Hashimoto’s Disease & Thyroid Health in Grand Rapids, MI

Hashimoto’s disease is one of the most common causes of hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) in adults. In Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, many people live with this autoimmune thyroid condition—often without realizing it for years.

Local endocrinologists at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health frequently diagnose and manage Hashimoto’s disease. Understanding the condition can help you know when to seek care and what to expect from treatment.

What Is Hashimoto’s Disease?

An Autoimmune Thyroid Condition

Hashimoto’s disease (also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, or autoimmune thyroiditis) is an autoimmune disorder. This means your immune system, which normally protects you from infections, mistakenly attacks your own thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland:

  • Sits at the front of your neck, just below the larynx (Adam’s apple)
  • Has two lobes that wrap around the trachea (windpipe)
  • Produces hormones that control metabolism, energy use, growth, and body temperature

In Hashimoto’s disease:

  • Immune cells and antibodies attack thyroid tissue
  • The gland becomes inflamed (thyroiditis)
  • Thyroid cells are gradually damaged and destroyed
  • Over time, the thyroid cannot make enough hormones, leading to hypothyroidism

This process usually happens slowly over many years, which is why symptoms can be subtle or missed.

How the Thyroid Normally Works

The thyroid makes two main hormones:

  • Thyroxine (T4)
  • Tri-iodothyronine (T3)

These hormones are controlled by a “chain of command” in the brain:

  1. Hypothalamus – senses hormone levels and releases TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone)
  2. Pituitary gland – responds to TRH by releasing TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)
  3. Thyroid gland – responds to TSH by making and releasing T4 and T3

When T4 and T3 levels drop, the pituitary releases more TSH to “tell” the thyroid to work harder.

In Hashimoto’s disease, the thyroid is damaged and cannot respond properly to TSH. The pituitary keeps sending more TSH, but the thyroid cannot produce enough T4 and T3, resulting in hypothyroidism.

Causes and Risk Factors of Hashimoto’s Disease

The exact cause of Hashimoto’s disease is unknown, but research suggests a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Possible contributors include:

  • Genetics and family history

    • Hashimoto’s often runs in families
    • If close relatives in West Michigan have thyroid disease or other autoimmune conditions, your risk is higher

  • Sex and age

    • More common in women
    • Risk increases with age, especially middle-aged and older adults

  • Immune system triggers

    • A virus or bacterium may trigger an abnormal immune response
    • Certain infections or immune challenges may play a role

  • Other autoimmune conditions

    • People with type 1 diabetes, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus are at higher risk

  • Environmental factors in Michigan

    • Iodine intake (too high or too low)
    • Possible environmental exposures
    • Chronic stress, which can affect immune balance

While Michigan’s cold winters and long dark months don’t cause Hashimoto’s disease, they can worsen symptoms of hypothyroidism like fatigue, cold intolerance, and low mood—making it especially important for Grand Rapids residents to have their thyroid checked if they notice these changes.

Symptoms of Hashimoto’s Disease

Hashimoto’s disease often progresses slowly. Many Grand Rapids patients are diagnosed only after routine blood work at a primary care clinic or during evaluation for other health issues.

Common Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person and depend on how underactive the thyroid has become. They may include:

  • Fatigue and low energy that doesn’t improve with rest
  • Feeling unusually cold, especially in Michigan winters
  • Constipation
  • Sudden or unexplained weight gain despite no major diet changes
  • Dry, coarse skin
  • Dry, brittle hair or hair loss
  • Swollen face or puffiness around the eyes
  • Fluid retention (edema) in hands, feet, or legs
  • Stiff, painful joints, especially in the hands, feet, and knees
  • High blood cholesterol that doesn’t improve with diet alone
  • Voice changes, such as persistent hoarseness
  • Cognitive and emotional changes, including:
    • Depression
    • Forgetfulness or “brain fog”
    • Trouble concentrating
  • Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goitre) – a visible or palpable swelling in the neck

Symptoms in Women

Women in Grand Rapids may also notice:

  • Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia)
  • Irregular periods
  • Reduced sex drive (low libido)
  • Difficulty conceiving or fertility issues

When There Are No Symptoms

Sometimes, Hashimoto’s disease causes no obvious symptoms. The condition may be discovered:

  • During a routine physical exam
  • While investigating high cholesterol, fatigue, or depression
  • Through screening in pregnancy

This is one reason regular check-ups with your Grand Rapids primary care provider are important, especially if you have a family history of thyroid disease.

Complications of Untreated Hashimoto’s Disease

If Hashimoto’s disease is not diagnosed and treated, long-term low thyroid hormone levels can lead to serious health problems.

1. Goitre (Enlarged Thyroid)

  • The thyroid may enlarge as it tries to respond to high TSH levels
  • The neck can look swollen, sometimes as if a “tennis ball” is under the skin
  • In severe cases, a large goitre can cause:
    • Difficulty swallowing
    • Trouble breathing, especially when lying down

2. Emotional and Mental Health Problems

  • Increased risk of depression and anxiety
  • Worsening of seasonal mood changes, which can be significant in West Michigan’s long, dark winters
  • Cognitive issues like memory problems and slowed thinking

3. Heart and Cholesterol Problems

  • Low thyroid hormone levels raise LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
  • Increased risk of:
    • Heart disease
    • Heart attack
    • Heart enlargement
    • Heart failure in severe, prolonged cases

4. Pregnancy and Birth Complications

For women in Grand Rapids who are pregnant or planning pregnancy:

  • Untreated Hashimoto’s disease increases the risk of:
    • Miscarriage
    • Preterm birth
    • Birth defects, including cleft palate and heart, kidney, or brain malformations
  • Proper thyroid management before and during pregnancy is essential for both mother and baby

5. Myxoedema (Severe Hypothyroidism)

Myxoedema is a rare but life-threatening complication of untreated hypothyroidism.

