Autoimmune thyroid disease. How to treat autoimmune thyroiditis with folk remedies. Diagnosis and treatment

There are two types of autoimmune diseases thyroid gland: with one of them there is excess secretion thyroid hormones - Graves' disease, the other, on the contrary, is characterized by a decrease in the synthesis of hormones - myxedema, or Hashimoto's disease.

The thyroid gland takes part in the synthesis of a very important hormone - thyroxine. The participation of thyroxin is necessary for the normal course of a number of metabolic processes. In addition, the presence of thyroxin is important for normal functioning muscle, correct operation brain, bone growth.

Insufficient thyroxine synthesis in Hashimoto's disease is manifested by lethargy, nerve damage to the limbs, dry hair and skin. Such patients throughout their lives must receive the hormone thyroxine from the outside. The incidence of myxedema is 8 times more common among females. The onset of the disease usually falls on the age of 30-50 years. In most cases, the patient's history includes one or more cases of Hashimoto's disease among close relatives.

Graves' disease, or Graves' disease, develops when increased production thyroid hormone thyroxine. This pathology characterized by the manifestation of symptoms such as increased heart rate, trembling in the hands, irritability, weight loss. very important hallmark Graves' disease is a symptom of bulging eyes. Such patients are very difficult to tolerate heat, suffer from excessive sweating. Graves' disease, like Hashimoto's disease, affects women more often. The first signs of the disease, as a rule, can be observed after 40 years.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases are main reason development of primary hypothyroidism. Autoimmune diseases (translated from Latin "auto" means "himself", "own") develop when the system is unable to immune protection recognize tissues own organism. At the same time, the immune system, necessary to protect the human body from viruses, bacteria and other foreign agents, begins to synthesize special proteins called antibodies. These antibodies are capable of destroying the cells of the tissues of their own body. That is why they are called "autoantibodies".

Autoantibodies have the ability to attack most organs, leading to the development of various disorders in their functioning. The result of such attacks is the development of autoimmune diseases. For example, when damaged articular system develops rheumatoid arthritis, kidney - glomerulonephritis, stomach - pernicious anemia(impaired absorption of vitamin B12 through the intestinal wall), adrenal glands - Addison's disease, pancreas - diabetes Type I, thyroid gland - Hashimoto's thyroiditis ( autoimmune thyroiditis). AT this case in the presence of an autoimmune process in one of the organs, there is an increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease in another organ. That is why, if a patient has any autoimmune disease, the doctor will definitely examine him for the presence of other diseases of autoimmune etiology.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common form of thyroiditis. There are two types of autoimmune thyroiditis: atrophic and hypertrophic, or Hashimoto's goiter.

In autoimmune thyroiditis, there is a qualitative or quantitative deficiency of T-lymphocytes. According to modern idea, under autoimmune thyroiditis it is customary to understand a chronic autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland, which is characterized by lymphoid infiltration its tissue developing under the influence of autoimmune factors.

It is known that autoimmune thyroiditis is a genetically determined disease that is realized under the influence of environmental factors. In the process of development of the autoimmune process in the tissue of the thyroid gland, its functioning undergoes gradual changes and almost always ends with the occurrence of secondary hypothyroidism.

That is why in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, it is very often possible to observe overt or subclinical hypothyroidism with corresponding clinical symptoms. Hypertrophic form autoimmune thyroiditis can be characterized by an increase in the size of the thyroid gland, which in some cases is established not only by palpation, but also visually. These patients are often diagnosed with nodular goiter". The atrophic form of autoimmune thyroiditis most often manifests itself as a clinical picture of hypothyroidism.

Among the most common clinical symptoms of autoimmune thyroiditis, coarsening of facial features should be noted, gradual increase body weight, bradycardia, memory loss, change in voice timbre, slurred speech, dyspnea physical activity, discoloration of the skin, its dryness and thickening. In women, it is very common to observe a violation menstrual cycle, infertility. However, despite the numerous clinical manifestations autoimmune thyroiditis, in most cases its diagnosis is difficult.

