Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGeneticsLifestyle Risk FactorsEnvironmental Risk FactorsFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Hashimoto’s Disease GuideHow is Hashimoto’s Disease Diagnosed?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Genetics
Lifestyle Risk Factors
Environmental Risk Factors
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Hashimoto’s Disease Guide
Hashimoto’sdisease, also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is anautoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are a result of the body’s immune system attacking healthy issues because it thinks they are diseased. WithHashimoto’s, immune cells are attacking the thyroid gland. This attack causes inflammation and impairs the thyroid’s ability to make enough thyroid hormone.
Researchers don’t know why this happens, but they think genetics might be to blame and risk is higher for people with a family history of autoimmune and thyroid conditions.
There are several inherited genes associated with Hashimoto’s disease, but the two most common are HLA-DR3 and HLA-DR5. These genes are more common in Caucasians. Having one of these genes doesn’t mean a person will definitely develop Hashimoto’s, it just means their risk is increased.
Relatives of people with Hashimoto’s also have a higher risk for developing the disease. And because it’s more common in women, female relatives have the highest risk. First degree relatives, especially children, have a higher incidence—up to nine times—for having the condition. There is also greater incidence of Hashimoto’s in twins than the general population.
How Genetic Disorders Are Inherited
Autoimmune Diseases
Having another autoimmune disease is a risk factor for developing Hashimoto’s disease. The opposite is true as well, and certain autoimmune diseases are associated with Hashimoto’s, includingceliac disease, type 1 diabetes, andalopecia.
Thyroid Antibodies
Thyroidantibodies are commonin people with Hashimoto’s disease. Often times, antibodies associated with this condition can be elevated for years before a diagnosis of Hashimoto’s is made.
While the majority of people with Hashimoto’s disease have specific antibodies, about 5 percent have no measurable thyroid antibodies.People without antibodies tend to have a milder form of the condition.
What’s the Link Between Thyroid Disease and Menopause?
There are many lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of Hashimoto’s disease, specifically smoking and stress.
Additional lifestyle stressors associated with most autoimmune diseases include lack of sleep, eating a low-calorie diet, nutritional deficiencies, and lack of activity.
When the body isn’t getting the nutrients and other essentials it needs for optimal function, it overcompensates from other body systems, especially the immune system, which overacts in response.
Gender
Age
The chances of developing Hashimoto’s disease increase with age. The risk is even greater for women, people with a family history of the condition, and anyone with an autoimmune disease.
Menopause
Decreased estrogen levels during menopause may affect thyroid function.
Researchers of one peer review study suggested a connection between estrogen levels, thyroid function, and the development ofthyroid diseases.
However, they were unsure exactly what the connection was and noted further study was needed.
Bacterial Infections
Unfortunately, much of the research on a Hashimito’s-infection connection isn’t specific enough to determine how exactlybacterial infectionscan trigger autoimmune thyroid diseases and/or how to reduce risk factors.
Excessive Iodine
Excessive iodine has been speculated to trigger Hashimoto’s disease and other types of thyroid disease. In one study of theNew England Journal of Medicine, researchers from China looked at thyroid effects of iodine supplements. The researchers found giving iodine to the study participants who had adequate and excessive iodine levels increased the risk for autoimmune thyroid disease.
The Effects of Iodine on Your Thyroid
Radiation Exposure
Research has found a link between exposure to radiation and Hashimoto’s disease.The disease is common in those who have been exposed to radiation for cancer treatment. Moreover, it is common in those exposed to radiation from nuclear events.
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo. Most people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis will eventually develophypothyroidismfor which they’ll need to takethyroid replacement medicationsfor the rest of their lives.Not in and of itself. However, if not properly treated, Hashimoto’s disease can lead to hypothyroidism, which can have serious complications such asheart diseaseorheart failure. In extreme cases, hypothyroidism that develops as a result of untreated Hashimoto’s disease can cause myxedema,a potentially fatal condition in which the body’s various functions (digestion, breathing, neurological activity) dramatically slow down.
No. Most people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis will eventually develophypothyroidismfor which they’ll need to takethyroid replacement medicationsfor the rest of their lives.
Not in and of itself. However, if not properly treated, Hashimoto’s disease can lead to hypothyroidism, which can have serious complications such asheart diseaseorheart failure. In extreme cases, hypothyroidism that develops as a result of untreated Hashimoto’s disease can cause myxedema,a potentially fatal condition in which the body’s various functions (digestion, breathing, neurological activity) dramatically slow down.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Thyroid Association.Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (Lymphocytic Thyroiditis).
Tendon N, Zhang L, Weetman AP.HLA Associations with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Clinical Endocrinology, 1991. 34: 383-386. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1991.tb00309.x
Bothra N, Shah N, Goroshi M, et al.Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: relative recurrence risk ratio and implications for screening of first-degree relatives. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2017 Aug;87 (2):201-206. doi:10.1111/cen.13323
Eleftheriou P, Kynigopoulos S, Giovou A.Prevalence of Anti-Neu5Gc Antibodies in Patients with Hypothyroidism. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014: 963230. doi:10.1155/2014/963230
Hofflich H. American Thyroid Association.Patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and negative thyroid antibodies have a milder form of the disease.
Caturegli P, De Remigis A, Rose NR.Hashimoto thyroiditis: clinical and diagnostic criteria. Autoimmun Rev. 2014 Apr-May;13(4-5):391-7. doi:10.1016/j.autrev.2014.01.007
Li Y, Zhou G, Ozaki, et al.Distinct histopathological features of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with respect to IgG4-related disease. Modern pathology 2012. 25. 1086-97. doi:10.1038/modpathol.2012.68
Santin AP and Fulanetto TW.Role of Estrogen in Thyroid Function and Growth Regulation. J Thyroid Res. 2011; 2011: 875125. doi:10.4061/2011/875125
Köhling HL, Plummer SF, Marchesi JR, et al.The microbiota and autoimmunity: Their role in thyroid autoimmune diseases. Clin Immunol. 2017 Oct;183:63-74. doi:10.1016/j.clim.2017.07.001
Teng W, Shan Z, Teng X, et al.Effect of Iodine Intake on Thyroid Diseases in China. N Engl J Med 2006; 354:2783-2793. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa054022
Brent GA.Environmental Exposures and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease. Thyroid. 2010 Jul; 20(7): 755–761. doi:10.1089/thy.2010.1636
Merck Manual Consumer Version.Hashimoto thyroiditis (autoimmune thyroiditis).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Hashimoto’s Disease.
Elshimy G, Correa R.Myxedema. [Updated 2021 Apr 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK),Hashimoto’s Disease.Office of Women’s Health.Hashimoto’s Disease.Vojdani A. A Potential Link between Environmental Triggers and Autoimmunity. Autoimmune Dis. 2014; 2014:437231. DOI:10.1155/2014/437231.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK),Hashimoto’s Disease.
Office of Women’s Health.Hashimoto’s Disease.
Vojdani A. A Potential Link between Environmental Triggers and Autoimmunity. Autoimmune Dis. 2014; 2014:437231. DOI:10.1155/2014/437231.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
