In this Episode we talk about all things Thyroid.
Medical research tells us that about 85% of adult cases of hypothyroidism are caused by an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks thyroid cells and causes inflammation and destruction of thyroid tissue. As a result, the thyroid gland may not be able to produce enough thyroid.
24 million people in the United States have an autoimmune disease. There are approximately 80 known autoimmune diseases, with autoimmune thyroiditis (meaning the immune system acts against its own tissue and causes inflammation) being one of the most common. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States in people older than 6 years of age. Autoimmune thyroiditis is known to affect up to 15% of the world’s population. Also, this condition is up to 10 times more common in women and tends to run in families (genetic susceptibility). In addition, there is a mildly increased risk of thyroid cancer for those with this autoimmune disease.
