What is Hashimoto’s? Grey’s Anatomy’s Camilla Luddington’s disease explained

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Camilla Luddington revealed this week that she’s battled an autoimmune disease.

The actress, 41, said on the “Call It What It Is” podcast that she’d been feeling constantly “slothy” and “tired” — but figured at first that it was just her age or even hormonal changes.

“I thought, I have two kids, I’m in my 40s. This is what ‘the 40s’ is. I have jobs to do, maybe I’m perimenopause,” she said.

“It got to the point where, by 11 a.m., I felt like I had to chug Benadryl, and I needed to nap. It didn’t matter how much sleep I’d gotten the night before. There was no pushing through the day.”

But after getting blood work done, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease.

What is Hashimoto’s?

Hashimoto’s is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can cause hypothyroidism or an underactive thyroid. The condition is characterized by the immune system’s creation of antibodies that attack thyroid cells as if they were bacteria, viruses, or some other foreign threat.

The thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ in the front of your neck, produces hormones that regulate metabolism, support growth, and promote brain development, among other vital functions.

The primary function of the thyroid is metabolic regulation. In patients with Hashimoto’s disease the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone for the body, slowing the metabolism and leading to a slew of symptoms.

Named for Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto, the physician who identified the condition in 1912, Hashimoto’s disease is also known as Hashimoto thyroiditis, Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, and Lymphocytic thyroiditis.

Hashimoto’s is a common condition, affecting 5 in 100 Americans.

Hashimoto’s can develop in any sex at any age, but women are 10 times more likely to be diagnosed than men. Diagnosis typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 50.

People with existing autoimmune conditions like Addison’s disease, Celiac disease, Lupus, Pernicious anemia, Rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome and Type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop Hashimoto’s.

What causes Hashimoto’s disease?

In patients with Hashimoto’s, the immune system erroneously enlists disease-fighting agents that damage healthy cells.

The exact cause of Hashimoto’s is unclear, but experts believe the onset of the disease may be related to genetic factors or environmental triggers like stress, infection, and radiation exposure.

Hashimoto’s symptoms

Patients with Hashimoto’s disease may not have any symptoms at first. As Hashimoto’s progresses, the thyroid gland may swell and enlarge, a condition known as a goiter. This is often the first sign of the disease.

The symptoms of Hashimoto’s progress slowly over the course of several years. Eventually, the decline in thyroid hormone production can result in the following symptoms:

How is Hashimoto’s diagnosed?

Hashimoto’s is tentatively diagnosed by symptoms and a physical exam and confirmed through a series of blood tests, including a Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test, a Free thyroxine (T4) test, and/or an Antithyroid antibody test.

In some cases, providers may recommend a thyroid ultrasound to assess the size and quality of the gland and deduce if thyroid growths are present.

How is Hashimoto’s treated?

Not all patients with Hashimoto’s will develop hypothyroidism. In these cases, healthcare providers monitor thyroid levels but eschew treatment.

When/if Hashimoto’s leads to hypothyroidism, the gold standard in treatment is the medication levothyroxine, a synthetic form of the hormone T4 produced by the thyroid.

Luddington revealed that she’s been prescribed Levothyroxine and is now “on the road to recovery.”
“I do feel a lot better. My energy’s a lot better,” she said, adding, “It’s going to be a journey.”

If hypothyroidism goes untreated, it can lead to serious health issues, including pregnancy complications, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, and in some cases, myxedema coma, a rare condition in which the body’s functions slow to the point of being fatal

Is there a cure for Hashimoto’s?

There is no known cure for Hashimoto’s, but medication like Levothyroxine, eating well, exercising, adequate sleep, and stress management can support the immune system.

Famous people with Hashimoto’s

In addition to Luddington, other famous people who have been open about their Hashimoto’s diagnosis include supermodel Gigi Hadid, who has previously shared how the disease has affected her body.

Zoe Saldana, Kelly Clarkson and Oprah Winfrey have also spoken out about having the condition.