Some patients with autoimmune thyroiditis may have symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. This is due to the process of destruction of thyroid tissue under the influence of autoimmune aggression and entry into circulatory system a large number of synthesized hormones. To diagnose autoimmune thyroiditis, a palpation technique, a clinical examination of the neck area, and determination of the level of thyroid hormones in the blood are often used. ultrasound procedure thyroid tissue, detection of autoantibodies in the blood.

Treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis is mostly conservative. It comes down to the treatment of various disorders in the functioning of the thyroid gland. AT severe cases shown surgical intervention- thyroidectomy.

Reinforced activity immune system targeting one's own body leads to autoimmune diseases. The immune system detects body cells as foreign and destroys them by producing antibodies. The phenomenon may cover not only certain bodies and tissues, but the whole organism, such diseases are called systemic. modern medicine did not fully explore the question of why and how exactly autoimmune disease occurs in the body.

The thyroid gland is a small organ that belongs to the endocrine system. The function of the thyroid gland is to produce hormones for physiological processes in the body. With an autoimmune disease localized in thyroid gland, violated normal synthesis hormones.

Classification

The hormone thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland, is involved in metabolic processes in the body, affects bone growth, muscle function and brain function. Violation of the synthesis of the hormone leads to the occurrence of an autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases are usually divided into two types:

• thyroxine is produced in excess - hyperthyroidism. This is Graves' disease.
• Thyroxine is synthesized in small quantities - hypothyroidism. Common name violations of this type.

Autoimmune thyroiditis is divided into types:

• hypertrophic (goiter, or Hashimoto's disease);
• atrophic.

Thyrotoxicosis

Thyrotoxicosis, or hyperthyroidism, is characterized by high content hormone thyroxine in the body. There is an intoxication of the body with a hormone.

Thyrotoxicosis is not observed on its own, but appears with such thyroid diseases as Graves' disease, thyroiditis,.

Basedow's disease (additional names - diffuse toxic goiter) is an autoimmune disease that occurs with excessive synthesis of thyroxine. At the same time, everything metabolic processes in the body are carried out in an accelerated mode. Nutrients, coming with food, quickly disintegrate, as a result of which weight loss occurs.

An important hallmark of the disease is endocrine ophthalmopathy- puffiness. This is due to the fact that fiber is behind eyeball grows. Most often, bulging eyes affect both eyes. Bulging may appear as before the onset Basedow's disease, and after its appearance.

Most often, Graves' disease occurs in women, initial symptoms appear after age 40. These include: rapid pulse, trembling in the hands, excessive sweating. Patients do not tolerate heat well. Along with the disease, changes in behavior and mood come, touchiness, nervousness, and sleep disorders appear.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition caused by insufficient synthesis of thyroxine. The initial stages of the disease may be accompanied by an increase in thyroxine. With the development of the disease, tissues undergo destructive changes, the level of the hormone first normalizes and then decreases.

Hypothyroidism can be:

• facial features coarsen;
• body weight increases;
• the timbre of the voice changes, fuzzy speech;
• bradycardia, shortness of breath;
• infertility;
• interruptions in the menstrual cycle in women;
• memory deterioration.

With Hashimoto's goiter, the hormone is synthesized in insufficient quantities. The disease is accompanied by dry skin and hair, the innervation of the hands and feet is disturbed. characteristic symptom is a thick neck. The disease is more often recorded among women, symptoms may appear between the ages of 30 and 50 years. It happens that the disease manifests itself in more early age, about 18-20 years old. A disease or a predisposition to it can be inherited. Patients, disease-prone, all life are compelled or forced to receive a thyroxine.

autoimmune disease thyroid gland (AITG) may result from an overactive immune response to thyroid cells. Disorders of this nature look like this: all tissues begin to be perceived as viruses that the immune system actively fights, resulting in inflammation of the thyroid gland, or thyroiditis (“thyroid” - thyroid gland and “itis” - inflammation).

