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Each of us knows someone who struggles with this disease. No wonder – experts estimate that up to 800 people suffer from Hashimoto’s disease. people in Poland, and this number is growing rapidly with the growing awareness of prevention. Some blame the Chernobyl catastrophe for the sudden increase in the incidence of the disease among young people, others blame environmental changes or genetic factors. How is it actually? It is not entirely known. However, it is known that the more you hear about Hashimoto’s disease, the more myths it develops about it.
How to recognize the enemy?
Choroba Hashimoto to autoimmune disease. It arises as a result defects of the immune systemwhich causes the body’s tissues to turn against other tissues, treating them as an enemy. In the case of Hashimoto’s disease, this applies to thyroid proteins, the destruction of which leads to the degradation of the thyroid gland and disrupts the level of hormones it produces.
Hashimoto was first heard about in 1912, when the Japanese scientist Hakaru Hashimoto noticed unusual inflammation of the thyroid gland in his sample. Initially, his discovery did not raise interest until 1957, when Hashimoto was named after the discoverer and was recognized as an autoimmune disease.
Currently, more and more is known about Hashimoto’s disease, but not enough to know its specific causes. It is known, however, that Hashimoto’s affects women several times more often than men. The disease, which once affected only women over 50, is more and more often diagnosed in 30-year-olds, but also in adolescents and young children. More and more often it is said that Hashimoto is becoming a disease of civilization.
Hashimoto’s diagnosis It is not the simplest one, because the symptoms of the disease are most often attributed to overwork and exhaustion. There is excessive sleepiness and lack of energy. Despite not changing the diet, the weight begins to increase rapidly and gastrointestinal complaints in the form of flatulence and constipation appear. There are also changes in appearance – nails begin to break, hair fall out, and the skin becomes dry and flaky. Women also have irregular periods, heavy bleeding or intermenstrual spotting.
As symptoms can be easily attributed to other causes, still not all people are aware of the development of Hashimoto’s disease in their bodies. The information circulating on the Internet, which is sometimes far from the truth, is also not conducive to this. Here are the most common facts and myths about Hashimoto’s.
Hashimoto’s disease can be cured
MYTH. Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease that is considered incurable. This means that taking medication can only alleviate its symptoms and stop the progression of the disease. For this purpose, a synthetic thyroid hormone in the form of left-handed thyroxine is taken under the name Euthyrox, Letrox or Eltroxin. The dose of the drug should depend on the test results, our age, and often weight. In most cases, people with Hashimoto’s disease are forced to take medication for the rest of their lives.
However, you can support the work of your thyroid gland by taking appropriate dietary supplements. We recommend, for example, Hashima Forte for thyroid and immunity.
Elevated TSH is always a sign of hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease
MYTH. By suspected hypothyroidism the first is to test the concentration of TSH, the thyroid stimulating hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, which affects the thyroid gland and stimulates it to produce hormones. Abnormal TSH result is the first sign that something disturbing is happening with our thyroid gland.
However, to confirm that elevated TSH results from developing hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease, further tests are performed: the concentration of free thyroid hormones – FT3 and FT4. If their result is also incorrect, we can talk about an endocrine disease. If not, your body weight may be a problem.
– If we take into account the control group of obese children and those with high BMI, the TSH of overweight and obese children is much higher than the TSH of children with normal weight – said prof. dr hab. Wojciech Bik, MD, PhD. – It is not that an elevated TSH causes an increase in body weight. It is the increase in body weight that stimulates the increase in TSH.
In order to accurately diagnose the disease, it is important to perform more detailed tests, such as a panel of laboratory tests diagnosing Hashimoto’s disease – you can buy them at Medonet Market.
People with Hashimoto’s should switch to a gluten-free diet
MYTH / TRUE. It is true that the presence of an autoimmune disease like Hashimoto’s increases the chances of developing celiac disease as well. Celiac disease is also an autoimmune disease, but it is caused gluten intolerance. In addition, gluten is a lectin that can, in some cases, leak the gut by sticking cells together. Because as much as 70 percent. autoimmune diseases depend on the condition of our intestines, a diet filled to the brim with gluten can affect the development of the disease.
There are currently no scientific studies that make it clear that treating Hashimoto’s disease requires switching to a gluten-free diet. The fact that we decide on such a diet should be preceded by appropriate tests to determine intolerance. If the result turns out to be negative – there are no indications for switching to a gluten-free diet.
However, it is already known that switching to a gluten-free diet can effectively affect Hashimoto’s symptoms, reducing their annoyance in everyday functioning. This is confirmed by the research carried out by the employees of the Department of Pharmacoeconomics and Social Pharmacy of the Medical University of Poznań – K. Kusa, K. Zielińska, T. Zaprutko, P. Ratajczak and E. Nowakowska. In their work “Hashimoto’s disease – the effectiveness of a gluten-free diet” they confirmed that the exclusion of gluten can bring real effects in the form of reducing the symptoms of the disease.
As much as 77 percent of Hashimoto’s patients who did not use pharmacotherapy confirmed that switching to a gluten-free diet resulted in the relief of symptoms. “More than half of those surveyed who follow a gluten-free diet without pharmacological treatment reported a decrease in TSH levels. Over 62 percent of respondents who were on a gluten-free diet for 6 months to 2 years saw the symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease disappear. ”(1)
Hashion offers a diet tailored to the needs of people struggling with Hashimotoa – check which personalized menu is best for you.
People with Hashimoto’s should give up eating cruciferous vegetables
MYTH. Eating broccoli, cauliflower, turnips or kale by people with Hashimoto’s disease has always been a debatable topic. Some patients avoid them like fire, others eat them without fear. Are cruciferous vegetables really so dangerous in Hashimoto’s? It depends.
The goitrogens contained in these vegetables are controversial. These are the compounds that interfere with the absorption of iodine by the thyroid gland, this applies to iodine in the meals consumed. Moreover, goitrogens can negatively affect the production of thyroid hormones.
Living with Hashimoto’s disease it is not the easiest one, especially when its symptoms affect our marital, professional and social life. You need to be prepared for the fact that not everyone in our environment will understand that our behavior or well-being is not entirely dependent on us, but results from our disease. That is why it is worth explaining, educating and debunking the myths repeated by many. It is possible to live with Hashimoto – you just need to get used to it – then the disease will not take away the joy of life.
Try personalized diet plans for people with Hashimoto’s. They allow you to reduce the symptoms of the disease, improve well-being and reduce body weight. Fill in the questionnaire and check what menu will be perfect for you.
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- A side effect of Hashimoto’s disease you need to know about
- Diet for the thyroid gland. What to eat to make it work well?
(1) Kus K., Zielińska K., Zaprutko T., Ratajczak P., Nowakowska E., “Hashimoto’s disease – the effectiveness of a gluten-free diet”, Pol Prz Nauk Zdr 2016; 49: 370-376.