What Does a Hashimoto’s Attack Feel Like? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Imagine that you’re preparing to do something big and exciting.

Maybe you’re about to go on the vacation of a lifetime. Or you’re packing for a conference to give a keynote that could advance your career. Maybe it’s the day before your wedding. 

Whatever it is, you’re elated and in the clouds, thinking nothing could drag you down, but then you suddenly feel like you’ve been stuffed with rocks and hit by a car. It’s your Hashimoto’s, and it is flaring up. 



In this article, we will explore Hashimoto’s attacks, their causes, and what you can do to help prevent Hashimoto’s from taking away from your life’s biggest moments.

Table of Contents

A Hashimoto’s flare-up occurs when immune activity increases, and symptoms temporarily worsen. During these episodes, Hashimoto’s disease symptoms that were previously manageable may intensify, or new symptoms may appear.



Many people notice a clear change from how they normally feel. Fatigue may become more severe, concentration may be more difficult, or physical discomfort may increase.

Common symptoms during a flare-up include:

• Fatigue and body aches
• Brain fog or memory issues
• Muscle weakness or joint pain
• Constipation
• Depression or low mood
• Hair loss or dry skin
• Sensitivity to cold
• Sudden or unexplained weight gain

In some cases, flare-ups may also cause temporary symptoms similar to an overactive thyroid, such as anxiety, rapid heart rate, irritability, or insomnia. 

Dr. Donna Sergi at HealthierU can guide you through a comprehensive and holistic nutritional treatment plan to help you take your life back. Discover the holistic power of nutrition and schedule a free consultation today. 

It can sometimes be difficult to tell whether your symptoms are part of your usual thyroid condition or a temporary flare-up. One of the clearest differences is symptom intensity. While hypothyroidism symptoms caused by Hashimoto’s disease are often ongoing and relatively stable, a flare-up usually causes those same symptoms to become noticeably worse.



In some cases, Hashimoto’s flare-ups may also briefly trigger symptoms associated with hyperthyroidism due to temporary shifts in thyroid hormone levels. If these symptoms become difficult to manage, seeking professional guidance, such as specialized hypothyroidism treatment in Brooklyn, can help patients better control their thyroid health and reduce the frequency or severity of flare-ups.

Hashimoto’s flare-ups can be triggered by a variety of factors that affect the immune system and thyroid function. While some triggers are outside your control, others are related to lifestyle, stress, inflammation, or nutritional imbalances. Understanding these common causes can help you recognize patterns in your symptoms and take steps to reduce the likelihood of future flare-ups.

#1: Inflammation

Chronic inflammation is associated with autoimmune disorders because these conditions cause the immune system to mistakenly attack the body. 

Hashimoto’s disease is one of the 80 known autoimmune disorders. So it’s no surprise that Hashimoto’s flare-ups may be caused by the acute and/or chronic inflammation caused by the disease. 

Common symptoms of inflammation and Hashimoto’s flare-ups are:

• Joint pain
• Muscle pain
• General malaise
• Edema

You may be able to avoid exacerbating inflammation caused by Hashimoto’s attacks by limiting exposure to inflammatory triggers. To keep inflammation down, experts recommend that you:

• Abstain from tobacco
• Limit or avoid alcohol
• Decrease your sugar intake
• Exercise 
• Reduce stress
• Eliminate processed foods 
• Increase your intake of anti-inflammatory foods like:



• Vegetables 
• Oily fish 
• Turmeric
• Leafy greens
• Green tea

#2: Poor Thyroid Function

Hashimoto’s disease causes your body to attack the thyroid, which gradually causes damage that limits thyroid function (hypothyroidism). Normal functioning thyroids produce thyroid hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which support metabolic needs and homeostasis. 

Without thyroid hormones, your body slows down the way it processes energy. The reduced energy production causes fatigue and other Hashimoto’s attack symptoms. To supplement the body’s inability to produce thyroid hormones, you may be prescribed a hormone supplement called levothyroxine. 

Hashimoto’s flare-ups may also sometimes be caused by incorrect dosage or interference with the medication. 

#3: Physical and Mental Stress

Physical and mental stress exacerbate autoimmune disorders, like Hashimoto’s disease, by causing:

• Worsening inflammation
• Immune dysregulation
• Hormone imbalances

Immune dysregulation and hormone imbalances can affect how much thyroid hormone is produced by your already underactive thyroid. This may trigger Hashimoto’s flare-ups and worsen current symptoms. 

#4: Vitamin and Nutritional Deficiencies 

Vitamin deficiencies have been linked to the triggering and exacerbation of Hashimoto’s disease.

