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Well Women Thyroid GuideAs you may well already know, the thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland located in your neck just above your collar bones. It is part of the Endocrine system, a group of glands in the body responsible for hormone secretion. The Endocrine system consists of many ductless glands which secrete hormones within our bodies as shown in the diagrams below:
Typical endocrine glands are the thyroid (3), adrenal glands (5), pituitary gland (2) Thymus (4) and in females the ovaries (7) although there are many others. The parathyroid glands are located in the neck but are NOT related to the thyroid in any way, except their location behind it and that they are both part of the endocrine system. They do not need each other to function and are responsible for different tasks.
Please Click here to view information about diseases of the Parathyroid glands
The Thyroid produces T3, which is the more potent thyroid hormone, and T4, (Thyroxine) There are various diseases of the Thyroid gland including Hypothyroidism (under active) and Graves’s disease (Hyperthyroidism) where it becomes is overactive. In most cases of Hashimotos Thyroiditis, the final failure of the gland is preceded by bursts of over activity before the gland finally burns itself out and is then incapable of functioning. Hashimotos disease is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland and is named after the Japanese physician Hakaru Hashimoto. Graves disease is also an autoimmune disease of the gland causing over activity. An auto immune disease means that the body’s own antibodies attack cells within the body as they fail to recognize the cells as part of that body and therefore antibodies attack, in this case the Thyroid gland. Other examples of autoimmune diseases are: Addison’s disease (Adrenal Glands), Diabetes Mellitus (Pancreas), Systemic Lupus (connective tissue) Rheumatoid Arthritis (joints). It is important to point out that once you have an autoimmune disease, you are more susceptible to developing others. There is still limited medical knowledge as to why autoimmune disease occurs and usually there is a family history. However, much can be done to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms associated with them.
What happens? How do I know? It is sometimes very difficult to determine whether you have a Thyroid condition, but symptoms are usually fairly persistent. However, with an under active Thyroid, the symptoms appear gradually and in some cases it can take some time to actually diagnose. This is where I hope I can help women to recognise certain persistent symptoms and therefore take action with you GP or medical practitioner, in order to get treatment as soon as possible. Don’t suffer in silence!! Symptoms can be a complete collection of conditions that seem to go hand in hand with hypothyroidism so if you attended a GP with them alone, he/she would not automatically diagnose a thyroid condition It is vitally important that you do NOT allow a doctor to brush you off, bully you, be dismissive, make you feel inadequate or stupid or as though you are going mad, and, especially in the UK, this is more than likely to happen as Thyroid conditions and autoimmune diseases are not a subject that most GPs like to talk about due to very limited knowledge. Obviously there are a few exceptions. We often know more about our condition ourselves. In my own experience of this, I have found my doctor saying to me: “I’m afraid it’s just one of those things” This was in response to me asking “why do I still feel so awful, even though I am now taking thyroid medication” Another answer was (from an Endocrine doctor) “It’s just something you have to learn to live with” I don’t think so!!!! Not once at any time have any of the doctors made any suggestions whatsoever as to how I can manage the condition, other than the prescription of Levothyroxine. I have quite literally had to research the subject myself and the best information has come from books written by American authors and doctors particularly Mary Shomon and Dr John Lee.. I even brought leaflets and information to one GP. She took it from me, glanced through it for about 10 seconds and then handed it back to me. I felt both embarrassed and very angry at her attitude. She just did not want to know. I have a list of private GP’s in the UK who have a special interest in the subject regarding both Thyroid and Menopause so please contact me for details. It is a shame that in this day and age more NHS doctors do not share this interest. These private doctors seem to share similar opinions to the U.S doctors and therefore will be much more open and sympathetic to helping you overcome the symptoms. Always remember, YOU have to live with it, not them!!
