that changes in sex hormones could promote autoimmune reactions on the gland.

Genes make you more vulnerable to be affected by Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves' disease. Genes of either condition may overlap and this explains why certain members of the same family are sometimes affected by either condition. This also explains why sometimes one person may have the two conditions at the same time. The coexistence of the two conditions results in instability of thyroid levels even with adequate treatment. In addition to genes, stress, and excessive iodine from foods, supplements, certain medications or high amounts of iodine from iodinated procedures can promote autoimmune reactions. You also need to pay attention to vitamin D deficiency and deficiency in antioxidants. Such deficiencies can contribute to autoimmune reactions on the thyroid. Antioxidants protect the gland from damage and inflammation. Radiation and other toxic chemicals from the environment can also contribute to the disorders.