For now, there is no cure that can rid you of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis forever. But thanks to medical help, you can lead a high quality life with Hashimoto’s. In some cases, you can go into a prolonged state of remission.
Treating Hashimoto’s disease
Taking medication. Medical treatment of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is aimed at mitigating its symptoms.
Since HT decreases the secretion of thyroid hormones, medication is used to restore the necessary hormone levels and ensure the organ’s normal functionality. That’s why patients with Hashimoto’s are prescribed levothyroxine1, a synthetic thyroid hormone (T4). While you’re taking the drug, it mitigates the condition’s symptoms. However, if you stop taking medication after the initial improvements, your symptoms are likely to come back. Synthetic hormones, levothyroxine included, don’t target the underlying cause of the disease, but only partially remedy the body’s hormone deficiency. As the root cause isn’t eliminated, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is usually prescribed for life.
You should also be careful with the dosage. Possible side effects from taking too much of the replacement hormone include tachycardia, tremor, anxiety, and increased sweating2. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
Taking care of your intestines. In recent decades, there have been more and more scientific publications demonstrating that people with various digestive disorders, particularly dysbiosis or leaky gut syndrome, often also have an autoimmune disease3. Scientists haven’t been able to pinpoint what comes first – whether microbiota issues trigger autoimmune diseases, or vice versa – but there is definitely proof of a causal relationship4.
Generally, there are a few ways of treating intestinal imbalances that may be suggested to patients. These include various dietary strategies, antimicrobial therapy, probiotic therapy to restore healthy gut flora, and supportive herbal therapy.
Changing eating habits. According to the latest research, following various diets, such as the autoimmune protocol diet (AIP), the low FODMAP diet, intermittent fasting, or the fasting mimicking diet (FMD) can reduce inflammation5,6 and have a positive effect on the course of some autoimmune diseases or decrease the likelihood of their development.
Even if you’ve decided to drastically change what you eat, you shouldn’t jump into a new diet and exclude most of your usual foods straight away. This is not a good idea because it may cause a stress response from your body. A reasonable strategy would be to start with a more flexible option, such as the Mediterranean diet. This approach will make it easier for you to adapt to the restrictions and smoothly transition to more rigorous diets.
In any case, it’s best to change your diet under the supervision of a dietician. A carefully selected specialist will determine which diet you should follow given your particular condition, preferences, and limitations, in which order you should introduce it into your life, and how you should get out of it.
Physical activity. It has been proven that moderate physical activity leads to a significant elevation in T-regulatory cells meant to suppress pathological immune responses. Moreover, studies show that physical activity promotes decreased immunoglobulin secretion – and when immunoglobulin levels are high, it can be a sign of diseases caused by immune system deficiencies7. Moreover, there are many other positive effects that moderate physical activity can have on your immune system! That’s why it’s so important to include some exercise in your life on a regular basis: it can be anything ranging from brisk walks and small distance runs to yoga or any other kind of physical activity that’s feasible and comfortable for you.
Managing stress. Stress and depression aggravate the course of Hashimoto’s disease8. There is also ample evidence that stress can serve as one of the triggers for the body’s autoimmune response9,10.
To manage your body’s reaction to stress factors, you can try engaging in mental practices or consider psychotherapy. It’s also crucial to minimize the presence of stress-inducing factors in your life.
Regulating sleep. Cohort studies have shown that sleep disorders (except sleep apnea) correlate with a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Bekhterev’s disease, lupus, systemic sclerosis, and other conditions11. Insufficient sleep or low quality sleep can also exacerbate symptoms of autoimmune diseases.
Other factors to keep in mind
The methods described above might not work right away. In most cases, you will have to develop a habit: choose gluten-free products, start your mornings with mental practices, get up and go to bed at the same time every day, and so on.
Consult your physician regularly, so that they can monitor your health over time. Your doctor can also advise you on what treatment method may be necessary in your particular case: which practices should be added, and which should be dropped.
It’s also important to remember that if your symptoms decrease as you follow your doctor’s recommendations and modify your lifestyle, it may be possible to reduce the dosage of the replacement hormone.
Key takeaways
- Scientists are yet to invent a drug that can cure Hashimoto’s disease completely. Under the conventional approach, medication is used to mitigate symptoms, not to eliminate the underlying cause of the disease. Therefore, drug treatment is prescribed for life.
- There is increasing evidence that numerous practices and methods, such as changing your lifestyle and diet, reducing stress, and using other strategies, can alleviate inflammation and facilitate a gradual restoration of the immune system. This, in turn, can lead to long-term remission.
- Before choosing a treatment method, make sure you consult your doctor.