Hashimoto's Disease Q & A
What is Hashimoto’s disease?
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that’s usually passed down hereditarily and is most common in middle-aged women. That said, it can affect anyone.
If you have Hashimoto’s disease, your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid. Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck. It’s responsible for creating two hormones — triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) — that control your metabolism. That means problems with your thyroid can affect your body’s ability to convert food to energy, as well as your heart rate, body temperature, and more.
Hashimoto’s disease causes inflammation in your thyroid that can lead to hypothyroidism or underproduction of T3 and T4. As a result, it can cause symptoms like:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Brittle hair and nails
- Muscle and joint pain
- Memory problems
- Dry skin
- Cold sensitivity
- Extended menstrual cycles
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, don’t hesitate to come to North Georgia Endocrinology so the team can diagnose your condition and start you with treatment.
How is Hashimoto’s disease diagnosed?
North Georgia Endocrinology is one of the only practices in the area with an Endocrine Certification in Neck Ultrasound (ECNU). They can use an ultrasound to determine the presence of Hashimoto’s disease in addition to using more traditional diagnostic tools like a hormone test or antibody test. This allows them to give you an accurate diagnosis, so you get the most effective treatment possible.
How is Hashimoto’s disease treated?
The key to managing your Hashimoto’s disease and eliminating your symptoms is balancing your hormone levels. Your North Georgia Endocrinology provider can start you on synthetic hormones, replacing the T3 and T4 that your body isn’t producing naturally. They work with you to find the right balance.
This process usually takes time. You need sufficient hormones to eliminate your symptoms, but you don’t want to take excess amounts, as this can increase your risk for bone loss.
This process usually takes time. You need sufficient hormones to eliminate your symptoms, but you don’t want to take excess amounts, as this can increase your risk for bone loss. Fortunately, North Georgia Endocrinology is also a Certified Clinical Densitometrist (CCD®) practice, so they can monitor your bone density to ensure your synthetic hormones don’t pose any long-term risk to your bone health.
For expert diagnosis and dedicated care to help you manage your Hashimoto’s disease, call North Georgia Endocrinology or schedule an appointment online today.