What is Hashimoto’s Disease?

Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy tissue of the thyroid gland instead of protecting it, which causes thyroid gland inflammation. The thyroid gland is located in front of the neck and is responsible for secreting hormones that influence every chemical reaction in the body, particularly energy, metabolism, reproductive health, and digestion. Get to know all of the details surrounding Hashimoto's disease, from symptoms and causes to treatment and patient prognosis now.

History Of Hashimoto's Disease

Hashimoto's disease gets its name from Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto, who lived from 1881 to 1934 and studied at the Kyushu University medical school. He was the first one to describe the symptoms of patients who had an unusual infiltration of lymphocytes in their thyroids. The study was published in a German journal in 1912. This report helped other physicians understand more about hypothyroidism, a condition that was becoming increasingly common in patients with iodine deficiencies that weren't obviously caused by a dietary deficiency. It wasn't until 1957 that the condition was recognized as being an autoimmune disease. As far as autoimmune diseases go, Hashimoto's disease was the first organ-specific one to be identified.

Causes And Risk Factors

Like most autoimmune conditions, there is no known cause of Hashimoto's disease. However, certain factors, such as gender and age increase the risk of developing it. Hashimoto’s can develop at any age, though most cases tend to occur in middle-aged individuals. Women are seven times more likely than men to develop this condition, which suggests sex hormones play a role. Women are more likely to receive a diagnosis within the first year after giving birth. Although most thyroid problems will dissipate over the years, approximately twenty percent of these women will develop Hashimoto’s disease later in life. Genes also play a significant role in the disease's development as individuals who get Hashimoto’s often have a relative with the condition.

Other potential contributing factors include excessive iodine levels, certain medications, and exposure to radiation. Individuals who have been exposed to radiation such as the atomic bombs in Japan, radiation treatment for blood cancer, and the Chernobyl nuclear accident may be at an increased risk for developing Hashimoto's disease. Having other autoimmune conditions, such as lupus, type one diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, may also increase the risk of developing Hashimoto's disease.