Hashimotos Disease Treatment in Palo Alto CA

Hashimoto's Disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects your thyroid gland. Overall, it is estimated that 14 million Americans have Hashimoto’s Disease. Although anyone can develop Hashimoto's disease, it's most common among women in middle age. In fact, women are seven times more likely than men to develop Hashimoto’s.

Left untreated, Hashimoto’s Disease can seriously derail your overall health and can even lead to serious conditions like goiter or even serious cardiovascular disease. That’s why regular screening – accurate screening with a doctor experienced in treating both thyroid conditions and autoimmune diseases – is essential.

Hashimoto’s Disease can wreak havoc on your health – but it doesn’t have to. Compile your list of symptoms and contact Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, to discuss options for achieving a healthier, more balanced approach to restoring your health. Schedule a consultation today with us by contacting us online or calling us at (650) 240-4868!

Understanding Thyroid Disease

Your thyroid – a small gland, about the size and shape of a small butterfly – is located just under your Adam’s apple. It produces hormones that play a role in every aspect of your health. Unlike other hormones, receptors for thyroid hormone are found in every one of your cells, regulating the function of every organ and every system in the human body.

When your thyroid makes either too much or too little of these important hormones, you are considered to have Thyroid Disease. Both Hyperthyroidism (over function) and Hypothyroidism (under function) of the thyroid gland impact the overall performance of your entire endocrine system. The majority of thyroid patients experience Hypothyroidism — too little hormone production — while a small percentage suffer from Hyperthyroidism, or too much.

Thyroid conditions range from milder forms of thyroiditis to end-stage thyroid cancer. Thyroiditis is a general term for inflammation of the thyroid gland. It can be caused by a number of different factors – ranging from autoimmune disease and infections to trauma or iodine deficiency. Thyroiditis, over time, can cause both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The particular type of thyroid condition it causes depends on the type of thyroiditis involved and the stage it is at. Sometimes, it can cause hyperthyroidism first then later hypothyroidism.

What is Hashimoto’s Disease?

The most common form of thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease that develops when your body produces antibodies that attack the cells in your thyroid, causing it to produce too little thyroid hormone - leading to Hypothyroidism. In iodine-rich countries like the U.S., Hashimoto’s is the most common cause of Hypothyroidism.

Hashimoto's Disease is also known as chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis or Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Risk Factors and Causes of Hashimoto’s Disease

The precise cause of Hashimoto's Disease is not known, but researchers believe a combination of environmental and genetic factors are at the root. Some possible risk factors/causes include:

• Gender – Women are five to eight times as likely to develop thyroid issues - especially following pregnancy and menopause. One in eight women are estimated to suffer with thyroid issues.
• Genetics – A family history of Hashimoto’s or any type of thyroid disease makes you more likely to develop a thyroid condition. A genetic defect or predisposition may trigger the immune system to attack the thyroid.
• Autoimmune Disease – If you are already suffering with other autoimmune diseases, like Addison’s Disease, Celiac Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes or Lupus, you are more likely to develop thyroid-related autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s, Graves’ Disease and TED.
• Age - Incidence increases with age for most thyroid conditions, including Hashimoto’s. Nearly 1 in 4 adults over age 65 exhibit some level of thyroid dysfunction.
• Thyroid Injury: Any physical, chemical or radiation injury to the thyroid can trigger the autoimmune condition at the root of Hashimoto’s.
• Environmental Triggers: Exposure to environmental triggers like viral or bacterial infection, stress, or radiation treatment of the thyroid may play a role.
• Iodine Intake: High iodine intake may trigger Hashimoto's disease which leads to Hypothyroidism. Interestingly enough, too little iodine leads to the development of other forms of Hypothyroidism.
• Medications: Some medicines used to treat bipolar disorder or other mental health problems, or medicines that contain iodine to treat abnormal heart rhythms, may lead to Hashimoto’s and eventual Hypothyroidism.

Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Disease

There are a wide range of symptoms that could signal the onset of Hashimoto’s Disease, and every individual differs in their experience and symptoms. Hashimoto's Disease develops slowly and often causes no symptoms at all early on.

