iThei mdcdaelcinfd o c elllllrlllll tiThcl elThhlThscd mmshblkdho c dhp“Autoimmune disease: because the only thing tough
enough to kick my a** is me.”
—Unknown4: What is an Autoimmune Condition?
In simple terms, autoimmunity means a person’s immune system mistak-
enly recognizes normally occurring physiological processes as foreign in-
vaders and attacks itself. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the first autoimmune
condition recognized in medicine. You may have heard hypothyroidism
described as having a “sluggish” or “underactive” thyroid. This is thought
to occur with advanced age, but that is not the case with the thyroid in
autoimmune hypothyroidism. The thyroid is actually working overtime
to produce adequate hormone while the immune system gradually de-
stroys it. The problem is not with the thyroid’s performance but rather
with the immune system’s.
The theory goes like this:
Thyroid cells are damaged by a trigger such as a toxin or an infection.
Dying thyroid cells send out a stress signal.
Immune cells rush in to “save” the thyroid from attackers.
Immune cells attack the thyroid instead.
More thyroid cell damage occurs.
Body runs out of resources to regenerate thyroid cells.
Thyroid is no longer able to produce enough hormone.
Perfect Storm
Autoimmunity isn’t caused by a single event but a series of events align-
ing precisely to create the perfect storm—or perfect circumstances—for
developing autoimmunity.