Symptoms: Remember, you may not necessarily have all of these. My own symptoms are marked with a star * The Overactive Thyroid (Hyperthyroidism) Mine started out overactive and fluctuated between overactive and underactive for some years before the gland eventually failed and I became Hypothyroid Gritty or bloodshot eyes and sensitivity to sunlight *A starey or shocked look to the eyes. (Eyelid retraction) *Puffy eyes and eye bags Aching eyes
*Thinning of hair and hair loss A “wispy” appearance to the hair *Mood changes and an irritable aggressive feeling Over talkative *Racing thoughts *Inability to sleep due to the need to be active or over active thoughts *Anxiety and nervousness including Globus Hystericus Over excitable *Palpitations. These can be quite bad. Shortness of breath may accompany this *Fast heart rate and feeling sick *Feeling extremely breathless and faint *Excessive sweating and generally feeling very warm or even hot. Large appetite even though there is a loss of weight *Weight loss *Swollen tender neck *Diarrhoea or more frequent bowel movements and IBS Absence of monthly period or scanty very light period *Weakness, especially arms and legs *Muscle wasting and aches and pains *Tiredness and exhaustion although unable to sleep at night *Feeling nauseous *Itchy skin Swelling from retention of fluid *Trembling and shaking and jerky movements. Reduced fertility Inability to keep still Boils and mouth ulcers Increased risk of miscarriage Low blood pressure Can cause Atrial Fibrillation and strokes in extreme cases Protrusion of the eyeball (in Graves disease) To read more about Hyperthyroidism please click here This page talks about the dangers of cetain supplements that might be taken, and how they could make matters worse...much worse. Also, what could actually help.
Graves Disease This is an autoimmune disease which causes hyperthyroidism and is the most common cause of it. It is named after an Irish doctor, Robert James Graves who discovered it in 1835. It is caused by an antibody related autoimmune reaction, the cause of which is still not known. It is generally characterised by a goitre and/or protruding eyes, fatigue, weight loss and the usual symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism as above.
Symptoms. You may not have all of these or you may have additional symptoms. Everyone is different. Some symptoms are not enough to diagnose a thyroid condition when presented to a doctor on their own such as pins and needles or persistent upper respiratory tract infections. However, tiredness, weakness and feeling cold all the time together with hair loss are the most likely and these symptoms alone are usually enough for a doctor to act and get blood tests done to make a diagnosis.
*Falling asleep regularly *Feeling totally exhausted, often needing to sleep during the day *Muscle weakness and trembling *Stiff aching muscles *Pins and needles *Slowness both in mind and body (Feeling slow and sluggish) *Difficulty in concentrating and difficulty in paying attention or listening carefully *Loss of balance and staggering about *Confusion and inability to think clearly, fuzzy thoughts and forgetfulness *Dizziness and fainting *Night sweats *Premature menopause *Anxiety including Globus Hystericus Bowel problems including constipation and IBS *Depression, sometimes severe *Phobias *No ambition or drive *Loss of interest in life *Low self esteem Complete change of personality. *Becoming angry and irrational *Paranoia *Goitre *Tearfulness *Breathlessness and difficulty taking a deep breath *Sun sensitivity Persistent bladder /urinary tract infections Pelvic inflammatory disease Cravings for salty foods Bad breath and a sour taste in the mouth Choking and coughing fits Inability to respond to medications and poor healing of cuts/wounds, cracked/broken skin. Loss of appetite *Reduced or complete loss of sex drive (libido) *Sensitivity to the sun *Unexplained rashes, spots, acne, dry/oily skin. Pale sallow complexion. *Weight gain *Visual disturbances and blurring of vision. Dry gritty eyes. Difficulty in focusing *Deafness and ear noises - Tinnitus *Urinary tract infections *Boils and mouth ulcers *Cramps and pins and needles. Numbness of hands and/or feet *Loss of appetite and sensitivity to some foods. Bloating and digestive problems *Constipation *Migraines or severe headaches *High blood pressure and raised cholesterol. Palpitations and breathlessness. *Feeling very cold. Needing the heating on or more warm clothes *Heavy periods. In some cases to the point of restricting you to the house. *Hair loss Even from lashes and eyebrows. This can be quite bad.