Normally, the thyroid gland plays a huge role in the functioning of the organs and systems of the human body. In particular, it produces the hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine, which are responsible for the functioning of absolutely all body tissues. An autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland incapacitates not only the organ itself, but also other body systems.

Autoimmune diseases

There are two types of ASTCs:

• , or hyperthyroidism;
• autoimmune thyroiditis.

The thyroid gland serves as a kind of regulator in the body, directing the functioning of all organs and systems in the right direction. She provides energy human body, stimulating the desire to work, experience positive emotions and just live.

Basedow's disease

Hyperthyroidism (another name for Graves' disease) is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland associated with the fact that the body various reasons ceases to perceive it as its own organ and stimulates the production of hormones that become the cause. As a result of the growth of the thyroid gland, a diffuse or nodular goiter is formed, which can be observed in humans during visual inspection.

This autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland is characterized by the fact that as a result of an increase in the organ, it begins to produce great amount thyroid hormones, which lead to disorders in the body. Characteristic features and symptoms of Basedow's disease are:

• the appearance of a goiter;
• sharp weight loss;
• diarrhea;
• tachycardia.

In some cases, against the background of an increase in the thyroid gland and the production of hormones in in large numbers acute heart failure may occur. In the past, when there was no appropriate treatment for Basedow's disease, many people died of heart failure.

There are some more distinctive symptoms This disease is exophthalmos (bulging eyes) and tremor in the hands. People with hyperthyroidism have excessive sweating, their eyes often water, their mood becomes irritable, and their sleep is restless.

Autoimmune thyroiditis

Autoimmune thyroiditis, or, is an autoimmune thyroid disease that affects most of women over the age of 60. The disease progresses in chronic form, characterized by an intense effect of antithyroid autoantibodies on thyroid cells, which leads to their destruction.

Causes of the disease:

• hereditary factor;
• stressful conditions that arose on the eve of the disease;
• age and sex of the patient (in women middle age autoimmune thyroid disease is more common than in men);
• bad ecology;
• infections (viral or bacterial).

It is often asymptomatic at the onset of the disease, after which hypothyroidism or thyrotoxicosis may develop.

Hypothyroidism manifests itself in the form of weakness, apathy, depression, depressed mood, pallor skin, slow speech. Obesity, reduced sweating, problems with hair and nails, swelling in the area may occur. lower extremities, violation of the menstrual cycle, etc.

Symptoms of thyrotoxicosis are manifested in the form of irritability, weight loss, tearfulness, impaired heart rate, diarrhea, hypertension, sweating, etc.

Diagnosis and treatment

Autoimmune thyroid disease can be diagnosed by palpation, clinical examination of the neck and throat. A blood test is performed for hormones, the pituitary gland, the sex glands and the adrenal glands. An ultrasound of the thyroid gland is also performed.

Treatment of thyroid diseases is carried out conservative therapy, which consists in suppressing inflammation of the organ, hormonal correction and elimination negative symptoms from the vegetative and cardiovascular systems.

thyroidectomy procedure ( surgical intervention) is carried out as a last resort, when it is impossible to restore the work of the thyroid gland by conservative methods.

Diets for autoimmune thyroid diseases are aimed at enriching the body with a complex of vitamins and minerals. Must be included in daily diet foods containing iodine, carbohydrates and fats. Meals should be fractional, frequent, with the exception of starvation and strict diets.

Unlike other diets, this one is distinguished by the use of normal amount calories per day (at least 1500 kcal). Any downward deviation can lead to an exacerbation of the disease, which is dangerous for this diagnosis.

Every day you need to eat seafood (fish, sea ​​kale), meat, vegetables and fruits. It is necessary to include eggs in the diet, which can be consumed both raw and in the form of various omelettes, dairy products (cottage cheese, sour cream, kefir, milk). Be sure to include carbohydrates in the diet, which are found in many cereals (bread, pastries, cereals, pasta).

