Thyroiditis is swelling or inflammation of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a small gland located in your neck that you probably don’t think much about until it malfunctions. Weighing in at about one ounce, it’s shaped like a butterfly and lies between your Adam’s apple and breastbone.
It secretes the hormones that control your metabolism. When your thyroid is inflamed, it releases too many hormones. This is the hyperthyroid phase. If left untreated, your thyroid may eventually “burn out” and you’re left with not enough hormones. This is called hypothyroidism.
The symptoms of thyroiditis depend on the phase you’re experiencing. The hyperthyroid phase may cause:
If you lack adequate thyroid hormones, you experience the hypothyroidism with symptoms of:
The thyroid can be attacked by different agents or substances that cause injury and inflammation of the thyroid cells. Most often these agents are antibodies created by your own body due to a breakdown in your immune system that causes an allergic-type response to your thyroid cells.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common autoimmune condition responsible for thyroiditis. It’s five times more likely to occur in women than men and usually results in hypothyroidism. Postpartum thyroiditis is another autoimmune condition that sometimes occurs in women after pregnancy. Other causes of thyroiditis include medications, radiation treatment, or a virus.
The physicians at The Ash Center are integrative medicine specialists who combine the medical benefits of conventional medicine with the comprehensive approach of functional medicine. Thus, their treatment recommendations are often multifaceted. They may recommend medication when necessary, but also focus heavily on the underlying cause of your thyroiditis.
The first step in treatment is careful evaluation that may include lab work to diagnose the thyroid levels in your body, an assessment of your immune system and how well it’s functioning, as well as a check on your nutritional status.
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