Are EBV (Mono) and Autoimmune Thyroid Possibly Linked?

In answer to the question are EBV (Mono) and Autoimmune Hypothyroidism Possibly Linked? Evidently there seems to be a large number of Autoimmune Hypothyroid cases out there in which the patient has previously had or carries the Epstein Barr Virus or Mononucleosis.

I came across this information after reading a question that I found on an online answers page. The question was from a woman who had EBV but described symptoms of hypothyroidism. I thought hmm, and decided to research the possibility of a connection between EBV and Hypothyroidism.

My Research – EBV (Mono) and Autoimmune Thyroid

Interestingly, during the course of my research on Hypothyroidism and EBV I found many comments posted by thyroid patients who had in fact been diagnosed with Mononucleosis and still carried the Epstein Barr Virus in their system, (Which from what I gathered doesn’t actually go away), prior to the onset of their autoimmune thyroiditis.  I also found a good bit of information that states that based on reports and observations of usually unscientific observers (perhaps some statistics) these reports and observations show numerous patients that have actually reported having mononucleosis or recurrent EBV a few years before they were diagnosed with Hashimoto’s or Autoimmune thyroiditis as well.

According to some Medical Research on EBV and Autoimmune Disease

At this point there isn’t any definitive medical conclusion to the link between EBV and Hypothyroidism. It’s still under research but so far according to a report by: Michael P. Pender, Neuroimmunology Research Centre, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, and Department of Neurology,Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, In some studies they have determined the following:

“5.5. Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Patients with autoimmune thyroiditis have increased titres of anti-EBV antibodies in their sera compared to healthy subjects [58]. Thyrotoxicosis can develop immediately after infectious mononucleosis due to primary EBV infection, and autoimmune hypothyroidism can develop in association with acute EBV infection [59]. Intrathyroidal EBV-infected B cells could be the source of the monoclonally expanded B cells in the thyroid gland in autoimmune thyroiditis [60] and might be responsible for the increased risk of development of B-cell lymphoma in the thyroid gland in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis [61].

*Paragraph 4 of this report has interesting information on how EBV can promote autoimmune diseases.

It certainly will be interesting to see the outcome of the research being conducted on the links between the Epstein Barr Virus and autoimmune diseases such as Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism.

In the mean time if you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune thyroid condition such as Hashimoto’s then maybe you could ask your doctor to find out if you also carry the Epstein Barr Virus in your system. I’ve seen reports that state that up to 95% of all adults do actually carry EBV even if they never actually had full blown Mononucleosis.

Is it any wonder why autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s seem to be on the rise? Who would have thought something as simple as a kiss or sharing a drink with a friend as a kid might ultimately have caused your autoimmune thyroid disease?

Maybe studies will provide answers to the question is EBV (Mono) and Autoimmune thyroid Possibly Linked.

The Connection Between Iodine and Thyroid Hormone Production

In previous posts we talked about how goitrogens affect the iodine and thyroid hormone production in our bodies, now I’m going to talk about iodine intake, how it works with, how it affects the thyroid and whether you should be taking iodine supplements for hypothyroidism.

Iodine and Your Thyroid

You might be asking; what does iodine have to do with hypothyroidism and thyroid dysfunction? Well iodine plays a major role in the overall function of the thyroid and its production of thyroid hormone. It’s for this reason that the bodies iodine intake needs to maintain a healthy balance.

Iodine is the key component in thyroid hormone production. There are two hormones produced by the thyroid gland T3 and T4. The numbers 3 and 4 are the actual number of iodine atoms found in each thyroid hormone molecule.

Just too briefly explain the complex manner of how T3 and T4 hormones are used by our bodies I’ll try to summarize it in laymen’s terms. The cells in our bodies use T3 thyroid hormone for gene control. However the majority of thyroid hormone that the thyroid gland produces is T4. The bulk of the T3 and T4 hormones stick to proteins that are produced by the liver, the remainder of the hormones actually make it into the bodies cells where T4 is converted to T3 by the cells deiodinase enzymes and use it to control the cells genes.

