Hashimoto’s Disease and Low Thyroid Help in Greenville SC
Many people who have low thyroid aren’t aware of what it involves because they don’t receive proper care for it. They also aren’t aware that they might have Hashimoto’s disease, which is extremely common and affects many people who have problems with their thyroid. What’s important for people to realize is that there is a difference between hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease. One is a condition while the other is an actual disease, although they both can seem very similar to each other.
Hashimoto’s Disease
Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease that actually causes antibodies to attack the thyroid gland, which results in destruction of the gland and an inability for it to function properly within the body. There are a wide variety of symptoms that people can experience when they are suffering from this disease, but some people don’t have symptoms at all. This is because the destruction of the thyroid gland happens gradually over time. Within time, the thyroid gland will generally stop making the thyroid hormone that the body needs, and this results in hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism
When someone has hypothyroidism, they are suffering from a condition that causes their thyroid to produce very little of the thyroid hormones that their body needs to function properly. Unfortunately this can be the result of Hashimoto’s disease, which is when the thyroid gland tissue is destroyed.
What’s the Difference?
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, while Hashimoto’s disease is when antibodies destroy certain proteins that are inside of the thyroid gland. This disease will eventually cause the thyroid gland to have major problems producing thyroid hormones. A person who has Hashimoto’s disease may very well have hypothyroidism, but someone who has hypothyroidism may not have Hashimoto’s disease.
In order to find out what is going on with your own thyroid, a primary care doctor may not be able to provide adequate assistance. This is because some physicians only run one test that checks one hormone for low thyroid. If that test comes back as normal, then they may very well send you on your way assuming you have another problem that is causing your symptoms. This is when it’s extremely important to go to a functional wellness practitioner who has extensive experience working with thyroid issues.
When you see this type of doctor they will perform a number of comprehensive tests that check all of your hormone levels to determine what is going on. Their goal will be to find a valid therapy option that will help you feel better. This is because they want to get to the root of the problem instead of just masking the symptoms that you’re experiencing. Whether you have Hashimoto’s or you are suffering from low thyroid, a wellness practitioner is the person who finds the solutions that work best for you. They have the experience and education that can make a big impact on the way you feel from day to day.