Symptoms and signs can include:

  • Extreme tiredness and weakness
  • Unnatural sleepiness or drowsiness
  • Very low body temperature and extreme sensitivity to cold
  • Confusion or decreased level of consciousness
  • Coma in the most severe cases

Myxoedema is a medical emergency. In Grand Rapids, this requires immediate care at an emergency department such as Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

How Hashimoto’s Disease Is Diagnosed in Grand Rapids

If you live in the Grand Rapids area and have symptoms of hypothyroidism or a family history of thyroid disease, your provider may recommend:

1. Medical and Family History

  • Review of symptoms (fatigue, weight changes, cold intolerance, mood changes)
  • Discussion of:
    • Family history of thyroid or autoimmune diseases
    • Medications
    • Pregnancy plans or current pregnancy
    • Other health conditions

2. Physical Examination

  • Checking your neck for an enlarged thyroid (goitre)
  • Evaluating skin, hair, reflexes, heart rate, and swelling
  • Assessing mental status and mood

3. Blood Tests

Common blood tests ordered by Grand Rapids clinics and labs include:

  • TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) – usually high in Hashimoto’s-related hypothyroidism
  • Free T4 (thyroxine) – often low
  • Free T3 (tri-iodothyronine) – may be low or normal
  • Thyroid antibodies, such as:
    • Anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies
    • Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies

High levels of thyroid antibodies strongly suggest autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease).

You can have these tests done through local health systems like Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health, or community clinics. The Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can also help connect uninsured or underinsured residents with testing resources.

Treatment for Hashimoto’s Disease in Grand Rapids, MI

With proper treatment, the outlook for most people with Hashimoto’s disease is excellent.

Thyroid Hormone Replacement

The main treatment is synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine), a medication that replaces the missing thyroxine (T4).

Key points:

  • Taken as a pill, usually once a day
  • Dose is individualized based on:
    • Age
    • Weight
    • Severity of hypothyroidism
    • Pregnancy status
    • Other medical conditions and medications
  • Most people need to take it for life

Medication does not cure Hashimoto’s disease, but it restores normal thyroid hormone levels, which:

  • Improves energy
  • Helps normalize weight
  • Lowers cholesterol
  • Protects heart health
  • Supports mood and cognitive function
  • Reduces or stabilizes goitre in many cases

Monitoring and Follow-Up

Your Grand Rapids provider will order regular blood tests to:

  • Check TSH and sometimes free T4 levels
  • Adjust your dose as needed

Monitoring is especially important:

  • During the first year of treatment
  • In pregnancy
  • After major weight changes
  • When starting or stopping certain medications

Stopping your thyroid medication will usually cause symptoms to return over time. Always talk with your doctor before changing or stopping any thyroid medicine.

When Surgery Is Considered

Surgery is not common for Hashimoto’s disease but may be necessary if:

  • The goitre is very large
  • There is pressure on the windpipe or esophagus
  • You have trouble breathing or swallowing
  • There is concern about nodules or possible cancer

In these cases, your primary care provider or endocrinologist may refer you to a thyroid surgeon within one of the Grand Rapids health systems.

Living With Hashimoto’s Disease in West Michigan

Most people in Grand Rapids with Hashimoto’s disease lead full, active lives with appropriate treatment and follow-up.

Practical Tips for Local Residents

  • Stay consistent with medication

    • Take levothyroxine at the same time each day, usually on an empty stomach
    • Avoid taking it at the same time as calcium or iron supplements, which can interfere with absorption

  • Schedule regular check-ups

    • Follow your provider’s recommendations for blood tests
    • Keep appointments with your primary care doctor or endocrinologist

  • Watch for seasonal changes

    • Michigan winters can amplify fatigue, cold intolerance, and low mood
    • If symptoms worsen seasonally, discuss possible dose adjustments with your provider

  • Support overall health

    • Eat a balanced diet
    • Stay physically active, even indoors during snowy months
    • Prioritize sleep and stress management

Where to Get Help for Thyroid Problems in Grand Rapids

If you think you may have Hashimoto’s disease or hypothyroidism, contact:

  • Your primary care provider
    • Family medicine or internal medicine clinics across Grand Rapids
  • Endocrinologists (thyroid specialists) at:
    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health

For community support and access to care:

  • Kent County Health Department – can help connect residents to affordable thyroid testing and treatment
  • Grand Rapids Public Health resources – offer information on chronic disease management and local clinics

Seek urgent medical care at a local emergency department if you or someone you know with severe hypothyroidism develops:

  • Extreme drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Very low body temperature
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Loss of consciousness

Key Points About Hashimoto’s Disease in Grand Rapids

  • Hashimoto’s disease is a common cause of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid).
  • It is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland.
  • Symptoms often develop slowly over many years and may go unnoticed.
  • Some people have no noticeable symptoms and are diagnosed through blood tests.
  • The thyroid makes two main hormones – thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) – which are essential for metabolism and energy.
  • Untreated Hashimoto’s disease can lead to goitre, heart problems, depression, pregnancy complications, and rarely myxoedema.
  • Diagnosis is based on medical history, physical exam, and blood tests for TSH, T4, T3, and thyroid antibodies.
  • Treatment with synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine) is usually lifelong and highly effective when monitored regularly.

If you live in Grand Rapids, MI, and recognize these symptoms or have a family history of thyroid disease, talk with your healthcare provider about thyroid testing and management options. Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve your long-term health and quality of life.