Autoimmune thyroiditis, also commonly known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, is a condition in which the immune system becomes sensitized to an enzyme called thyroid peroxidase and a protein called thyroglobulin, both of which are involved in the production of thyroid hormone. The result is impairment of the ability of the thyroid gland to regulate metabolism throughout the body. Symptoms are widespread and variable, most often affecting women, and incidence has risen sharply in North America over the last 50 years, according to researchers at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Energy Levels
Fatigue is a predominant symptom associated with autoimmune thyroiditis, characterized by an inability to feel rested after a full night's sleep and the need for frequent daytime naps. Paradoxically, fatigue can alternate with hyperactivity, resulting in an attention deficit effect, which is caused in part by an increased requirement by nerves for stimulation to make up for lack of thyroid activity, reports thyroid expert Dr. Alan Gaby.
Mood and Focus
Cognitive effects associated with low energy levels include difficulty focusing on a task and diminished short-term memory. Irritability and depression are the emotional manifestations of the body's inability to adequately rest and replenish itself.
Weight Gain
Weight gain with autoimmune thyroiditis is usually no greater than 10 percent of ideal weight, according to author Stephanie L. Lee, M.D., PhD., of Boston University School of Medicine. Usually, weight gain is not preceded by a change in diet or an increase in appetite; imbalance in fluid regulation is often a contributing factor.
Skin and Hair
Dry, pale and itchy skin, as well as dry and brittle hair and nails, are part of the picture of Hashimoto's disease, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Skin can also become thickened and coarse.
Muscles
Muscle cramps and sore, tired muscles are a common complaint among those with autoimmune thyroid disease. The inflammatory and immune processes that develop in the thyroid spread to involve muscle and joint tissue. Also, waste products of metabolism accumulate and cause irritation to the muscles.
Environmental Sensitivities
A by-product of metabolism is heat, and hypersensitivity to cold due to slowed metabolism is a frequent symptom of this disease. Autoimmune hypothyroid sufferers often have great difficulty getting and keeping their bodies warm enough.
Sensitivity to light, known as photophobia, and dryness of the eyes occur in some individuals.
Reproduction
Heavy and painful menstrual periods, decreased sex drive and difficulty conceiving can complicate the lives of women with autoimmune thyroiditis. Researchers at the University of California School of Medicine-San Diego in La Jolla report that appropriate treatment usually reverses thyroid-induced infertility.
Bowel Function
Constipation is a chronic component of autoimmune thyroiditis, stemming from the slower functioning of muscles throughout the body, including those lining the intestinal tract, combined with the tendency to retain water.
