The #1 Cause of Low Thyroid Function -Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system is forming antibodies attacking an enzyme in the gland called thyroid peroxidase (TPO). This enzyme is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones. A positive TPO test suggests Hashimoto’s disease.
Hashimoto’s disease is not a problem in the gland, directly.
Hashimoto’s disease is a problem in the immune system. Another type of autoimmune response responsible for Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune response to a protein made by the follicular cells in the thyroid from which we make thyroid hormones- thyroglobulin autoimmune response. A positive thyroglobulin test or (TGB) antibody test suggest Hashimoto’s- this again is an autoimmune condition. While traditional medicine looks at TSH and T4 it does not look at the underlying causes or triggers of the fluctuating markers -they will adjust medication only.
Some common triggers to autoimmunity are:
- inflammation
- blood sugar issues
- food sensitivities
- chronic infections
- adrenal dysfunction
- other hormone imbalances
- Certain thyroid medications
- Low vitamin D & vitamin A
- Low EFA’s (essential fatty acid)
- Glutathione deficiency
Any one of these is a trigger to an autoimmune response. To mediate, or even eradicate symptoms of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis one must uncover the underlying causes to the autoimmune response.
Similar symptoms and diagnosis may have different triggers. What works for one patient may not work for another. That is why at my clinic I practice functional medicine. Functional medicine works to uncover these triggers and eliminate them. We do this through proper and thorough testing. Blood, food sensitivity, stool and saliva are some of the tests we may run. This way we can be specific in our approach, pinpointing the triggers, and eliminating them.
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