Is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis serious?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory thyroid disease. The severity of the disease is determined by the patient’s thyroid function and the patient’s original physical status. If the patient’s thyroid function (free T3, free T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone levels) is completely normal, and the only symptoms are elevated antibodies (TPO or TG antibodies), and the patient has no physical symptoms, it is usually less serious. Patients need to follow a low iodine diet and have regular follow-up tests such as thyroid function tests and thyroid ultrasound. If the patient has abnormal thyroid function, such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism or thyrotoxicosis, it is more serious. With Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, the patient’s blood thyroxine is lower than normal and the patient may experience symptoms such as cold fear, slow movement, fatigue, mental retardation, constipation, and weight gain. With thyrotoxicosis, the thyroid hormone in the blood increases, and the patient may experience a series of symptoms such as fatigue, nervousness and anxiety, insomnia, and memory loss. In addition, if the patient has heart, liver or kidney disease, the condition may be further aggravated. If you are diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, you will need to take oral medication under the guidance of a medical professional. If the enlarged thyroid gland continues to show significant symptoms after medication, or if thyroid cancer is suspected, patients may consider surgery to relieve the discomfort. In addition, patients need to strengthen self-management in daily life, quit smoking and drinking, avoid staying up late, and arrange work reasonably to avoid aggravating discomfort.