Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Can Affect Quality of Life

Even When Thyroid Gland Function Is “Normal”

Often information comes along that needs to be passed on.

This article from Science Daily is an example of that information. This research paper explains a phenomenon that physicians, clinicians, Functional Medicine practitioners such as myself have observed for a long time. I get dozens of requests for information monthly from thyroid symptoms sufferers, whose tests are “normal”. ( I cringe when a new patient calls our office and says I feel lousy but the doctor I have been seeing says its…..NORMAL”)

Why do these patients still have symptoms when theirs tests are normal? Many reasons, but chiefly because not enough investigation/ testing is done or the wrong tests are done, or the tests are not specific or sensitive enough.

I wrote a revealing Thyroid Recovery Guide “How Woman Are Often Misdiagnosed and How This is Having A Devestating Effect On Thier Heallth” that you can read by clicking on the big blue button below.

You can also download my thyroid ebook; “ by clicking on the image of the eBook at the beginning of this blog post.

Now for the research article…

ScienceDaily (Feb. 25, 2011) — Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), an inflammatory disorder of the thyroid, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, but a study has suggested that even when thyroid function is normal, HT may increase symptoms and decrease quality of life, as described in an article in Thyroid, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis most commonly affects middle-aged women and is associated with an array of symptoms that include chronic fatigue, dry hair, chronic irritability, difficulty concentrating, constipation, and chronic nervousness.

Affected patients tend to report decreased quality of life. HT is an autoimmune disorder in which the body produces an antibody that attacks the thyroid gland resulting in inflammation, and often decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism).

Johannes Ott and colleagues from Kaiserin Elisabeth Spital and Medical University of Vienna, Austria, report that women with higher levels of anti-thyroid antibody had a significantly higher number of symptoms, even though their levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) — a measure of thyroid function — did not differ from TSH levels measured in women with lower antibody levels. In the article, “Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Affects Symptom Load and Quality of Life Unrelated to Hypothyroidism: A Prospective Case-Control Study in Women Undergoing Thyroidectomy for Benign Goiter ” the authors conclude that hypothyroidism is only one factor contributing to HT symptoms.

“This study raises important clinical issues. Although the authors did not study thyroid hormone treatment for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, it raises the possibility that optimal doses of thyroid hormone will not completely ameliorate all symptoms. Further studies are required to confirm the findings of Ott et al. and to determine if patients with hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis still have residual symptoms despite achieving an ideal biochemical response to thyroid hormone replacement therapy,” says Charles H. Emerson, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Thyroid and Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine, in Worcester.

Dr Hagmeyers Note

Hashimotos is a serious disease. For many men and women it is lumped into the same category as hypothyroidism. This study demonstrates that although TSH levels may be “managed” with Thryoid Replacement hormones, Many women still suffer due to the fact that the core issues surrounding the immune system are ignored.

Many physicians “fail” to run the appropiate testing. I use the word FAIL because whether the antibody tests are run or not run, in the conventional allopathic model, treatment remains the same. Remember for the thryoid to be properly treated, you first need to demand that your doctor run all the thyroid tests including antibodies. DO NOT settle for just a TSH and a T4. If you have Hashimotos or just diagnosed with Hypothryoidism treatment is still the cookie cutter approach. This is unfortunate because so much can be done naturally for the men and women whose lives are being destroyed by this disease.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers, via AlphaGalileo.

Journal Reference:

Johannes Ott, Regina Promberger, Friedrich Kober, Nikolaus Neuhold, Maria Tea, Johannes C. Huber, Michael Hermann. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Affects Symptom Load and Quality of Life Unrelated to Hypothyroidism: A Prospective Case–Control Study in Women Undergoing Thyroidectomy for Benign Goiter. Thyroid, 2011; 21 (2): 161 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2010.0191

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers (2011, February 25). Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can affect quality of life even when thyroid gland function is normal. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 20, 2011, from https://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2011/02/110225123029.htm#