There is a connection between hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes joint pain.
It is an autoimmune process that causes severeinflammation(painful swelling) that attacks the linings of joints.
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RA can also affect the organs, including the skin, eyes, and heart.
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Hypothyroidism and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis and underactive thyroid disease often coexist.
People with RA have an increased prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease during the first five years before diagnosis.
The risk increases around the time of diagnosis and decreases two to five years after diagnosis.
The opposite is also true.
Research shows people who have hypothyroidism are at a higher risk for developing RA.
In particular, people with autoimmune thyroid diseases (like Hashimotos thyroiditis) have a higher risk for RA.
What Is Hypothyroidism?
Adiagnosis of hypothyroidismcan be made when there is too little thyroid hormone in the blood.
A normal thyroid is not outwardly visible and cannot be felt when pressure is applied to the neck.
Thyroid hormone is also vital to the growth and development of the human body.
Signs of hypothyroidism will develop slowly and over several years.
Hashimotos Thyroiditis
Much like RA, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease.
This condition causes theimmune systemto mistakenly attack the thyroid gland.
Over time, these attacks will destroy thyroid tissue and reduce thyroid production, leading to an underactive thyroid.
This is especially important if you have a family history of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or other autoimmune diseases.
Central Hypothyroidism
In central hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland itself is normal.
However, it is not stimulated to make the hormone TSH.
It is thought to be because of a hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland disorder.
Treatment
Treatment for hypothyroidismis the same whether or not a person has rheumatoid arthritis.
Medication
People with hypothyroidism require life-long treatment with synthetic thyroid hormone replacement.
A medication with the generic namelevothyroxineis the most common medication used.
The brand names includeSynthroid, Levoxyl, Unithyroid, and Tirosint.
Some common side effects of levothyroxine include:
In rare cases, seizures have occurred in patients starting levothyroxine.
Examples of over-the-counter NSAIDs include:
Prescription NSAIDs includemeloxicamand Celebrex (celecoxib).
Some factors that might be involved include:
Complications
Uncontrolled RA or hypothyroidism can cause complications.
Both can cause skin issues,metabolic syndrome, and decreased bone density.
In addition, both can lead to cardiovascular complications.
They can look for possible causes of your muscle and joint pain.
They can help determine which condition is causing symptoms and adjust your treatment plan.
In many cases, the cause of RA and thyroid disease is autoimmune.
Most thyroid disorders can be well-managed with medication and are not life-threatening.
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