"Are Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism the Same Thing?" - Carolyn L. Todd
Having an underactive thyroid proves that even your smaller organs can have a mighty effect on your health. This powerful organ is called your thyroid gland, and it influences things like your heart rate, digestion, mood, menstrual cycle, and energy levels – essentially various factors of your metabolism, which is a fancy way of saying the way your body uses energy. If you’ve ever read up on underactive thyroid, you’ve probably encountered the terms “hypothyroidism” and “Hashimoto’s disease” along with, potentially, some confusion about the difference. “It’s a very confusing topic for a lot of patients, and I get that question all the time,” said Barrie Weinstein, MD, assistant professor of endocrinology, diabetes, and bone disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “The words are used synonymously, as if they’re the exact same thing.” The catch is that they’re not. Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism often occur together, but they’re technically two different health issues.
- Barrie M. Weinstein, MD, Assistant Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
