Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune disease that afflicts the thyroid gland. Under normal circumstances the thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate your body's utilization of energy, but in a patient suffering from this disease the thyroid function is affected. The immune system attacks the thyroid gland causing swelling and irritation. Hashimoto's disease can occur in individuals of any age group, but is most prevalent among women in the age group of 30 to 50 years. A family history of thyroid problems also increases the risk significantly. There are no specific causes that we can be sure about, apart from the fact that it has everything to do with genes or heredity.
Hashimoto's disease is not easy to detect in the early stages as it may only produce a mild inflammation that is barely noticeable. It is however important that you are familiar with the symptoms as swift detection and timely intervention can make a lot of difference to the treatment. Here are some of the common symptoms of Hashimoto's disease.
Some of the other less discernible symptoms that you can experience would include, fatigue or exhaustion, forgetfulness, depression, weight gain, dry coarse skin, intolerance to cold, constipation and a slow heartbeat.
Unfortunately, in some cases even these symptoms may not show up, and the disease can only be detected through blood work. An ordinary blood test could reveal the state of disarray of the thyroid hormones.
Sadly, this disease has no cure, but with medical treatment and lifestyle modifications you can overcome and cope with this disease, without any lasting effects. While natural remedies and dietary measures will go a long way to help treatment they can not suffice as treatment alone. Regular blood tests are necessary as these will reveal the status of your thyroid problem, and accordingly medications are provided to replace the thyroid hormones that would normally have been produced.
Following your doctor's recommendations and religiously following up on blood tests will help to prevent most symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, and constipation. Home remedies particularly in the guise of diet can help tremendously as complimentary treatment.
Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.