Autoimmune thyroiditis is an inflammation of the thyroid gland in which certain antibodies are produced to healthy thyroid cells. Simply put, immunity begins to perceive its own thyroid gland as a foreign body and in every way attempts to destroy it. Over the past 20 years, the frequency of this disease has increased almost 10 times. It is diagnosed in almost 30% of cases of thyroid diseases.
Development of the disease
Autoimmune thyroiditis symptoms manifests gradually, slowly and surely striking the entire body. At the beginning of the disease there are so-called neuropsychiatric symptoms - this is increased excitability, depression, neuroses, sleep disturbance. And also, vegetative disorders - chills, sweating, subfebrile temperature, astheno-neurotic syndrome. That is, the nervous system receives the first blow.
In the course of the development of the disease, certain symptoms can arise from the cardiovascular system, namely, periodic stitching pain in the heart, vascular crises, "fading" of the heart, palpitations .
Against the background of hypothyroidism , in which there is insufficient production of thyroid hormones, autoimmune thyroiditis of the thyroid gland displays symptoms such as swelling of the neck and face, muscle pains, weight gain, constipation, violation of thermoregulation, problems with hair, mucous membranes of the skin, etc. The patient can quickly weariness, drowsiness, his working capacity and memory worsen, a rare pulse is observed.
In women, autoimmune thyroiditis manifests symptoms, the consequences of which threaten infertility. This is a violation of the menstrual cycle, pain in the mammary glands. Women suffer from autoimmune thyroiditis 20 times more often for men. Especially this disease affects women aged 25 to 50 years.
Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis
Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis is the most common form of autoimmune thyroiditis. For the first time this disease was described by the Japanese surgeon Hashimoto in 1912, so it is also called Hashimoto's thyroiditis. For chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, a characteristic rapid increase in the number of antibodies to various components of the thyroid gland - microsomal fraction, thyroglobulin, receptors for thyrotropin. In addition, destructive changes in the thyroid gland develop.
Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis exhibits such symptoms as sweating, trembling of the fingers, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate. The patient may feel asphyxiation, difficulty swallowing and voiceless voices, general weakness, sweating, irritability, etc.
Forms of autoimmune thyroiditis
Depending on the size of the thyroid gland during the period of the disease, autoimmune thyroiditis is divided into several forms:
- The latent form at which autoimmune thyroiditis symptoms practically does not show. Only certain immunological signs appear. Functions of the thyroid gland are not violated.
- Hypertrophic form, which is accompanied by a violation of the thyroid gland. The size of the gland increases, forming a goiter. When forming nodes in the body of the gland, the shape is called the nodal one. If the increase in the size of the gland evenly, then this
autoimmune thyroiditis in a diffuse form. Often an enlargement of the thyroid gland can be both nodular and diffuse at the same time. - The atrophic form is characterized by the fact that the thyroid gland is of normal size, but the production of hormones is sharply reduced. This form of the disease is typical for the elderly or for people who have been exposed to radioactive radiation.
As can be seen, autoimmune thyroiditis exhibits symptoms characteristic of a variety of diseases. There is no clearly expressed symptomatology in this disease. Therefore, in no case can you independently diagnose yourself and engage in self-medication.