A good product containing iodine (an essential trace element for the thyroid gland) are walnuts. Most of the iodine is found in the partitions of the walnut.

There are foods that need to be avoided in AITD. These are dishes from millet, soy, various canned food as well as smoked meats, salty dishes and fried foods.

Such diseases occur due to the fact that the immune system begins to defend itself strenuously against its own cells. The system, mistakenly considering them alien, begins to destroy them, while producing antibodies.

The thyroid gland itself is quite small, but the function that it performs is quite important role and is responsible for the production of hormones. one of the most critical processes occurring in the body is the synthesis of thyroxin, moreover, it is important, no matter how old the patient is.

The thyroid gland is located on the trachea

AT childhood the lack of this component can lead to a delay in development. For adults, a lack threatens with a decrease in memory, and in some cases a decrease in intellectual abilities. BUT running view this process can become a serious pathology.

Classification of autoimmune diseases

Of all the autoimmune diseases (AITG), two main ones can be distinguished: this is hyperthyroidism, better known as autoimmune thyroiditis.

Despite the fact that autoimmune diseases have many subtypes, experts usually distinguish only two groups - this is insufficient and excessive concentration. Also, all types of autoimmune diseases are divided into a certain form:

1. In the latent form, there are no clinical symptoms, the thyroid gland has a normal size and does not have any seals. All functions are working normally.
2. The hypertrophic form has other features. The butterfly-shaped organ is noticeably enlarged, knots form, and the patient's general condition rapidly deteriorates.
3. Atrophic form, with this form, thyrocytes are massively destroyed and the mass of iron decreases.

Causes of autoimmune diseases

The reasons for the occurrence of ASTC are different character. Frequent stressful situations, conflicts can cause such a disease.

Also, the reason may be elevated level solar activity, radiation. An important role is played by the hereditary factor, as well as genetic predisposition to a lack of iodine in the body.

Important! The nature of the manifestation of some autoimmune diseases is difficult to determine. Each individual patient develops the disease in a different way. different speed progression and symptoms in each patient takes place in a completely different order.

Symptoms

Despite this, the main complaints of patients about initial stages the following:

• fast fatiguability;
• insomnia;
• weight loss;
• disruptions in the menstrual cycle;
• violation of potency;
• pain when swallowing;
• hoarseness;
• inability to concentrate;
• swelling of the limbs, face;
• dry mouth;
• incessant thirst.

If AITG has a neglected appearance, then the symptoms are of a completely different nature. Most patients feel pain in the neck, also noted pain in the joints.

With prolonged progression of the disease, the patient:

• gaining excess weight;
• he is haunted by frequent depression;
• memory and hearing deteriorate.
• constipation and fainting often occur.

The process of destruction of the thyroid gland in AITG is quite slow, it can take ten years before a person learns about his disease. Since it is absolutely impossible to find out and diagnose the disease on your own.

It is necessary to undergo a specialized examination in without fail. And in the case of the presence of this diagnosis, register with specialists.

Methods for diagnosing the disease

The diagnosis of ASTC is carried out in several ways. First, the doctor conducts visual inspection and examination by palpation, but not every variety this disease can be identified in this way.

If close relatives are diagnosed with a similar disease, then as a preventive measure, it is worth periodically being examined. To diagnostic methods relate:

1. To fully confirm the diagnosis, laboratory tests are prescribed, which most likely reveal pathology.
2. A general blood test is prescribed, in which you can calculate the exact number of lymphocytes, what level of hormones is contained in the blood.
3. Ultrasound can be used for diagnosis.
4. Another method is a biopsy. During a biopsy, thyroid tissue cells are removed and subsequently studied.

There is a simpler and fast way diagnostics - the use of special markers of autoimmune diseases.

