The human body’s immune system is responsible for the survival of all the harmful microorganisms in nature. However, this sophisticated system sometimes makes mistakes and attacks the normal tissues of the human body for invading harmful substances.
When the immune system attacks normal thyroid tissue as [enemy], it will produce [autoimmune thyroid disease] (AITD).
AITD mainly includes Graves disease, Graves ophthalmopathy and autoimmune thyroiditis. Autoimmune thyroiditis also includes Hashimoto thyroiditis, atrophic thyroiditis, painless thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis, etc.
Among the autoimmune thyroid diseases listed above, there are two diseases that are especially common and closely related to everyone:
Graves disease
Perhaps this name is unfamiliar to everyone, but in fact it is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. Because English is difficult to pronounce, doctors often use [hyperthyroidism] to refer to Graves disease instead, which is convenient for patients to understand and remember.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
This name should be heard often. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
In this way, most of the hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are actually related to problems with their own immune system!
Why do you get AITD?
1. Family heredity
The occurrence of AITD has obvious phenomenon of family aggregation. If one of the relatives has AITD, other family members will be more likely to suffer from AITD than ordinary people.
2. Stimulus of environmental factors
Environmental factors such as infection, stress, sex hormone level and iodine intake level may induce immune dysfunction in the body.
Infection refers to general bacterial or viral infection.
Stress refers to some strong mental stimulation, serious trauma, etc.
Women, especially women in their reproductive period, are more prone to AITD than men, which may be related to the levels of estrogen, prolactin, progesterone and androgen in women.
Iodine intake also has certain influence on the occurrence of AITD, and people with excessive iodine intake are more likely to develop AITD.
It’s all immune problems. Why is there hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism?
It is also autoimmune thyroid disease. Why do some people become hyperthyroidism while others become hypothyroidism? This starts with how the immune system works.
Once the immune system mistook the normal tissue of the human body for the enemy, it will produce a capture weapon-[autoantibodies]. Autoantibodies can combine with the normal tissue of the human body, just like [catching] the enemy.
However, for different enemies, autoantibodies are handled in different ways, sometimes after being caught [making out], sometimes after being caught [beating violently].
[Make out]
In Graves’ disease, the autoantibody produced by the immune system is called TSH receptor antibody (TRAb for short), which is affectionate with TSH receptor and can enhance thyroid function, thus leading to hyperthyroidism.
Friends of hyperthyroidism will definitely not be unfamiliar with TRAb. When the disease first occurs, checking TRAb can help diagnose Graves disease. In the process of disease treatment, TRAb can also be checked to judge whether the treatment is effective or not, and the drug can be stopped during what.
[Beat]
In Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the autoantibody produced by the immune system is called anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAB), which can destroy the normal function of thyroid peroxidase and affect the production of thyroid hormone, thus leading to hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto’s friends must be able to recognize TPOAb at a glance, because the TPOAb on the test sheet is always high and looks particularly intrusive. Clinically, examination of TPOAb can help diagnose Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and can also guide the treatment of hypothyroidism during pregnancy.
Having said so much, you may see some clouds and fog. It doesn’t matter, just understand the following points!
1. Graves’ disease, which leads to hyperthyroidism, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which leads to hypothyroidism, both belong to AITD.
2. AITD is hereditary in the family. If one of the relatives has AITD, other family members should also be more vigilant.
3. Women are more likely to get AITD than men.
4. Infection, mental trauma and excessive iodine intake may induce the occurrence of AITD. Friends with hyperthyroidism should avoid iodine diet to avoid mental stimulation. Other friends with AITD, it is best to eat low iodine diet and eat less laver, kelp and other high iodine foods.
5. Examination of TRAb can help diagnose Graves’ disease, and examination of TPOAb can help diagnose Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
6. Patients with hyperthyroidism of Graves’ disease should regularly review TRAb during treatment to judge whether the treatment is effective or not and to stop taking drugs during what.
7. Hashimoto’s friends should not always stare at the TPOAb on the test form. Maybe it will not drop for more than ten years. The level of TPOAb has nothing to do with the severity of the disease. Don’t let its fluctuation affect your beautiful mood.