Iodine and Thyroid Hormone Production – Iodine deficiency

When there isn’t enough of iodine in a person’s diet the thyroid gland can’t produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s demands. This is when goiter develops because the thyroid gland enlarges as it works harder and harder to try to meet those demands. I’ve seen instances where the recommended daily allowance of iodine intake can range anywhere from 90 on up to 290 micrograms per day depending on age and whether you are pregnant or nursing. Pregnant women require around 220 and nursing women may require around 290 micrograms of iodine per day.

Thyroid dysfunction caused by iodine deficiency in the United States is very rare because in this country our salt as well as many of the foods that we eat contain iodine. The lack of iodine is more common in countries around the world that don’t have iodized table salt or readily available sea food and kelp.

Iodine Supplements for Hypothyroidism – Iodine excess?

More common in the United States are issues where excessive iodine intake is prominent. As I stated above, in the United States there may be more than enough iodine in our daily diets to fulfill the iodine needs of our thyroids. With this being the case in the United States there may be no need for iodine supplements for hypothyroidism treatment. As a matter of fact taking iodine supplements could be detrimental to your thyroid health. If you suspect that you may be have an issue with iodine deficiency you should have blood work done to confirm it.

When there is excessive iodine intake in the human body the thyroid gland starts to overproduce thyroid hormone and when this happens the bodies autoimmune system starts to attack and shut down the thyroid gland to a point where it actually causes hypothyroidism if you have an underlying potential for hypothyroidism such as a family history of this disease. On the other side of the coin if you are pre-disposed to either Grave’s disease of nodular goiter then too much iodine can cause hyperthyroidism. A healthy thyroid gland handles excessive iodine intake by controlling how much iodine it takes in and last with Hashimoto’s too much iodine intake will cause your thyroid gland to slow down thyroid hormone production even more than it already is.

So again when you are looking to provide yourself with a healthy hypothyroidism diet much like with goitrogens and everything else that you include in your diet, it’s important to maintain a healthy balance of foods that contain iodine. Always consult your doctor to treat your thyroid disease then look into the diet and exercise program that works best for you. If a lack of iodine is discovered through proper testing then you may need an iodine supplement.

None the less, there is an important link between iodine and thyroid hormone production but this is only part of the story.

Hypothyroidism Treatment – Start at the Beginning

There are many causes for hypothyroidism. the most common cause being auto immune diseases such as hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Prior to any hypothyroidism treatment it must be determined what is causing your low thyroid condition.

I will once again start by restating the initial common symptoms and signs of an underactive thyroid.

Common symptoms of hypothyroidism:

• Fatigue which can at times causes you to be lethargic because all you want to do is sleep.
• Unexplained weight gain and difficulty losing weight
• Constipation
• Sluggishness
• Depression
• Memory loss, loss of mental cognition or difficulty concentrating (this is huge)
• Increased sensitivity to cold
• Pale, dry skin
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
• Muscle weakness
• Heavier than normal menstrual periods
• Abnormal periods in general
• Brittle fingernails and hair or hair loss

The myth about hypothyroidism and weight gain:

Yes, when you have hypothyroidism you do gain weight however obesity is not one of the medical conditions caused by hypothyroidism.

On average, with proper hypothyroidism treatment, and if your hypothyroidism is brought under control and properly maintained, then you really shouldn’t gain more than 10 to 15 pounds. If you do gain more than this then you should probably re-examine your eating and exercise habits and figure out where the rest of the weight gain is coming from.

Doctors and Hypothyroidism Treatments

More than likely a primary care doctor will be the one that will initially test patients with hypothyroidism for and discover your hypothyroidism. From that point forward it’s usually the best idea to be treated by an endocrinologist because they generally specialize in treating thyroid disease and can recommend the best hypothyroidism treatment by properly measuring your hormone deficiency.

