Patients with Hashimoto's tend to report a decreased quality of life. This condition generally affects middle-aged women and accounts for an astounding 90% of hypothyroidism. It can present with burdening symptoms such as chronic fatigue, weight issues, digestive problems, and chronic irritability. Regular testing utilizing functional labs can help assess for any underlying factors that are contributing to the development of symptoms associated with this condition, helping to effectively manage these symptoms, thus improving their quality of life.

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What is Hashimoto's Disease?

Hashimoto's disease is an autoimmune condition that affects the thyroid gland. The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that produces hormones that regulate many bodily functions, including metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature. Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid is not functioning as it should and is underactive. Since this is an autoimmune condition, the body's immune system wrongly attacks the thyroid gland, causing inflammation and damage.

What Causes Hashimoto's Disease?

Although the exact causes of Hashimoto's Disease are still undetermined, a combination of genetic and environmental factors is thought to increase the risk for this autoimmune disorder. Some of the environmental factors that may contribute to Hashimoto's disease include genetic factors, toxins, infections, nutritional imbalances, gut health, and chronic stress. Family history is an important consideration when assessing for autoimmune conditions as there is usually a family history of autoimmunity, including Hashimoto's. 

Infections from Helicobacter Pylori and Yersinia enterocolitica have also been associated with causing autoimmune responses and leading to conditions such as Hashimoto's. Exposure to PCBs found in coolants, BPA found in plastics, PBDEs found in flame retardants, pesticides, and other environmental toxins can disrupt thyroid function and lead to inflammation, which can also contribute to this disease. 

Another potential cause is imbalances in specific nutrients, such as selenium, Vitamin D, and iodine that can increase the risk of Hashimoto's disease. The health of the gut microbiome is also thought to play a role in Hashimoto's disease. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut bacteria, can trigger inflammation and an increased risk of autoimmune diseases. Lastly, chronic stress can negatively impact the endocrine and immune systems, triggering Hashimoto's. It is important to note that not everyone with these risk factors will develop Hashimoto's disease.

Hashimoto Disease Symptoms

The symptoms of Hashimoto's relate to imbalances in the thyroid and how those imbalances affect the rest of the body. This condition can result in a decrease in thyroid hormone production, which can cause a variety of symptoms, such as weight gain, fatigue, headaches, thinning or dry hair, nails, and skin, feeling cold all the time, irregular periods, puffiness or fluid retention, fertility problems, slow digestion and constipation, brain fog, depression, aching muscles and joints, and loss of muscle strength and tone. 

In some cases, Hashimoto's disease can also cause an enlarged thyroid (goiter) and thyroid nodules. If hypothyroidism goes untreated, it can contribute to additional complications, such as elevated cholesterol, heart disease and heart failure, high blood pressure, pregnancy complications, and myxedema. A Hashimoto's flare, especially early in the disease process, can also cause a hyperthyroid state, which is when the thyroid gland secretes too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, heat intolerance, irritability, rapid heartbeat, sleep problems, and anxiety.

Top Labs To Run Bi-Annually On Your Hashimoto Disease Patients

Labs are important to run regularly for patients with Hashimoto's to assess for disease progression, improvements, and effectiveness of treatment protocols. Here are some commonly used functional medicine labs for Hashimoto's:

Thyroid Panel

A comprehensive thyroid panel is often the first go-to for patients with Hashimoto's, as this condition involves the thyroid and its hormones. This panel assessed from a blood sample measures all the related thyroid hormones and antibodies associated with this condition. The markers include TSH, T3 (free and total), T4 (free and total), reverse T3, thyroglobulin, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies. In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, one or both of the antibody levels will be elevated, indicating the autoimmune process is occurring. They can be used to assess the effectiveness of treatments in reducing these antibody levels and balancing the hormone levels.

Micronutrient Panel

Micronutrients are vital in maintaining optimal body function and physiology, including thyroid physiology. Imbalances in these various nutrients can cause disruptions in thyroid function and potentially increase the risk of Hashimoto's. Research indicates that excessive iodine intake and deficiencies of selenium, iron, and Vitamin D are implicated in this condition. Therefore, regularly testing micronutrient levels can help investigate any nutritional imbalances, allowing for effective dietary strategies and improving body functions. This micronutrient panel is completed through a blood sample and provides the measurement of various nutrients, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and minerals essential for proper thyroid function.

GI-MAP

The gut microbiome is involved with many of our body systems, and an imbalance can cause issues with digestion, absorption, immune system, inflammation, and hormone regulation. Microbiome disruptions can also lead to autoimmunity and have been linked with Hashimoto's. This stool test does a thorough analysis of microbiome health, including imbalances, diversity, and infections such as Helicobacter pylori, Yersinia enterocolitica, and other pathogens that may cause dysbiosis (overgrowth of pathogens in the microbiome) and have been associated with Hashimotos. The test results can provide valuable information into the microbiome's health if Hashimoto's symptoms persist and should be considered to be completed regularly as the microbiome is constantly changing.

Comprehensive Cortisol

Cortisol is the principal stress hormone and can be measured throughout the day to evaluate stress response. Stress has been indicated in the development of Hashimoto's. Increased stress levels can produce inflammatory reactions that can reduce the function and production of thyroid hormones. This cortisol test is completed through a saliva sample taken four times throughout the day, giving a more complete picture of the stress response. Assessing for these variations in stress levels allows practitioners to effectively manage cortisol levels at their specific time, thus balancing stress responses that may impact the thyroid.

Gluten Panel

Gluten has a similar appearance to transglutaminase, an enzyme that is condensed around the thyroid gland. Within autoimmune patients, the body will mistakenly attack the thyroid gland in the presence of gluten antibodies. A gluten panel can help patients who are adhering to a gluten-free diet for their autoimmune condition assess levels of gluten reactivity. Regular assessments of gluten reactivity can help patients make the necessary dietary adjustments to improve their symptoms.

Environmental Toxin Screen

Various toxins exposure, such as heavy metals, plastics, and pesticides, can contribute to the development of Hashimoto's. Since these toxins are everywhere, testing regularly for these toxins can provide insights for patients at risk for this condition or those exhibiting symptoms. These toxins can harm the body's systems, including the thyroid system, and should be analyzed to effectively reduce the risk and associated symptoms of Hashimoto's disease. This screening can be done by analyzing a hair sample.

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Summary

Hashimoto's is an autoimmune condition that produces an immune response to attack the thyroid gland causing inflammation and decreased thyroid function that can potentially impact day-to-day life in individuals with this condition. There are specific triggers to this disease, such as environmental chemicals and nutritional deficiencies, that can be regularly screened to help people with this condition effectively manage their symptoms. Functional labs are an excellent tool for this screening process to provide patients with the information needed to improve their thyroid function and overall health.