IntroductionHashimoto's Disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. This attack ultimately results in a lower amount of thyroid in the body.Thyroid hormone influences:
Note: A hallmark of autoimmunity is when symptoms come and go.
Immune AttackIn Hashimoto's Disease, your immune system is attacking your thyroid gland. The paradox is in a properly functioning immune system, the body is designed to attack itself.Puzzled? Every cell is not created equal. In a properly functioning immune system, the body will attack cells that are not working correctly. For example, when poultry workers sift through and find and discard broken eggs. Dysfunction is evident when immune cells start sifting though our cells and attacking the ones that are working correctly. In your case, it may be your thyroid gland (Hashimoto's) being overly attacked. In others, it may be joints (Rheumatoid Arthritis), connective tissue (Lupus), or the Gastrointestinal track (Celiac Disease). They all point back to immune system dysfunctions. However, very little is being done in the traditional medical model, especially Hashimoto's. Immune ImbalanceThe TH1/TH2/TH17 SystemsThe immune system is like a "military see-saw". On one side sits general "TH1" of the Army. His job it to immediately send in troops when the enemy, or perceived enemy, is detected. On the other side sits general "TH2" of the Marines. His job is to send in troops to attack any left over enemies and to prevent any further intrusions. For the best outcome, it is crucial for both the Army and the Marines to work together. If either one becomes too prominent, it will suppress the other - and that will create chaos.In Hashimoto's Disease, the TH1/TH2 systems have become dysfunctional. Either the TH1 system has overrun the TH2 or visa-versa, however, typically we see a dominate TH1 system. This result is a abnormal attack on body tissues, in your case, the thyroid gland. There are many influences that cause the immune system to array including genetic, environmental, dietary, and lifestyle. The TH17 system is newly researched and plays a major role in causing harm to normal tissue when the immune system overreacts. All these systems can be tested for with a simple blood test, however they are rarely are. Testing the TH1, TH2, and TH17 systems gives us a clear picture about how your immune system is operating and uncovers information about you that would not be discovered elsewhere. What Can Be Done?It has become clear that Hashimoto's Disease is more of an immune compromise than a thyroid problem, however, traditional practitioners continues to focus directly on the thyroid itself. This leaves many with a lifelong regimen of replacement hormone like Synthroid. Since the immune system continues to attack the thyroid gland, the patient many continue to have hypothyroid symptoms despite "normal" laboratory results.To improve symptoms of Hashimoto's, the immune system must be analyzed, and balanced. The reason why our clinic gets the results we do is because we do things different. Proper investigation is crucial. New laboratory tests can give us a clear picture of your immune system. CytokinesCytokines are how our immune cells communicate with eachother. They get instructions on how and where to respond. TH1 cells have their set of cytokines and TH2 cells have theirs. By looking at cytokine levels, we can see which system is dominating. Many people with Hashimoto's Disease are TH2 dominate but of course, this is not always the case.CD4/CD8 RatioOur immune system has cells that help ramp up attacks (CD4 T-helper cells) and other cells that suppress attacks (CD8 T-suppressor cells) so that the immune attack doesn't get out of hand. By testing the CD4/CD8 ratio, we can see if your immune system is trying to attack something foreign (like bacteria or an undigested food protein like gluten) or if it is dysfunctional for other reasons like malnutrition.HLA-DQ TestIn recent years, there have been a great discovery. Researchers found that many people who developed autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto's have a genetic tendency to become sensitive to gluten (gliadin + glutenin = gluten), a protein found in foods like wheat, rye, and barely . HLA-DQ associated genes can now be tested to determine if a patient has to temporally or permanently eliminate gluten containing products from their diet.Nutritional TestingProper and exact nutritional intervention is the key to improving the quality of life for our patients. Many eat foods and take nutritional supplements that are stimulating their immune system which can potentially make the complications of Hashimoto's worse. When the correct information is known, nutrition can be a powerful influence in the balance of your immune system. Contact UsIf you are determined to improve your life, we are here to help. The reason why our clinic has a great track record in improving the life our our patients is because we do things different. In order to set up the case review process it is required that you:
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Hashimoto's Disease |