The goal of treatment is to normalize the metabolic situation. For this purpose, hormone tablets must be taken – in an initially low dose that is slowly increased. Once the hormone levels have normalized, the patient has to see his doctor once a year. Even during pregnancy, the medication must continue to be taken and the blood values closely monitored.
Selenium instead of iodine for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
The intake of iodine recommended in other thyroid diseases is rather inadvisable in this case, because in many sufferers the immune system reacts sensitively to it. In contrast, some physicians recommend taking selenium, an anti-oxidant that is supposed to strengthen the immune system and is a building block in thyroid metabolism.
The actual cause – the attacks of the immune system – can so far only be contained with drugs that have many side effects. Such therapy is therefore not recommended for this disease. A healthy, stress-free lifestyle should contribute to a mild course of the disease.