A simple blood test for special markers will give an accurate answer if there are any inflammatory processes in the body. Only in this case it is possible to identify and cure AITG in time.

How to treat autoimmune diseases

It is necessary to properly approach the treatment of infectious diseases, protect the anterior region of the neck and avoid in this area various injuries These are the main recommendations of the endocrinologist. Autoimmune diseases can be treated with medications, conservative therapy. There is a certain .

The essence of suppression therapy inflammatory process in the body, also hormonal correction. Thyroid disease can be cured by completely eliminating all negative symptoms that come from the side of cardio-vascular system and the vegetative-vascular system.

Important! Removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) is carried out only in very extreme cases if the organ cannot be restored with the help of conservative therapy.

Dieting

Very often, patients are prescribed diets, they are able to enrich the body. essential vitamins and minerals. All food should be exclusively fractional, products should contain iodine, fats, carbohydrates. Eliminate any fasting and vice versa increase the number of meals per day.

Each disease has its own recommendations for medical menu. Here's the thing: Include lean meats in your daily diet, as well as fresh fruits, vegetables. Eggs should also be consumed every day, and they can be eaten both raw and boiled, as an omelet.

Dairy products in any form. Carbohydrates must be present without fail, it can be any cereal crops. Proper and vitamin-enriched nutrition can speed up the healing process.

Autoimmune thyroiditis (abbreviated as AIT) has another name - Hashimoto's thyroiditis (the disease was first described by the Japanese scientist Hashimoto). It is one of the most common thyroid disorders, affecting one in ten women between the ages of thirty and fifty.

What is autoimmune thyroiditis? it chronic process, which develops in the thyroid gland, subsequently leading to the destruction (destruction) of the follicles of which it consists.

AIT is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland, in which pathological aggression of the immune system is manifested, that is, the thyroid tissue is recognized as a foreign and dangerous object to be destroyed. Such a reaction draws protective cells directly to the focus, which leads to the production of autoantibodies.

The process is in the form of a specific autoimmune inflammation and this is fraught with the destruction of the follicles in which hormones are produced. Thus, AIT has a second name - chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.

In the future, this leads to a decrease in thyroid function () or intoxication with its own hormones. This process is fraught with tissue change endocrine organ, which in many cases entails the formation of nodes and cysts.

Areas where lymphocytes accumulate are prone to overgrowth (hyperplasia). Such violations lead to visual magnification thyroid glands and such changes are clearly visible to the naked eye.

The main reasons that provoke an autoimmune process in the thyroid gland:

1. hereditary factor. It has been noticed that if one of the close relatives in the family (for example, mother or grandmother) has experienced thyroid disease, then there is high risk for a certain individual also to know hormonal pathology. Scientists have even proven this phenomenon by finding a transmission gene that causes the development of thyroiditis.
2. Stressful situations, neuropsychic overstrain. This factor provokes the thyroid gland to secrete an excessive amount of thyroid hormone into the blood. This subsequently leads to enhanced growth endocrine organ, and also causes a violation of its function.
3. Environmental degradation, reduced food quality, industrial pollution, the impact of toxic factors on the body (alcohol, smoking) leads to hormonal imbalance of the entire endocrine system in particular the thyroid gland.
4. The focus of infection, which is located "next door" to the gland. This includes diseases such as chronic rhinitis, adenoiditis, tonsillitis, frequent pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis. An infectious agent, due to its close anatomical location, can cause infectious process in the cells of the thyroid gland, directly responsible for the production of hormones.
5. Incorrectly selected immunostimulant therapy. This can impair humoral and cellular immune responses, leading to a number of abnormalities such as overstimulation and T-lymphocyte cloning.
6. General violation hormonal background - "excellent" impetus to the development of the disease. The “triggering” factor is pregnancy, menopause, adolescence transition, strict diets(starvation).

In the risk group for the described hormonal pathology there are women: according to statistics, they are diagnosed with this disease 7 times more often than men. It also occurs in medical practice, and in children under six years of age, the disease is almost never detected.