Goiter, the enlargement of the thyroid gland, is one of the visible symptoms that can develop. It can cause discomfort, as well as difficulty swallowing or even breathing. Hashimoto’s Disease can also manifest with many of the following symptoms:

• Dry or thinning skin
• Hair loss
• Cold intolerance
• Facial puffiness, especially around the eyes, including facial roundness also called moonface
• Slowed heart rate
• Voice changes, including persistent hoarseness
• Macroglossia (enlarged tongue) from the buildup of sugar molecules inside the tongue
• Decreased sweating
• Muscle pain
• Brittle hair and nails
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Sexual dysfunction
• Cold hands and feet
• Irregular or heavy periods
• Fertility problems
• Constipation
• Slower functioning, which could include slow speech, movement and thinking
• Dull facial expressions
• Dry, coarse, or thickened skin

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, we take not only your physical symptoms, but your emotional symptoms into consideration as we develop a treatment plan designed for you. Mental and emotional symptoms can include:

• Poor memory
• Problems concentrating
• Brain fog
• Depression

During pregnancy, it is especially important to pay attention to the symptoms, as the disease can cause miscarriage or birth defects. Pregnancy is a time when Hashimoto’s is often triggered. High cholesterol is a symptom common to pregnant women who develop Hashimoto’s Disease during pregnancy.

Diagnosing Hashimoto’s Disease

A healthcare provider can diagnose Hashimoto's disease through a medical and family history, a medical exam and testing. At your first consultation, we will conduct a full assessment of your symptoms and take a complete medical history to properly diagnose Hashimoto’s Disease and rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. We recommend that you prepare a list of symptoms prior to your first consultation. We will also review your lifestyle factors, current medications and other health concerns.

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, we understand that your diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Disease is the first step in rebalancing your thyroid hormones and your overall mental and physical health.

Treating Hashimoto’s Disease

If you are experiencing symptoms of Hashimoto’s Disease, it’s important to work with a doctor who understands the complexity of thyroid hormones and thyroid health issues, as well as autoimmune disease. A very specialized type of expertise and care is required to address all of the issues that arise from Hashimoto’s Disease.

The course of treatment will vary with each individual, especially since Hashimoto’s Disease symptoms may manifest differently in each patient. We will develop a treatment plan designed specifically for you.

As a first step, we often utilize hormone testing to optimize your hormone levels. Many patients have had their thyroid values tested and been told that they are "normal." Unfortunately, in conventional medicine, the ranges for "normal" thyroid function are very broad. In Naturopathic Medicine, we like to see your thyroid hormones in a much narrower range, as this is a better reflection of your optimal thyroid function. We use blood tests to determine if you are falling into the optimal range, and also to determine if the cause of your thyroid imbalance is due to an autoimmune condition.

We then proceed to support the thyroid with natural medications including nutrients and glandular medications. We will discuss your individualized Hashimoto’s Disease treatment protocol in detail, including treatment duration, possible side effects, dosing, and a timeline for when you can expect to see effects.

Our goal is to counteract the changes in your body the onset of Hashimoto’s Disease may have triggered. Some approaches may include:

• Optimizing hormone levels
• Targeted vitamins, supplements or IV vitamin therapy
• Identifying and addressing food allergies and sensitivities, as well as environmental allergies that may be contributing to thyroid dysfunction
• Recommended lifestyle modifications that support thyroid health
• Medical nutrition plan to optimize thyroid hormone balance
• Herbal remedies
• Stress management
• Acupuncture
• And more!

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, we offer the most up-to-date and comprehensive testing and treatment to bring renewed thyroid health and freedom from the troubling symptoms of Hashimoto’s Disease.

Request Your Appointment Today!

We are here to answer any questions you may have about your symptoms and our array of healing, rejuvenating and balancing approaches to help you recover from Hashimoto’s Disease and restore healthy thyroid function. Compile your list of symptoms and reach out to Water’s Edge Natural Medicine in Palo Alto, CA to schedule a consultation today! Contact us online or call us at (650) 240-4868!

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