DEAR DR. GOTT: I have just been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. I’ve been treated for hypothyroidism for three years and also have a calcification in my thyroid gland. What is Hashimoto’s, and how is it treated? Please advise.
DEAR READER: Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system incorrectly attacks the thyroid gland at the base of the neck. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) known in the United States and affects middle-aged women more than men and children. Age, heredity and sex may play a role in determining why some people acquire the disorder and others do not.
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