Nutritional deficiencies that may further cause thyroid impairment and trigger a Hashimoto’s attack include:

• Vitamin D: Vitamin D deficiency has been correlated with higher concentrations of anti-thyroid antibodies and increased thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH). When this vitamin deficiency is addressed, antibodies and TSH levels decrease. Foods that contain high amounts of vitamin D are:

• Mushrooms
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Liver
• Soy
• Oily fish
• Fortified foods

• Zinc: Zinc is vital for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. A zinc deficiency can result in decreased hormone production and slowed metabolic rate. Foods that are high in zinc include:

• Seafood
• Red meat
• Cashews
• Chickpeas
• Oats
• Seeds
• Tofu

• Selenium: Selenium contributes to the antioxidant defense in the thyroid by helping the body remove oxygen-free radicals generated by the production of thyroid hormones. Without a proper selenium intake, thyroid antibodies become unmanaged, which means more antibodies that can attack the thyroid and cause flare-ups. Selenium is not produced by the body, so the only way to get it is through supplements and foods like:



• Pork
• Beef
• Poultry
• Fish
• Nuts
• Beans

If you are unsure of what vitamin or nutritional deficiencies may be prompting your Hashimoto’s attacks, you can always talk to your physician or a nutrition specialist. 

For over a decade, Dr. Donna Sergi has been helping Hashimoto’s patients navigate holistic nutritional healing. Not only can she provide nutritional support, but Dr. Sergi can also help you develop a lifestyle that naturally helps reduce your Hashimoto’s flare-ups and symptoms. 

Don’t suffer. Discover a new way to confront Hashimoto's attacks with Dr. Donna Sergi at HealthierU. 

Calming a Hashimoto’s flare-up usually involves addressing the factors that trigger immune system activity and inflammation. While symptoms can vary, many people find relief by focusing on lifestyle strategies that support thyroid function and immune balance. Improving gut health, adjusting diet and nutrition, and reducing physical and emotional stress are common approaches that may help ease symptoms and stabilize the body during a flare-up.

Repair Your Gut

Autoimmune conditions need all the immune support necessary to reduce attacks and flare-ups. Nearly 80% of your immune system is located in your gut. 

Thyroid disorders, like Hashimoto’s disease, are also associated with gut issues like dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is a gut imbalance that affects your microbiota and causes metabolic changes. 

Your stomach is permeable so that nutrients from food can be absorbed into the bloodstream. Gut dysbiosis can cause the gut to become leakier, to the point where it’s no longer just nutrients getting into your bloodstream. This is known as “leaky gut syndrome.” 

Leaky gut syndrome causes food molecules, toxins, bacteria, and pathogens to enter your bloodstream. In response, your immune system activates your antibodies and causes inflammation to get rid of the intruders.

Optimize Your Diet and Lifestyle



Stress and diet are said to be two of the biggest instigators of inflammation. Avoiding inflammatory foods and reinvigorating your diet with nutrients to help supplement your thyroid deficiencies may be necessary to cope with Hashimoto's disease. 

Foods that support thyroid function are:

• Fish rich in Omega-3 Fatty acids
• Nuts 
• Whole grains
• Berries
• Eggs
• Yogurt

Foods you may want to avoid to help reduce Hashimoto’s symptoms and attacks include:

• Fried foods
• Foods high in sugar
• Gluten
• Excessive alcohol
• Foods high in sodium

In patients with gluten intolerance and gastrointestinal conditions, gluten can increase gut permeability and cause leaky gut syndrome. Research has found a significant relationship between thyroid disorders and celiac diseases, as well as gastrointestinal issues like gastritis.

It is also believed that gluten molecules are similar to the structure of thyroid tissue. Through molecular mimicry, the antibodies cannot discern the body’s tissue from the foreign invaders and begin to indiscriminately attack the thyroid. 

Reduce Stress



Evidence suggests that stress management may be beneficial in reducing the anti-thyroid antibodies responsible for Hashimoto's flare-ups.

Stress reduction doesn’t have to be one big change. You can start slowly and implement practices like:

• Meditation
• Deep breathing
• Progressive muscle relations
• Yoga
• Light to moderate exercise

Hashimoto’s can make you feel like your life is out of control. 

Managing your symptoms is hard enough; you don’t need to be stressed out and further aggravate your Hashimoto’s disease. End the endless cycle of Hashimoto’s attacks and triggers with the holistic power of nutrition.



Learn about how nutrition can be a natural supplement to your Hashimoto’s treatment plan at HealthierU. 

Dr. Donna Sergi will work with you to create a nutritional plan to help support your body, mind, and immune system. Schedule your consultation today.