Actor Arjun Kapoor recently opened up about his personal battle with Hashimoto’s disease, a condition that affects the thyroid gland. This autoimmune disorder, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid, disrupting the hormones it produces. This leads to several physical changes, including unexpected weight gain.
Understanding Hashimoto’s Disease Hashimoto’s disease, named after Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto who first identified it in 1912, is a chronic condition that causes the thyroid to become underactive. As a result, the thyroid fails to produce enough hormones, slowing down metabolism.
A slower metabolism means that the body burns fewer calories, which can result in weight gain. This condition affects multiple systems in the body, requiring long-term management. In this disorder, the immune system mistakenly targets the thyroid gland, leading to inflammation and eventual destruction of thyroid tissue.
This damage impairs the thyroid’s ability to produce essential hormones, like T3 and T4. Causes and Risk Factors Hashimoto’s disease is thought to be triggered by a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors. While anyone can develop the condition, it is more common in women and those of middle age.
Kapoor mentioned that the condition runs in his family, highlighting the genetic link. Those with a family history of thyroid disorders or autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Type .