*Aches and pains, lower back pain Presence of other autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis and or Lupus Chronic fatigue syndrome and or Fibromyalgia *A feeling of having a fever Vivid dreams, hallucinations, a feeling of speediness Intolerence to alcohol, foods and medications such as anti depressants The uncontrollable need to sleep in the late afternoon. Rashes, dry flakey skin, increase in pigmentation *Sore throats, tongue and dry mouth *A feeling of choking and difficulty in swallowing *Puffiness of face and eyes. Eye bags. Odema in ankles/hands/feet *Yellowing of the skin, especially of the palms of the hands (due to the bodies inability to absorb beta carotene) Painful boils in the armpits and/or groin Unexplained swelling of lymph glands in neck, arm pits or groin. There could be other symptoms as everyone is different, but these are symptoms most complained of. Please bring any of these symptoms to your Gp’s attention. Untreated thyroid conditions put your health at risk. Please take note that these symptoms may also present themselves in other conditions and your GP should be consulted in order that the necessary tests may be carried out. Some of these symptoms are also in other autoimmune disease such as SLE (lupus). In fact, my cousin who has lupus has very similar symptoms to me. She also has had thyroid problems. I also have a friend who has Cushings Disease who has similar symptoms.
Hashimoto's Disease This is an autoimmune disease which affects the thyroid where our body will produce antibodies which in turn attack the gland. It is named after the Japenese doctor Hakaru Hashimoto who first discovered it in 1912. This ultimately results in an underactive condition due to the destruction of the gland. The antibodies will show up in a blood test. Please note that one of the symtoms of Hashimoto’s disease, as well as the symtoms listed under underactive thyroid and completely contradictory is its ability to be hyper thyroid also. In the early stages of this disease the gland has bursts of Hyperthyroidism known as “Hashitoxicosis” (see below) with all the accompanying symtoms, as was in my case. In fact, it should also be noted that a patient should not be treated for hyperthyroidism until the relevant tests have been performed to rule out Hashimoto’s disease. Someone with Hashimoto’s would not benefit from RAI (radioactive iodine) treatment and it could put you in casualty!!. You can have the symptoms of both Hyper and Hypo Thyroidism Hashitoxicosis This is a situation with thyroid disease where the sufferer experiences symptoms of both conditions, Graves Disease (overactive) and Hashimoto's disease (underactive) This can be one of the downfalls of Hashimoto's disease and in many cases why doctors miss the condition. If only they would just listen to your symptoms. One day you are presenting one set of symptoms, next it's entirely the opposite. This is what happened to me and why it has been such hell. How many others is this happening to? As this is something I have personally experienced, and is the reason that I was not treated in the early stages (so my GP tells me years later) I feel it necessary to give some important facts on this topic of hashitoxicosis. Blood testing will show positve for Thyroid stimulating Immunogloblin (TSI) which should be near zero in a normal individual and this is normally associated with Graves disease AND Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPO Ab) AND Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TG Ab) normally associated with Hashimoto's disease. This combination shows Hashitoxicosis. Very nasty. The problem here is that when your doctor looks at the lab results, they will assume that everything is normal, despite the clear fact that it is not. They need to listen to your symptoms. An unstable TSH (in normal individuals this should be near zero or around 1.2) where there are vast fluctuations also indicates Hashitoxicosis. The combination of opposing antibodies can make you feel very unwell as when the TSI antibodies are high you can expect to be "fast" and jittery and nervy (doctors will think you are mad, put it that way) and when the TPO and TG antibodies are high, you can expect to be "slow" sluggish, tired, dizzy etc etc etc. Sadly, you can expect to feel very odd most of the time and your emotions will be very unstable due to the conflict. You will probably notice swelling in your neck, sometimes more than others which can be uncomfortable and painful too. Swallowing may be uncomfortable and your voice may be hoarse. You may have constant sore throats. I had a sore throat on one occasion so severe that I could not speak or swallow my own saliva. I was five weeks pregnant. A week later, I miscarried. Coincidence? Mmmmm. It is VERY important for doctors to acknowledge the existance of Hashitoxicosis, and many don't, believe me. There are lots of things they don't acknowledge. If lab results show ok, they assume it is ok. Some doctors doesn't believe CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) exists. Why is this? I have been told it is psychological? They need to understand how awful you feel, up one minute, down the next, jittery, fast heart, shakiness and tremors, feeling sick and fast everything including bowel (diarrhoea), then suddenly slow, tired, weak, cold, constipated and more. What is the solution? Have your Thyroid removed and take thyroxine. Save yourself years of misery. (mine was 15 years and not one doctor mentioned it) At least you know where you are then. In fact, insist