How to Treat a Hashimoto’s Flare Up
When you get sick, or you’re going through an overwhelming season, it’s common to experience a Hashimoto flare up. Thankfully, there are ways to manage it. We know that it can be frustrating, but also know that you’re not alone. Keep reading to learn how to anticipate and treat a Hashimoto’s flare up.
Common Triggers of a Hashimoto’s Flare Up
Hashimoto’s is caused by hypothyroidism, which is when your body produces fewer thyroid hormones than normal. This can lead to:
- Enlarged thyroid
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Slowed heart rate
- Memory problems
- Constipation
- Pale, dry skin
- Puffy face
When you have Hashimoto’s, unfortunately you can’t allow your body to get sick or be overly stressed without likely experiencing a flare up. Of course, always consult your doctor, or schedule a consultation with us at True Life Medicine if you need to consult a doctor about your current condition.
If you aren’t sure why you’re experiencing a Hashimoto’s flare up, one of these triggers could be the cause.
- Stress
- Lacking nutritional support
- Gluten intolerance
- Inflammation due to stress (or other factors)
Working with a physician to determine why your Hashimoto’s flare ups occur is the best way to treat your flare up. If one of these triggers could be the cause, here’s how to correct the issue and treat Hashimoto’s flare ups.
How to Treat a Hashimoto’s Flare Up
If you’re experiencing an autoimmune flare, it’s because your immune system is in overdrive and causing inflammation. If you can reduce the triggers that cause your immune system to go into overdrive, you can often reduce your flare ups.
Here are some triggers to be aware of and how you can find relief.
1. Stress
Stress bothers your immune system and increases your autoimmune activity. This can cause your thyroid hormone levels to drop. It’s important to give yourself time and permission to recuperate mentally, emotionally, and physically. While stress may not be affecting your thyroid levels directly, it can cause you to make poor decisions like eating too many inflammatory foods and not getting enough rest. We recommend coming up with a clear schedule for yourself that allows for rest and allows you to evaluate your daily choices. Prioritize your health with adequate rest, mindful food choices, and movement that feels good.
2. Lacking Nutritional Support
It’s not a surprise that you should be managing your diet, but did you know that the vitamins you take are important to regulating your immune system and your thyroid? Your vitamin and mineral intake affects your risk of getting an autoimmune disease. Furthermore, those with an autoimmune disease are at a higher risk of developing nutritional deficiencies because the thyroid impacts gut health.
We suggest seeing if you’re taking the following nutrients to help treat Hashimoto’s flare ups:
- Zinc and Selenium: help your thyroid function and support your immune system
- Iodine: essential for thyroid function but too much can also damage your thyroid (it’s best to find the perfect dose with help from a functional medicine doctor)
- Vitamin D: important in avoiding the development of autoimmune diseases (if you have Hashimoto’s already then it’s vital that you make sure you’re getting enough)
- Magnesium: often depleted when you’re stressed, so you should check to make sure you’re getting enough
- Antioxidants: help protect your thyroid from thyroid gland damage
3. Diet
Managing your diet is vital to reducing the chance of inflammation which can cause a flare up. It’s common for gluten to trigger flare ups in patients with Hashimoto’s. Additionally, eating large amounts of sugar will exacerbate your current symptoms. When you consume a lot of sugar it leads to spikes and dips in blood sugar levels, which activates your immune system, causing it to go into overdrive. It’s important to make changes to your diet to avoid inflammatory foods and trade them for whole foods that support your immune system.
True Life Medicine Helps Treat Hashimoto’s Flare Up
At True Life Medicine, we don’t see patients by their symptoms. We look at them as people. While the information we’ve provided is helpful, the most effective care is when we can take the time to discuss your current symptoms and create a plan that is unique to you. That’s how we address your triggers and help you treat Hashimoto’s flare ups. Contact us to schedule a consultation and discuss your Hashimoto’s flare up.
