{"id":21337,"date":"2025-09-18T14:20:45","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T18:20:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/?p=21337"},"modified":"2025-09-18T14:20:45","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T18:20:45","slug":"thyroiditis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/valuecare.wpgamma.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/18\/thyroiditis\/","title":{"rendered":"Thyroiditis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thyroiditis literally means inflammation<\/a>\u00a0of the thyroid gland. Most frequently\u00a0thyroiditis<\/a>\u00a0refers to Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis which is the most common cause of\u00a0hypothyroidism<\/a>\u00a0in the United States. It was named after the doctor who first described the condition in 1912.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

This condition is caused by an\u00a0inflammation<\/a>\u00a0of the\u00a0thyroid gland<\/a>\u00a0because of an autoimmune attack on the gland. This means that the body in a probe really a tax the\u00a0thyroid gland<\/a>, as if it were foreign tissue.<\/p>\n

The underlying cause of Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis continues to be an unknown but researchers do know that it tends to occur in families and is associated with the clustering of other types of conditions such as\u00a0diabetes<\/a>\u00a0and celiac disease.<\/p>\n

Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis is five to 10 times more common in women than in men. Blood tests revealed an increased number of antibodies to an enzyme found within the thyroid gland. As a result the\u00a0inflammation<\/a>\u00a0develops in the gland and the thyroid is destroyed.<\/p>\n

The symptoms of\u00a0thyroiditis<\/a>\u00a0are similar to those of\u00a0hypothyroidism<\/a>\u00a0which are often subtle. This means that they are nonspecific and can mimic the symptoms of many other conditions, some of which are attributed to\u00a0aging<\/a>. Individuals who have mild disease may have no signs or symptoms.<\/p>\n

Symptoms include fatigue,\u00a0depression<\/a>, modest weight gain, cold intolerance, excessive sleepiness, dried coarse hair,\u00a0constipation<\/a>, dry skin,\u00a0muscle cramps<\/a>, increased\u00a0cholesterol levels<\/a>, decreased\u00a0concentration<\/a>\u00a0and vague aches and pains. As the hypothyroidism becomes more severe or, when more of the\u00a0thyroid gland<\/a>\u00a0is destroyed, there may be puffiness around the eyes and a slowing of the heart rate as well as heart failure. In its most profound form, severe hypothyroidism can lead to a life-threatening coma which seems to be triggered by severe illness, surgery,\u00a0stress<\/a>\u00a0or traumatic injury.<\/p>\n

A less common form of thyroiditis is De Quervain\u2019s Thyroiditis, also called subacute or granulomatous\u00a0thyroiditis<\/a>. This was first described in 1904 and is much less common. In this condition the gland is generally swelled rapidly and is very painful and tender. It discharges\u00a0thyroid hormone<\/a>\u00a0into the blood and patients immediately become\u00a0hyperthyroid<\/a>. Over the next several weeks be\u00a0hyperthyroidism<\/a>\u00a0resolves.<\/p>\n

Patients frequently become ill with\u00a0fever<\/a>\u00a0and prefer to stay in bed. Blood work will not reveal thyroid antibodies but the sedimentation rate, which measures\u00a0inflammation<\/a>, will be very high. Although it resembles an\u00a0infection<\/a>\u00a0there will be no infectious agents identified and I antibiotics are of no use. Nearly all patients will fully recover and the\u00a0thyroid gland<\/a>\u00a0will return to normal after several weeks or months. While recurrences are very uncommon a few patients will become\u00a0hypothyroid<\/a>\u00a0ones the\u00a0inflammation<\/a>\u00a0settles down and will need to stay on\u00a0thyroid hormone<\/a>\u00a0replacement be indefinitely.<\/p>\n

The third type of thyroiditis is called Silent Thyroidits. It is the least common type of thyroiditis and was not recognized until 1970, although it probably existed and was treated as Graves\u2019 disease before that. Silent thyroiditis is a mixture of Hashimoto\u2019s and De Quervain\u2019s thyroiditis. Blood thyroid tests will be high and radioactive iodine uptake will be low that there will be no pain and a needle biopsy will resemble Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis.<\/p>\n

The majority of those affected are young women following\u00a0pregnancy<\/a>. The disease usually needs no specific treatment and 80% of those affected will completely recover and return to normal thyroid status after three months. Symptoms will be similar to Graves\u2019 disease, but much milder. The\u00a0thyroid gland<\/a>\u00a0will only slightly in large. Treatment will usually be bed rest with beta-blockers to control the palpitations in the heart. Treatments such as radioactive iodine, surgery or anti-thyroid medication, often used for individuals who suffer from Graves\u2019 disease, is never needed. Unfortunately, a few patients will become permanently\u00a0hypothyroid<\/a>\u00a0and require thyroid replacement for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n

The fourth type of\u00a0thyroiditis<\/a>\u00a0is called Reidel\u2019s thyroiditis. This is a very rare form of the disease in which inflammation causes a merging with surrounding structures such as muscle and trachea. Some physicians believe that this is not a form of thyroiditis, but rather a rear form of tumor that happens to involve the thyroid and surrounding tissue.<\/p>\n

The thyroid gland itself becomes quite hard and may be very difficult to tell if it\u2019s a result of the inflammation or of cancer. Blood tests are usually normal and a biopsy will be needed to distinguish it from cancer. Since the gland is so difficult to penetrate a fine needle aspiration may not be possible. Instead, and open biopsy in the operating room may be necessary in order to distinguish this benign disease from a malignant form of cancer. In the most severe forms of the disease the gland becomes so solid it may obstruct the trachea. In this instance an operation will be necessary to remove the middle portion of the thyroid. A complete removal cannot be performed because the thyroid bends with normal muscle and other tissue making more extensive surgery very dangerous.<\/p>\n

Thyroiditis<\/a>\u00a0can also occur in the postpartum period caused by antibodies that attack the thyroid after the delivery of the child. Symptoms will improve within 12 to 18 months but the mother may have permanent\u00a0hypothyroidism<\/a>\u00a0requiring medication. Drug-induced thyroiditis will be caused by prescription drugs such as lithium and cytokines. Symptoms will continue as long as the drug is taken. Radiation-induced thyroiditis follows the treatment with radioactive iodine for\u00a0hyperthyroidism<\/a>\u00a0and certain cancers. Most commonly individuals show symptoms of hypothyroidism which is usually permanent.<\/p>\n

Treatment for thyroiditis will depend upon the type of thyroiditis, the extent of the disease, and your overall health. Treatment modalities and recommendations can only be done after your physician has determined the exact thyroiditis that affects you. Once that has been determined, your treatment protocols should be decided by both you and your physician.<\/p>\n

Related Natural Product<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thyroid Assist<\/a>\u00a0is a natural, safe, effective and powerful herbal formula that contains herbs that have been carefully selected for their beneficial effect on thyroid functioning, as well as on overall systemic health.\u00a0Thyroid Assist<\/a>\u00a0will help to restore healthy thyroid functioning; treat\u00a0iodine deficiency<\/a>\u00a0causing\u00a0hypothyroidism<\/a>; ensure adequate production of\u00a0thyroid hormones<\/a>; assist with\u00a0depression<\/a>, fatigue,\u00a0constipation<\/a>, weight gain and other symptoms associated with\u00a0hypothyroidism<\/a>. Formulated by a clinical psychologist,\u00a0Thyroid Assist<\/a>\u00a0is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards.<\/p>\n

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