on it, as to live with the condition will probably drive you slowly mad until your thyroid and it's antibodies decide that the gland no longer works and it dies off, unless you can cope with it of course....for 20 years sometimes. You see, they can't treat it can they? After all, what aspect do they treat, the Graves or the Hashimoto's? To give you thyroxine will only aggravate the Graves condition making you hyper and vice versa. Unstable thyroid, that's what it is to the point of madness. Doctors expect "perfect" blood lab results and in turn tell you that a TSH of 0.4 to 5.5 is fine. Biochemically, yes. However is it right for you? It depends on how you feel....doesn't it? I, and many others feel that 0.8 to 1.2 is better for you to feel "normal" and higher and you will feel slow and sluggish (Hypo) and lower and you will feel "fast" and hyper. Neither are particularly nice and fluctuating between very hot (hyper) and very cold (hypo) is scary too as are all the other symptoms that go with either hypo or hyper. Ensure your doctor gets the full "SP" as follows if you are experiencing the above. The rolls royce of tests being: TSH Free T3 Free T4 Thyroxine T4 Total T3 Thyroglobin Ab (antibodies test for Hashimoto's disease) and Thyroxine Peroxidase Ab (additional antibodies test for Hashimoto's disease) At the end of the day the thyroid will die off anyway and you will be prescribed thyroid medication for life, but in the meantime you have to live with the upheavals. If the gland is removed at least you can re build your life and get on with it which is what they are always telling you to do in any case "You just have to get on with it" Thing is why should we? Problem I see here is in trying to convince a doctor to remove it when all appears well....to them anyway. I was just fed with anti-depressants....great, eh? It takes 20 years for the gland to die. The long and short of it is, that all the doctor has to do is remove it and start your treatment early so you can have some sort of life. Not too much to ask, is it? The more I sit and think about it, the more angry I am becoming. Do us ladies who have suffered in this way deserve compensation I wonder....watch this space. Please email me using the contact form for private doctors in your area of the UK and republic of Ireland who are sympathetic to and knowledgeable about thyroid illness and disorders and adrenal conditions and who can offer the services such as Armour Thyroid and natural medication and other relevent tests. They often also check adrenal insufficiency and other problems.
Bear in mind also that "normal" blood test results do not necessarily mean that you DO NOT have an underactive thyroid condition and further tests and a referral to an endocrine specialist may be necessary. Low Thyroid exacerbates menopausal symptoms making it much worse as indeed menopause aggravates thyroid conditions or even triggers them,.
Why do things go Wrong?
Underactive Thyroid Environmental causes such as chemicals or radiation. Fluoridated water, excessive exposure to chlorine such as that in swimming pools, household water supply and bleach products. Petrochemicals in cosmetics and pesticides in food. Dental fillings (mercury) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) exposure, over-consumption of soya products. Please click here to see cost effective ways of removing 100 per cent of the chlorine from your shower water and bath water. Use of certain medications such as prozac,(fluoxetine) Lithium (For treating manic depression) Epilepsy drugs like phenytoin and carbamazepine, chemotherapy drugs, Amiodarone (used to treat abnormal heart rhythmns, sulfa drugs) . Major surgery, especially gall bladder surgery. Also surgery to the throat or neck, including removal of the tonsils in young adults or adults. Head or neck injury such as whiplash can trigger it. Previous surgery to the thyroid Radioactive iodine treatment Autoimmune conditions. Hashimotos disease. The thyroid is first overstimulated to an overactive state (Hyperthyroidism) and then destroyed (Hypothyroidism) Glandular fever or other major illness Traumatic pregnancies and multiple pregnancies Adrenal conditions which interfere with conversion of T4 to T3 Also some people fail to absorb the thyroxine medication and may need to be supplemented with Natural Thyroid. (Armour Thyroid) or T3 supplements. Those whose thyroid condition is due to adrenal problems may need low amounts of cortisone. Synthetic HRT is particularly noted for causing dysfunction, especially Premarin. Natural Progesterone is therefore recommended together with Natural oestrogen (estrogen) if this is found to be low. Further reading has shown that patients who are on thyroxine medication who remain ill with hypothyroid symptoms should request a T3 test. This is usually only available privately. See private doctors and clinics in UK
