Why do I have Hashimoto's disease?
Have you been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and wondering why you have it? Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid, where you are unable to produce sufficient thyroid hormone for your body’s needs.
Like any disease, Hashi’s doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. There are direct causes and contributing factors that lead to the condition developing.
Let’s have a closer look at this common cause of an underactive thyroid.
What causes Hashimoto’s?
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s own immune system sees a body part - in this case, the thyroid - as foreign or dangerous.
To protect the body, it begins to attack the thyroid, causing inflammation and tissue damage. Over time, this can impair thyroid function and reduce the production of essential thyroid hormones.
People often point to genetics as the major cause of autoimmune disease. But although this increases your risk, it is only one piece of the puzzle. Genes alone do not lead to autoimmune conditions. There needs to be a trigger that pulls the gun on those genes, so to speak.
But this raises the question - what causes autoimmunity in the first place? Why would the immune system start attacking its own gland? This is where the contributing factors within the diet and lifestyle come into play. Many of them are triggers for autoimmunity.
What are the risk factors for Hashimoto’s?
There are countless risk factors for Hashimoto's - but in my experience, there are 4 big ones I see in the clinic:
Inflammation – this can contribute to autoimmunity and gut health issues
Nutrient deficiencies – without key nutrients such as iodine, selenium, zinc and tyrosine, the thyroid cannot function properly
Hormone imbalances – high oestrogen and low progesterone can contribute to low thyroid function
Impaired gut health - this feeds into nutrient deficiencies, inflammation and autoimmunity
Once you add these in with other factors such as:
Genetics
Poor diet
Food and environmental intolerances
Environmental pollutants
Chronic and/or extreme stress
Poor sleep
Chronic disease
Other autoimmune conditions such as Coeliac disease
- it becomes a perfect storm, and the body starts to attack the thyroid.
The exact reason why you developed Hashimoto’s is unique to you. I recommend working with a health practitioner so that they can help uncover your specific contributing factors.
Is there anything I can do for my Hashimoto’s aside from taking thyroxine?
Many of my clients are told to take their thyroxine and it will fix everything. If it doesn’t fix their symptoms, their doctors just shrug because their thyroid levels look ‘normal’. Unfortunately, many GPs don’t understand the underlying pathology and what can be done. Taking thyroid medication can help significantly, but it is a bandaid rather than a solution.
The good news is that there is plenty you can do to support your thyroid! What you eat and drink, how you manage your stress and move your body, and even the daily products you use can all make a difference.
Many also find it helpful to work on ways to avoid and manage their Hashimoto’s flare-ups.
If you’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s and don’t know what to do, you’re not alone. I’ve put together a handy guide to help you understand why your thyroid is underactive and what you can do about it.
Grab your copy of the Hypothyroidism & Hashimoto’s ebook here.