Actress Zoe Saldana recently revealed that she suffers from the autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Both her mother and sister are also affected by this condition. Zoe Saldana is known for her roles in the reboot of Star Trek, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, and Avatar, just to name a few of her better known films. Saldana explains that she finds clean eating to help with management of the disease.
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common thyroid disease in the United States and is an inherited disease. It is about 7 times more common in women than in men. Hashimoto’s disease is characterized by the production of immune cells and autoantibodies by the body’s immune system, which can cause damage to thyroid cells and compromise their ability to make thyroid hormone resulting in hypothyroidism. Meaning the disorder causes the immune system to attack the thyroid, affecting the hormone production.
It is estimated by the American Thyroid Association that about 20 million people in the U.S. have some type of thyroid disorder, although many may not even know it. It is not uncommon for a patient with Hashimoto’s disease to have no symptoms for many years. Often the diagnosis is made incidentally when an enlarged thyroid gland or abnormal blood tests are discovered as part of a routine examination. There are however patients with Hashimoto’s disease who develop hypothyroidism and are likely to develop symptoms including fatigue, forgetfulness, dry skin, brittle hair and nails, constipation, sore muscles, weight gain, and menstrual irregularities.
The thyroid doctors at Palm Beach Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists, P.A., have over 150 years of cumulative thyroid experience. Our specialists work with patients throughout the course of thyroid treatment. Our doctors, nurses, and staff provide patients with the highest level of care. To learn more about Palm Beach Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists, P.A., or to schedule an appointment with our team of thyroid specialists in Wellington, please click here.