The Overactive Thyroid Graves Disease This is an autoimmune disease. It is caused by antibodies stimulating the Thyroid and it causing it to produce too much hormone.It is the most common cause for an overactive thyroid and is usually seen in older women of 40+ It’s cause is generally unknown but often though that it could be triggered by a virus or bacterial infection if you are already genetically pre disposed. Plummers Disease (Toxic multinodular goitre) This is an enlarged thyroid gland with lots of lumps which have become overactive. Thyroiditis This is an infection or inflammation of the gland which is usually temporary. Swallowing may be very painful and the neck tender. Too much Thyroxine medication in those with Hashimoto's disease or an underactive thyroid. (over medication) Where the GP has prescribed medication but this is too much for the person. Easily done as there is a fine line between what is too much or too little. A lot of people find that they function better if they are taking slightly more than is needed but regular blood tests are required to ensure that this has not caused symptoms of an overactive gland. This will also make you ill. (See symptoms) You will probably get things like feeling restless and overactive, weak muscles in arms and legs and fast thudding heart if this is the case. Aids Problems with the Pituitary Gland This gland can in rare cases produce too much TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) which overstimulates the thyroid gland. Excess Iodine This can cause the gland too be over stimulated and is caused by over supplementing with medications containing iodine. Thyroid illness usually runs in families, so can therefore occur at any age. It is most commonly seen in 40-50 age group and is 8 times more common in women. It is easier for GP’s to recognise due to the tremor and eye problems that are most visible However, it is important that you keep a check of the above symptoms to tell the GP so that he can diagnose quickly. The symptoms can come on at different rates but usually the eyes are the first to show with redness grttiness and eye bags. Eye problems can also continue for a while after treatment. Please see the above list for an overactive thyroid. Diagnosis Your doctor will send you for a blood test and of course the condition should show up in the results. If this is the case, they will send you for an Iodine uptake scan which shows if some parts of the thyroid absorbs more iodine than the others and therefore producing too much hormone. If it is low it either means that that thyroid is producing too much hormone or an inflammation of the gland. This type of scan can also show up nodules on the thyroid.
Other effects of Thyroid diseases Neck and throat complaints A general feeling of fullness and discomfort in the neck. Difficulty in swallowing and a feeling like something is caught in the throat that needs constant swallowing to remove it. More Infections and a lowered resistance to infection. More coughs, colds and viruses and prolonged recovery. Breathing problems Persistent yawning Wheezing Dizziness I also discussed environmental issues, particularly excessive X-rays in childhood which I experienced fortnightly for my Scoliosis condition. The following environmental issues have been though to be related to Thyroid diseases: Numerous X-rays, Radiation treatment, Nuclear exposure, Fluoridated water consumption, Fluoridated toothpaste use, Swimming regularly in chlorine treated swimming pools, Mercury Dental fillings, Pesticides. chlorine in water supply. Other issues/triggers History of autoimmune disease, Previous thyroid surgery, Whiplash to the neck, Menopause, Lithium treatment (for Bi-polar disorder), Steroid treatment, Excessive alcohol consumption by your mother while pregnant with you, Iodine deficiency, Substantial consumption of Brussel sprouts, turnips, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, mustard, strawberries, peaches, watercress, kale, cabbage and walnuts. Soy overconsumption: soy milk, tofu, nuts. Contraceptive pill and HRT Strangely enough people with prematurely grey hair and even left handedness are both considered signs of increased risk of autoimmune disease and are even considered possible markers for increased hypothyroidism risk.
Chemical Issues There are 15000 different chemicals that disrupt the Endocrine system. These are often in products we use every day. Household cleaners, lipstick and cosmetics, pesticides and plastics. Fluoride is added to our water supply and to toothpaste but we may be overdosing on it. Care should be taken where possible, especially with the very young, to use fluoride free toothpaste and drink bottled water or use water filters where possible. Certainly the addition of fluoride drops to babies drinks is not recommended as Fluoride is proven to be toxic. Dental amalgams containing mercury are toxic and are not recommended for Thyroid disease sufferers. They contain 50% mercury and their close proximity to the Thyroid gland make them a risk. However dentists still maintain their safety. It has been said that alternative dental fillings be used and any existing mercury fillings be removed by a competent dentist. Chlorine in our water supply, bleach products and swimming pools. Find out more at
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There is some controversy regarding these vaccines in that they can make matters worse for those suffering with an autoimmune thyroid disease Dr Richard Shames who co writes ThyroidPower states that Thyroid sufferers have an immune problem that is likely to be made worse by injectible vaccines as they have an immune system that is TH2 predominant (T-Helper Cell Type 2) Injectible vaccines further stimulate the out of balance situation thus having the potential of making the thyroid situation worse. I myself have only just had my first flu vaccine this year (2007) believing it to be beneficial. (My GP did not question my request) I have not had any repercussions as yet. I do find however that I seldom get coughs and colds in any case and the type of things I normally get are Gastric viruses, diahorrea, mouth ulcers, sore throats, tooth abcesses, bartolins abcesses and unexplained rashes and fevers.
