1. Autoimmune disease

One disease characteristic of Hashimoto’s disease is that it is an autoimmune disease. This is when our immune system doesn’t recognize the thyroid as our own and attacks it. (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). The autoimmune response involves the production of antibodies, for example the thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO antibodies) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TG antibodies), which target and destroy thyroid cells.

2. Gradual Progression

Hashimoto's disease is a progressive disease that causes damage to your thyroid gland that eventually results in hypothyroidism (HealthMatch, 2022). Some doctors consider that Hashimoto's disease has several stages. The first stage is known to be genetic predisposition. This is where Hashimoto's thyroiditis is known to run in families and affects women more frequently than men. The second stage is immune cell infiltration, where the immune system starts to create antibodies that attack the thyroid. This is when most people express antibodies in their blood. However, as this is not routinely checked for, Hashimoto's disease is typically overlooked at this stage. The third stage is subclinical hypothyroidism, where the antibodies start to damage your thyroid, which results the thyroid in becoming underactive. However,  patients typically don't experience any symptoms. The last stage is is overt hypothyroidism or full-blown disease, The majority of people with Hashimoto's are diagnosed at this stage and have to immediately go on hormone replacement therapy.Hence, Hashimoto's disease is only diagnosed late in the disease process. 

3. Increased Risk of Other Autoimmune Condition

Hashimoto’s disease can increase the risk of developing other autoimmune disorders, including,  Rheumatoid arthritis, Addison's disease, Graves' disease, Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus, Pernicious anemia, Vitiligo and Thrombocytopenic purpura. (Boelaert et al., 2010)