For a complete list of accreditations for this course, please see the accreditation information box below the author’s bio. All states recognize our courses for accredited continuing nursing education, CNE, contact hours.
An online continuing education course for nurses, medical health professionals and others interested in understanding Hashimotos Thyroiditis disease, causes, symptoms, lab tests and treatment options from both a holistic and Western medicine approach.
Hashimotos Thyroiditis is named after Dr Hakaru Hashimoto in 1912. Dr Hashimoto described in a paper originally published in Germany a set of symptoms specific to autoimmune thyroiditis.
According to the American Thyroid Association, it is estimated that over 12 percent of the general population has a thyroid disorder, and up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. This includes thyroid cancers, nodules, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid disease.
There are three types of hypothyroidism: primary, secondary and tertiary. In secondary hypothyroidism, your pituitary gland isn’t stimulating your thyroid to produce enough hormones. In other words, the problem isn’t with your thyroid. The same is true with tertiary hypothyroidism- the hypothalamus does not produce enough TRH, or thyrotropin releasing hormone. TRH plays and important role in stimulating the pituitary to produce enough TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone.
Primary Hypothyroidism
In primary hypothyroidism, your thyroid is being stimulated properly. However, it isn’t able to produce enough thyroid hormones for your body to function properly. This means that your thyroid itself is the source of the problem. The most common cause of primary hypothyroidism is Hashimotos thyroiditis. Hashimotos thyroiditis is estimated to be the cause of over 90 percent of primary hypothyroidism.
The goal of this continuing education program is to educate all levels of providers and those interested on the autoimmune disease known as Hashimotos thyroiditis. This course will discuss how Hashimotos is diagnosed. An overview of lab tests and how they are used to diagnose and treat Hashimotos will be covered. A comprehensive holistic approach to diagnosis, treatment, and natural modalities will be covered, including nutrition, exercise and stress reduction in the treatment of this disease. Pharmacological interventions will also be discussed.
Note- The student should have a thorough understanding of thyroid anatomy and physiology before taking this course. The course “
Thyroid Gland Overview” covers the necessary anatomy and physiology needed and is highly recommended before taking this course.