What about Fibromyalgia? This has been thought to be related to Hypothyroidism and consists of widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue and tender points. The pain is on both sides of the body, and is above and below the waist such as upper, middle and lower spine, neck, hips, buttocks, knees and chest. Other common symptoms are prolonged fatigue, mild fever with chills, sore throat, raised tender lymph nodes in neck and/or armpits and general weakness, joint pain without swelling, headaches, forgetfulness, slurring of words, prone to viruses and infections and worsening of allergies. Dizziness, nausea, night sweats, among others….Sound familiar? Sounds like Hypothyroidism symptoms? Mary Shomon has a book called “Living well with Chronic Fatigue syndrome and Fibromyalgia which is worth its weight in gold. Please go to my Book Shop Also see her website Please also see Anita Murray's website. Anita is a qualified life coach and a former sufferer of Fibromyalgia. On her site you can gain valuable information, read about how she managed the condition, sign up to her coaching programs, or her free E-book. She also offers free teleclasses which you can book through her site. She offers motivation in the quest for wellness as well as valuable advice.
Please Click HERE to go to Anita's Fibromyalgia site
What about chronic fatigue syndrome? Once again there is higher occurances of the CFS in hypothyroid patients. Ironically enough, to be classified as having it, you have to have extreme fatigue without specific medical explanation which lasts at least 6 months. And is not relieved by rest. There must also be 4 or more of the following symptoms: Impaired memory and/or concentration Sore throat Muscle pain Severe headaches No relief from sleeping Muscle and joint pain without swelling Tender lymph nodes in neck and/or armpits Your GP should be consulted to confirm that you are suffering from CFS in order that treatment can be carried out specifically for this condition. Once again reading Mary’s book as above and consulting the website will clarify the situation.
Adrenal problems- Adrenal exhaustion Mary Shomon discusses this in her book “Living well with hypothyroidism” and this connection is very interesting. I will cover this briefly. Adrenal fatigue, if not treated properly, could prevent proper treatment of hypothyroidism if not addressed. The adrenal glands produce hormones to balance blood sugar and also hormones (adrenaline) when we are under stress. Being under constant stress due to long periods of stress or emotional fatigue takes its toll and therefore the adrenal glands “burn out” and stop producing sufficient hormones causing adrenal exhaustion. Some symptoms include: Excessive fatigue and exhaustion Feeling overwhelmed, run down and unable to cope any longer with challenges of any kind Slow recovery from illness, injury or stress Salt and sugar cravings Not feeling refreshed after a full nights sleep Feeling more energetic in the evenings Low stamina Difficulty in concentrating Low immune function Food allergies Poor digestion Premenstrual or menopausal problems Consistent low blood pressure Low libido Sensitivity to the cold Line of dark pigment in nails Easily startled Due to the interaction of T3 and the adrenals, the success of thyroid medication depends very much on the health of the adrenals and people with Hashimoto’s or Graves disease autoimmune conditions have weakened adrenals and the sudden speeding up of the metabolism with thyroid medication in hypothyroid conditions may worsen the adrenal condition. In this connection, it would be worth getting a test to evaluate adrenal function which are not available from the endocrine specialist. They are only able to carry out tests for serious adrenal conditions like Addisons disease or Cushings. (Please see my list of private tests) There are treatments but these need to be discussed with a specially qualified practitioner (see list of specialists) There are also herbal treatments which can support Adrenal function such as licorice and ginseng.
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The secretion of these hormones is vital to the health of the overall body and this secretion is responsible for tissue growth, mood, metabolism, temperature etc.
There is still limited medical knowledge as to why autoimmune disease occurs and usually there is a family history. However, much can be done to alleviate the unpleasant symptoms associated with them.