Check-ups

In order to determine what’s causing your thyroid dysfunction your endocrinologist will conduct blood tests to check your thyroid hormones and they should then conduct a physical examination as well.

During the physical examination the doctor will check the typical vitals, run through the list of symptoms with you asking if you are currently experiencing any of them and last move on to checking your fingernails, your hands and feet for possible bloating then they should feel around on the thyroid gland, with their fingers, checking for any abnormalities.

If they find any suspicious abnormalities on your thyroid gland then they should send you for an ultrasound in order to rule out the possibilities of nodules, goiter, thyroid cancer or any other thyroid disorders.

At first your check-ups should happen every 6-8 weeks until your medication is regulated and after that every 6-12 months for the rest of your life if you have permanent hypothyroidism.

Thyroid Medication

Once you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism your doctor will prescribe a hormone replacement medication. Your medication is not something to fear. If you properly take your medication, it will help you to get back to functioning normally and is the main factor in any hypothyroidism treatment. One of the more commonly prescribed medications is levothyroxine.

The thing that you have to become and remain aware of is the fact that this medicine is a thyroid hormone replacement medication. It is a synthetic hormone meant to replace what the body is lacking in normal thyroid hormone production. Simply put it’s meant for when your thyroid gland can no longer produce enough thyroid hormone to function on a normal level.

When thyroid medication is not taken as directed it is then that it can cause problems with your health. It is not a diet pill and should never be thought of or treated as if it were.

Thyroid Dysfunction: Is Not Always an Issue With the Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is not the only gland that can cause hypothyroidism, it can also be caused by issues with the pituitary gland. Again your endocrinologist would be able to figure out if this is the case and set you up with an appropriate hypothyroidism treatment.

Causes Of Hypothyroidism

Below we will explore some of the causes of hypothyroidism. These causes range from the foods that we eat or supplements that we take to more severe reasons such as our thyroids coming under attack from our own bodies. Although the causes of hypothyroidism vary there aren’t as many as there are symptoms of hypothyroidism. We’ll touch on them first.

Hypothyroidism Symptoms

In case at this point you are thinking either, what are the symptoms of hypothyroidism or how would I know if I have a thyroid problem, I’ll reiterate a few of the symptoms.

If you currently have fatigue, unexplained weight gain, an enlarged thyroid gland or inflammation at the front of your neck, dry skin and hair, depression and constipation contact your doctor and have him or her run blood tests to see if you have a thyroid condition. Your doctor will be able to tell if your body is producing too little or too much thyroid hormone.

There are in essence two kinds of hypothyroidism, temporary and permanent hypothyroidism. Your doctor will determine which one you have. The conditions tend to affect more women than men.

Causes Of Hypothyroidism That Are Temporary

In the case of temporary hypothyroidism, your thyroid problems can be caused by thyroiditis, too much iodine (which can actually worsen existing hypothyroidism), to little iodine (causing an iodine deficiency) and various medications especially if you are pre-disposed to hypothyroidism through a family history.

Because the food and cooking supplies in United States contain plenty of iodine it’s unusual to see hypothyroidism which is caused by an iodine deficiency in this country. We are actually more likely to see this caused by an over intake or consumption of iodine in those who use iodine supplements, such as kelp pills, that are sold in health food stores and aren’t regulated by the FDA and therefore tend to exceed the recommended daily allowance. It’s still recommended however that people who are hypothyroid stay away from soy and soy based products.

Causes Of Hypothyroidism That Are Permanent

With permanent hypothyroidism the thyroid gland is damaged and cannot be cured. However your hypothyroidism can be treated, on a permanent basis, with success under proper medical advice, diagnosis, treatment and prescribed, proper levels of thyroid hormone medicine.

