AUTOIMMUNE THYRODITIS

Autoimmune thyroiditis, also known as Hashimoto's disease and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is a chronic disease occurring in the thyroid, the butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in the anterior neck. This disease occurs when the body interprets components of the thyroid glands as threats, therefore producing special antibodies that target the thyroid's cells or proteins, thereby destroying it.

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Who is more likely to have Hashimoto’s disease?

Hashimoto’s disease is 4 to 10 times more common in women than men.2 Although the disease may occur in teens or young women, it more often develops in women ages 30 to 50.3 Your chance of developing Hashimoto’s disease increases if other family members have the disease.

You are more likely to develop Hashimoto’s disease if you have other autoimmune disorders:

• celiac disease, a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine

• lupus is a chronic, or long-term, disorder that can affect many parts of the body

• rheumatoid arthritis is a disorder that affects the joints

• Sjögren’s syndrome is a disease that causes dry eyes and mouth

• type 1 diabetes, is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high