Grey’s Anatomy’s Camilla Luddington Opens Up About Living with Hashimoto’s Disease: Exploring Its Causes

Camilla Luddington is best known for her role as Dr. Jo Wilson on the hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy. She recently opened up about an important health issue she’s been facing, Hashimoto’s disease. The actress shared her personal journey of getting diagnosed with this autoimmune disorder, shedding light on a condition many might not fully understand. Read ahead to know more about her diagnosis and the causes of the same. 

Camilla Luddington’s on Living with Hashimoto’s

In an episode of her podcast Call It What It Is, co-hosted with fellow Grey’s Anatomy alum Jessica Capshaw, Luddington revealed that she had been feeling unusually tired and sluggish for months. “I often joked about being a bit ‘slothy,’” she said. “I love to nap and often just want to be in bed. It never crossed my mind that there might be a medical reason for this.” After routine blood work, her doctor flagged “one little thing” that turned out to be Hashimoto’s disease.

Hearing the term “autoimmune disease” initially worried her, but she found some relief in learning the condition is quite common. “That sucks, but okay,” she reflected. Since the diagnosis, she has been taking medication to manage her symptoms and has slowly returned to exercising. She also urged listeners to be cautious about medical advice from social media and to consult professionals instead.

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What is Hashimoto’s Disease?

Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease, which is also known as Hashimoto thyroiditis. It indicates that thyroid gland cells are being attacked by the body's immune system, which thinks of the cells as a threat to the body. The thyroid is a tiny butterfly-like organ in the neck, which is responsible for producing some hormones that boost the functioning of various body activities such as energy and metabolism levels.

With time, the immune attacks result in inflammation and damage that reduces the speed at which the thyroid gland produces sufficient hormones, resulting in hypothyroidism, a condition associated with low thyroid hormone. Typical symptoms are:

• Weakness and slowness
• Probably greater sensitivity to cold
• Hair Loss and dry skin.
• Weight gain
• Pain in the muscles and joints
• Depression or fatigue mood shifts
• Memory problems and constipation

What Causes Hashimoto’s Disease?

The precise cause is a bit of an enigma, although it is held to consist of a mixture of genetic and environmental influences:

• Genetic predisposal: The possibility of having a thyroid or other autoimmune disease as a family history increases the risk. This condition is connected to specific genes of the immune system regulation.
• Environmental factors: These are infections, radiation, excess intake of iodine and perhaps stress.
• Other considerations: Women have a far greater chance of getting Hashimoto's and are more likely in middle age or after childbirth. There is a greater risk among individuals with other autoimmune ailments.

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Conclusion

The publicity over Camilla Luddington's diagnosis of Hashimoto's reminds viewers that dysfunctions are often intricate and frequent conditions in autoimmune diseases. Foundations such as thought to be mere tiredness or early signs of ageing can instead turn out to be of a medical nature, which may need due attention. With appropriate diagnosis and remedy, most individuals can live relatively normal lives and control their symptoms.