In light of Gigi Hadid's recent announcement that she deals with Hashimoto's disease, many of us responded with sympathy — and a "wait, what's Hashimoto's disease?"
In sum, it's an autoimmune (an immune system disorder) disease that affects the thyroid. Quick refresher: your thyroid controls metabolism, weight, body temperature, heart rate, and your menstrual cycle. In a patient with Hashimoto's, the immune system attacks the thyroid, leading to a loss of necessary hormone production.
According to WebMD, symptoms range from pain to weight gain to fertility issues to depression.
The cause is unknown, and it affects more women than men — about one to two percent of the US population. The US National Library of Medicine attributes it to a "combination of genetic and environmental factors," and notes that the onset is typically in mid-adulthood. WebMD suggests that radiation exposure or too much iodine can be contributing factors, though genes are primarily the source.
No, but there are medications that can help regulate your hormones and get your metabolism regulated again.