{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Thyroid Mystery Solved: Hashimoto's and Hypothyroidism Revealed","title":"[Ask Inna] Your Thyroid and Hashimoto’s Questions Answered","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1063,"description":"I recently opened the door to questions about thyroid conditions and Hashimoto’s on my Instagram page. And, wow, was I flooded with really great questions. In this episode, I answer as many as I can.    The Question - How do you Shrink Your Thyroid Nodules? This was the question I got the most from my Instagram followers. Before I answer, I want to clarify a few things. There are many different types of growths on the thyroid. Many people confuse enlargement of the thyroid with nodules or inflammation. If the thyroid is enlarged in one spot, that is a nodule. However, if the whole thyroid is enlarged it’s either a goiter or thyroiditis. A goiter is caused by iodine deficiency (uncommon in the US), consumption of too many goitrogenic foods, or thyroiditis. This swelling is often painless (pain may indicate that inflammation is from a virus).  Goiter growth is fed by a high TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and also by high hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) which is present during and after pregnancy. Eventually the hCG will go back down but if the TSH level is not treated, it can continue to feed the goiter and it will continue to grow.  The first step in reducing a swollen thyroid is to get TSH levels in balance and to reduce goitrogenic foods.  As for nodules on the thyroid, these could be solid or cysts filled with fluid. About 50% of people have these and many are benign. Someone with Hashimoto’s may experience nodules during a flare up. However, it’s important to have them checked because they could lead to thyroid cancer. The good news is if the nodules are due to Hashimoto’s, addressing the root cause of Hashimoto’s can help shrink the nodules as well. For more on this, refer to past episodes 32 - Solving the Autoimmunity Mystery, and 68 - Ask Inna: Hashimoto’s Questions.   The Question - Do people with Hashimoto’s have a compromised immune system? This is a question that has popped up a lot more since the start of the pandemic. People want to know if...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/9ZbRr0xzgu8-YRnig2AcyeY_Nu_m2EBquTr83LV8K2g/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQ4NTg5LzE3MTE1/NjQxMDktYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}