Fact 3: Hashimoto’s Disease Diagnosis
Diagnosing Hashimoto’s disease involves a multi-step process, and it’s not as simple as ticking off a symptom checklist. The disease is often identified via a combination of medical history evaluation, physical examination, and laboratory tests.
When you visit a physician, the first step typically involves a physical examination. The doctor will check for swelling in your neck and can perform a thyroid exam by feeling your neck while you swallow. This physical examination can detect an enlarged thyroid, a common sign of Hashimoto’s disease.
Still, a physical examination alone cannot confirm Hashimoto’s. Therefore, doctors usually proceed to investigate your medical history. They will ask you about any previous conditions, current symptoms, and family history of autoimmune disorders. Understanding your medical background can provide critical context for your current health condition.
However, the most conclusive diagnostic tool in detecting Hashimoto’s disease is laboratory testing. Blood tests are the key to identifying irregularities in thyroid function. The two common blood tests involve measuring levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibodies.
TSH is a hormone that your pituitary gland produces to stimulate your thyroid. High levels of TSH in the blood can indicate that your body is trying to spur your thyroid to produce more hormones, a sign of hypothyroidism.
In contrast, the presence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies suggests your immune system is attacking your thyroid. These antibodies often appear in elevated quantities in people with Hashimoto’s disease, making this test a useful diagnostic tool. (3)
