Known for his emblematic role of Jo Wilson in Grey’s Anatomy, Camilla Luddington broke a taboo by publicly evoking an intimate subject. Wednesday August 6, the 41 -year -old British actress engaged in an episode of the Podcast Call it what it isthat she co-hosts with her colleague Jessica Capshaw, alias Arizona Robbins in the series.
The star reveals to be affected by a thyroid disease
It was at the turn of a discussion on well-being that she revealed from Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune pathology affecting the thyroid gland. She explains that she had a simple medical check-up before starting new projects. “I had lots of projects, and I said to myself: ‘Do you know what? I will put everything in order and I will do my blood tests to make sure that everything is fine ‘“.
The analyzes finally revealed an unexpected diagnosis: “My doctor told me that everything was fine, except a little problem “. This “little problem” turned out to be a hypothyroidism caused by Hashimoto’s disease.
“”I remember hearing the words ‘Autoimmune disease’ and said to myself: ‘What is this brothel?’ “she says, still marked by the news. “”He told me that Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism was very common“, She adds, quoting the reassuring remarks of her doctor.
“”It’s been about two and a half months, it’s still very recent“, She continues in the podcast. Without pretending to understand everything, she wishes to put her notoriety at the service of better visibility of this disease, to help other people not feel isolated.
A frequent but little known disease: Hashimoto thyroidite
Hashimoto’s disease, also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is an autoimmune condition. The immune system turns against the thyroid gland, as it was a foreign body, disturbing its ability to produce essential hormones.
“”In a few rare cases, the disease, which normally translates into hypothyroidism, that is to say a decrease in the quantity of thyroid hormones in the blood, will manifest itself in an increase in them, at the start. Then hypothyroidism will in turn settle, secondly“, explained Dr. Jean-Marc Comas, endocrinologist, in a previous article.
The disease sometimes begins with an unusual sensation in the neck or an painless increase in the volume of the thyroid. In general, it manifests itself by progressive hypothyroidism.
Symptoms, diagnosis and risks associated with Hashimoto’s disease
Among the most frequent signs of Hashimoto thyroidite, we find:
- Great fatigue;
- An unexplained weight gain;
- A puffy face;
- Soud fingers;
- Persistent constipation;
- Joint pain;
- Heart rhythm disorders;
- Frequent mood swings.
These symptoms are linked to a deficit in thyroid hormones. A blood analysis can reveal a high level of TSH (thyreostimulin), a hormone that the body produces to stimulate the thyroid. “”This means that she had a lack of thyroid hormones T3 and T4, her body therefore secured more TSH to push the thyroid to produce it, without success“, Specifies Jean-Marc Comas.
The diagnosis is also based on a dosage of specific antibodies. “It is a dosage of anti-thyroid and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies that signs the disease“Indicates the endocrinologist.”This therefore makes Hashimoto’s disease difficult to follow from an epidemiological point of view “.
Pathology is much more frequent in women: they are 15 to 20 times more affected than men. This disruption of the immune system can be triggered by viral or toxic factors. It is sometimes accompanied by other pathologies.
“”People who have a hashimoto are more likely to develop lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system or other autoimmune pathologies, such as rheumatoid arthritis, for example. But fortunately, it is not systematic“Concludes Jean-Marc Comas.