Always have your doctor provide medical advice and proper information with regard to your thyroid disorder whether you suffer from hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. (See Hypothyroidism Treatment)

More Causes Of Hypothyroidism You should Consider

• Autoimmune diseases: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, it is an autoimmune disease. With Hashimoto’s thyroiditis the immune system attacks the thyroid because it views the thyroid gland as a foreign object and then creates antibodies that over time shut down the thyroid gland.

A couple of other autoimmune diseases that put people at high risk for hypothyroidism are systemic lupus and type 1 diabetes.
Although pregnancy doesn’t actually cause hypothyroidism, a thyroid problem can develop both during and after pregnancy.

• Pituitary gland disorders: Issues with the pituitary gland such as pituitary surgery and tumors can slow or stop production of the tsh hormone which then causes it to send messages to the thyroid to decrease t3 and t4 hormones thus causing your hypothyroidism.

• Exposure to radiation or radiation treatment: The radioactive iodine that is used in these treatments destroys part or all, of the thyroid. Therefore if you’ve ever been treated with radioactive iodine this could cause you to develop thyroid disease.

• Thyroid surgery: Naturally if either part or all of your thyroid has been removed it may or will never fully function, I say may because on rare occasions a partial thyroid can still function enough to create a persons necessary, required amounts of thyroid hormone.

Some reasons why a person would need to have thyroid surgeries would be if they were diagnosed with goiter, thyroid cancer, Graves disease or thyroid nodules. In most cases after such surgeries thyroid hormone replacement becomes a necessity for the body to properly function on a metabolic level.

Now that we understand the causes of hypothyroidism, it’s pretty safe to say that there are very few steps that can be taken in order to prevent hypothyroidism and at most with the help of medical professionals we can however control the affects of this disease.

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease where your body’s own immune system attacks your thyroid gland causing inflammation. This disease is the most common cause of Hypothyroidism in the U.S.

An autoimmune disease is one where the body incorrectly attacks tissue and organs within the body that it was supposed to protect. It’s the anti-bodies that are produced by your immune system that causes the damage to your thyroid.

The thyroid with the help of the pituitary gland helps to control your body’s metabolism. When the thyroid comes under attack its ability to make the hormones necessary to maintain a balanced metabolism is seriously jeopardized. The 2 primary hormones that the thyroid produces are thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3). These maintain the rate at which your body uses the food that you consume, they also help maintain your body’s temperature and control your heart rate.

Without these hormones your body’s chemistry will be off balance and you may begin to experience any number of symptoms that are associated with hypothyroidism.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as you can. The sooner you can determine that this may be the cause of your problem the better. Hypothyroidism is nothing to fool around with, not to mention that it can make dieting difficult to impossible without proper treatment. Any hypothyroidism diet plan should first include getting your hormone levels under control.

What Causes Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

Hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s disease can cause a number of other serious health issues if left untreated:

* It can cause a Goiter. Continuous stimulation of your thyroid to release it’s hormones can result in the thyroid becoming enlarged, this is known as a goiter.

* It causes birth defects. Babies born to women who haven’t been treated for hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s disease may exhibit a higher risk of birth defects than the babies born to healthy moms. But, if any of these conditions are found within the first few months of a baby’s life, chances of developing normally are very good.

* Mental health issues can occur. Early in Hashimoto’s disease depression can happen and could become more severe over time. Hashimoto’s disease can also cause the libido in both men and women to decrease.

* In severe circumstances myxedema coma. This rare, often life-threatening condition can develop due to long-term hypothyroidism if Hashimoto’s disease is left untreated. Its signs and symptoms include intolerance to the cold and drowsiness followed by extreme lethargy and unconsciousness.

* Last but not least, heart related issues. Hashimoto’s disease could also increase the risk of getting some form of heart disease. This is primarily due to the higher levels of LDL(the “bad” kind) cholesterol.

As you can plainly see it’s important to get this disease treated. Once treated and managed you can continue to enjoy a full and productive life. Getting treated for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis also makes the chances of losing weight on a hypothyroid diet that much better.