Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is a frequent disorder of the thyroid gland caused by autoimmune-triggered lymphocytic infiltration and destruction of the thyroid gland. With the progressive destruction of the organ, the thyroid gland shrinks in size, thus commonly leading to hypothyroidism (Mikosch et al., 2023).

Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease. This means that your thyroid gland is attacked by your immune system as it does not recognize it as a part of the body (HealthMatch, 2022). The immune system makes antibodies and gathers a large number of white blood cells in the thyroid to attack the thyroid gland. Thus, it produces insufficient thyroid hormones as it is injured. Since thyroid hormones regulate how the body uses energy, they have an impact on almost every organ in the body, including how quickly your heart beats (National Institutes of Health, 2021). 

Thyroid (the butterfly-shaped gland located at the lower neck) works by synthesizing hormones to regulate many functions in the body including growth and development, heart rate, metabolism, body temperature, weight and menstrual cycles. As a result, this condition impaired the thyroid to function effectively in producing those hormones to assist in controlling a variety of important body functions at different parts (MedlinePlus, n.d.). 

Hahsimoto’s disease is primarily genetic. Therefore, people with a family history of thyroid disease have higher chances of developing Hashimoto’s disease (HealthMatch, 2022). Normal progression of Hashimoto's disease takes years and is characterized by persistent thyroid destruction, which lowers blood levels of thyroid hormone.