What Causes Hashimoto’s? And Are There Hashimoto’s Tests?
You’re tired. Maybe you’re noticing changes in your energy, your body, or simply the way you feel.
You start wondering if your thyroid could be part of the problem.
So you search:
“What causes Hashimoto’s?”
“Are there Hashimoto’s tests?”
These are important questions, because Hashimoto’s is something I want to know about when I’m evaluating a new patient.
I don’t want to guess.
I want to know.
Are there Hashimoto’s disease diagnosis tests?
Yes. Diagnosing Hashimoto’s involves lab testing.
When I get a new patient, I do a complete thyroid panel, which includes four labs. I also test two markers for Hashimoto’s.
Why?
Because I want to know whether the person sitting in front of me has Hashimoto’s or does not have Hashimoto’s.
I don’t leave that question up in the air.
For me, knowing whether Hashimoto’s is part of the picture is an important piece of understanding the patient’s overall health.
What causes Hashimoto’s?
This is where I believe we need to look deeper.
Hashimoto’s can either be an “itis,” meaning inflammation of the thyroid gland, or it can be an autoimmune condition, where your body is actually attacking your thyroid.
There can be different factors involved.
Pregnancy and childbirth can be associated with the development of Hashimoto’s. And while many people associate Hashimoto’s with women, there are also a lot of men who have Hashimoto’s.
But there’s another piece I want people to understand:
The gut.
A lot of times, Hashimoto’s begins in the gut.
It’s a gut problem.
Why I don’t look at Hashimoto’s as only a thyroid problem
The mainstream healthcare world gets Hashimoto’s so wrong.
It is not just an endocrinology problem.
If you’re not connecting your Hashimoto’s disorder to a gut problem, you are completely missing the entire diagnosis.
And as the patient, you are not getting a full treatment.
This is why I don’t want to simply look at one lab value or one part of your body and stop there.
I want to understand what is happening with you as a whole.
What should you ask about if you suspect Hashimoto’s?
If you’re wondering whether Hashimoto’s could be part of what you’re experiencing, ask your healthcare provider:
Have I had a complete thyroid panel?
Have I been tested for Hashimoto’s?
What Hashimoto’s markers were tested?
Do I have Hashimoto’s, or has that actually been ruled out?
Are we looking beyond the thyroid and considering the gut?
You deserve to understand what is happening in your body.
And if Hashimoto’s is part of your health picture, I believe we need to understand more than just the thyroid.
We need to look deeper.
National Health Education Week is a great reminder that understanding your health starts with asking better questions.
If you’ve been wondering, “What causes Hashimoto’s?” or “Are there Hashimoto’s tests?” don’t be afraid to ask.
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