Hashimotos disease is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid gland. Here are some key points about Hashimotos disease:

• The immune system creates antibodies that attack thyroid cells as if they were bacteria, viruses, or some other foreign body.
• The immune system wrongly enlists disease-fighting agents that damage cells and lead to cell death.
• Hashimotos disease usually results in a decline in hormone production (hypothyroidism) .
• Hashimotos disease progresses slowly over the years, and you may not notice signs or symptoms of the disease.
• Hashimotos disease is most common among middle-aged women, although anyone can develop it.
• Hashimotos disease is also known as Hashimotos thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis.

Symptoms of Hashimotos disease include fatigue and sluggishness, increased sensitivity to cold, increased sleepiness, dry skin, constipation, and muscle weakness. Hashimotos disease can cause lower-than-normal levels of thyroid hormone, which slows down metabolism and causes a range of symptoms. The primary treatment for Hashimotos disease is thyroid hormone replacement.