The initial stage of the disease: the actions of the patient and the development of the disease

During initial development pathological process general state is violated, so patients are often unaware of changes in hormonal levels. To determine the "origin" of the disease is possible only by passing laboratory tests.

To differentiate AIT with a number of diseases, the examination begins with the delivery general analysis blood. With an increase in lymphocytes, ESR and monocytes, the doctor may suspect autoimmune thyroiditis. In the future, the patient will be asked to undergo an ultrasound examination of the gland and.

Important! As a rule, only a few patients turn to a specialist before the appearance of clinical signs. In most cases, treatment occurs at the very "height" of the disease.

At the beginning of the development of pathology, the patient feels causeless weakness, malaise, drowsiness. In the end labor day(especially if the job is related to physical stress) feel powerless and tired.

If at this stage medical assistance was not provided, then the following signs are determined:

• visualized slight swelling around the neck, deepening of the transverse folds;
• the process of swallowing is disturbed;
• hoarseness of voice occurs;
• there is a feeling of squeezing (as if a scarf is tightly wrapped around the neck).

Table. Symptomatic manifestations depending on the increased or reduced function thyroid gland:

In almost all situations, women experience various violations menstrual nature and cycle: abundant or, on the contrary, scarce bloody issues, expressed premenstrual syndrome, change in the duration of the follicular, ovulatory or luteal phase.

Analyzes and research: what does the specialist offer?

Ultrasound of the thyroid gland is one of the main diagnostic methods

If you experience symptoms that resemble autoimmune thyroid diseases, you should contact an endocrinologist. At the appointment, the doctor collects an anamnesis (studies the patient's medical history, analyzes the nature of complaints), and also examines the thyroid gland by palpation.

To make an accurate conclusion, it is necessary to undergo the following examinations:

1. Study TSH hormones, T3, T4. An increase in T3 and T4 with reduced TSH is observed in the case of thyrotoxicosis. If T3 and T4 are reduced, and TSH is higher than normal, then this clinical sign hypothyroidism. At normal"thyroid" hormones are diagnosed with euthyroidism.
2. Determination of the level of antithyroid autoantibodies to thyroperoxidase (AT-TPO) and to (AT-TG). With autoimmune thyroiditis, the indicators will be higher than normal.
3. Ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland. AIT is characterized by a diffuse decrease in tissue echogenicity, an increase or decrease in the parameters and volume of the thyroid gland is also noted.

The diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis is made only if the results of the study listed below are positive:

• ultrasound signs show the presence of a pathological process;
• the presence of symptoms of hypothyroidism;
• detection of autoantibodies in the blood.

If at least one parameter is negative, then the diagnosis of autoimmune thyroiditis is called into question, but not excluded.

Fine needle biopsy (FNAB) is another way to confirm the disease

This technique allows you to identify the accumulation of lymphocytes and other cells characteristic of autoimmune thyroiditis. Fine needle aspiration biopsy thyroid gland is carried out in outpatient settings. To perform the manipulation does not require special training.

The procedure is carried out without general anesthesia, since the anesthetic drug may be in biological material and thereby affect the information content of the result. To reduce sensitivity medical actions the doctor treats the skin at the puncture site with an anesthetic ointment or injects a special subcutaneous injection.

Manipulation is carried out using a thin needle, in some cases it is necessary to make several punctures in order to take material from different areas. The location of the biopsy is determined using an ultrasound machine. The depth of needle insertion is controlled "blindly" (see photo of the procedure).

Puncture material thin layer applied to a glass slide, which is then sent to the laboratory. The procedure lasts approximately ten to fifteen minutes. Manipulation has low invasiveness and is relatively painless. Patients often tolerate it well, so they are immediately sent home.

TAPB is characterized by high information content, therefore, according to the results of the study, one can be almost 100% sure of the final diagnosis. The price of the procedure is on average 1700-9000 rubles.

Treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis - what does modern medicine offer?

To date, medicine has not yet developed drugs that would effectively and safely correct autoimmune pathology. The applied treatment only slows down the development of hypothyroidism, but does not exclude its progression in the future.

Autoimmune thyroiditis almost never causes hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, so drugs to reduce hormone levels (thyrostatics) such as Thiamazole, Cardimazole are not prescribed. If hypothyroidism is detected, they are discharged replacement therapy synthetic hormonal medications, which include L-thyroxine ("Levothyroxine"). The treatment is carried out under constant control clinical picture and serum levels of thyrotropin.

Glucocorticoid therapy is prescribed when AIT is combined with subacute thyroiditis (relapses are often observed in autumn-winter period). A decrease in the titer of autoantibodies is carried out with the help of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; immunocorrectors are also widely used for this purpose.

In addition, it is important not to forget about the treatment concomitant diseases: in case of violation of the function of the heart, beta-blockers are prescribed, and in the event of negative changes in the liver, hepatoprotectors are recommended.

What are the restrictions?

Patients who suffer from AIT must adhere to certain restrictions so as not to provoke the development of another relapse.

Autoimmune thyroiditis - contraindications:

1. Many people mistakenly believe that iodine-containing drugs are necessary for thyroid dysfunction. In fact, these medicines can both help and harm, so in this case it is important not to self-medicate, even if we are talking about "useful" vitamins or mineral complexes. For example, iodine in autoimmune thyroiditis increases the amount of antibodies that destroy thyroid cells. Only a doctor, based on the result of T3 and T4 tests, has the right to prescribe iodine-containing drugs for the main treatment.
2. In cases of selenium deficiency, the conversion of T3 and T4 is disrupted, which leads to the development of hypothyroidism. In other words, this microelement synthesizes a hormone that creates energy in cells. When a violation occurs, the thyroid gland improves its work by increasing its surface area (it grows, nodes or cysts appear on it). But the trace element is still not enough! Thus, selenium plays an important role in autoimmune thyroiditis. However, it is not prescribed in all cases: if the patient has thyrotoxicosis, then this microelement is contraindicated.
3. Many patients are interested in whether it is possible to carry out vaccination (for example, against influenza) in case of impaired thyroid function? Endocrinologists note that autoimmune thyroiditis and vaccinations are not compatible concepts. The fact is that AITe happens rough immune disorder Therefore, vaccination can only exacerbate the hormonal imbalance.

To find out what dietary restrictions are available for autoimmune thyroid disease, we recommend watching the video in this article.

Complications of hormonal imbalance

The prognosis for autoimmune thyroiditis is satisfactory. In patients who started treatment in a timely manner, there is an improvement in well-being due to a decrease in thyroid function.

With the help of medications, in many cases it is possible to achieve a long-term remission. Thus, in the first 10-15 years there is normal performance, good health, despite short periods exacerbations.

The negative consequences of autoimmune thyroiditis occur in those patients who, for whatever reason, do not receive treatment. They develop over time serious pathologies, how ischemic disease heart, myocardial infarction, cerebral atherosclerosis, sexual dysfunction.

Attention! Autoimmune thyroiditis and infertility are phenomena that go hand in hand. Thyroid antibodies directly increase the risk of miscarriage. In addition, the likelihood of attachment of the embryo to the uterine membrane is reduced. Before planning a pregnancy, a woman suffering from AIT is advised to stabilize hormonal level. It contributes successful bearing fetus and the birth of a healthy child.

Against the background of impaired immunity, there are often infectious diseases, progression of autoimmune processes up to the formation of oncology can also be observed.

It is categorically not recommended to be treated with the means that helped the neighbor, even if the symptoms are highly similar, and the instructions for the drug “promises” to improve the general condition soon. It is important at the first signs of pathology to promptly apply for medical care listen to the doctor's advice and follow the recommendations completely.