Thyroid problems are incredibly common. If you have a thyroid condition, do you know what caused it? You may be surprised to learn that a common viral infection can trigger a lifelong thyroid problem. We are all exposed to viruses and you cannot avoid exposure to some viruses. The trick is to keep your immune system healthy so that you recover from the virus promptly, before it has time to harm your thyroid.

MononucleosisMononucleosis is often called Glandular fever is a contagious infection caused by the Epstein Barr virus. The infection is most common in young adults and the typical symptoms are sore throat, fatigue and swollen lymph glands in the neck. There are no medications that cure the infection. The only treatment is rest and strengthening your immune system through a healthy diet and appropriate nutrients.

Most people recover fairly quickly from Epstein Barr virus, although the illness can last several months and produce profound fatigue. The virus can affect the liver in some people, and lead to a type of hepatitis. This can cause mild jaundice (yellow tint to the skin and eyes). The Epstein Barr virus can also be a trigger of chronic fatigue syndrome in some people.

Infections can trigger autoimmune disease

The Epstein Barr virus can increase the risk of the autoimmune diseases Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Infection with certain bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites doesn’t cause an autoimmune disease directly, like a virus causes the flu. Instead, these infections are more like the straw that broke the camel’s back. They trigger the development of an autoimmune disease in a person who was at high risk of developing one.

Certain infections have been linked with specific autoimmune diseases. This is probably because certain viruses or bacteria closely resemble specific parts of the human body. Therefore after making antibodies against a specific bug; your immune system gets confused and starts making antibodies against your own body. This phenomenon is known as molecular mimicry and is a leading theory as to why autoimmune disease happens in the first place.

If a person suffers with nutrient deficiencies and stress, this can make autoimmune disease more likely to develop. Deficiencies of selenium, vitamin D, zinc and vitamin C leave you vulnerable to infections and make it harder for your body to fight them.

Chronic infections can over stimulate the immune system

If an infection lasts too long in your body, this can change the way your immune system behaves. In genetically predisposed individuals this can lead to the development of an autoimmune disease.

Almost everyone gets infected with glandular fever at some point in their life, but not everyone develops an autoimmune thyroid disease. It really depends on how your immune system deals with the infection. Chronic infections that linger in your body and continually stimulate your immune system are the worst at triggering autoimmune disease. In the case of Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the long term presence of the virus in follicular cells of the thyroid gland can lead to the production of high levels of inflammatory cytokines that eventually trigger autoimmunity. A number of studies have shown that people with autoimmune disease just don’t clear viral infections as well. They tend to persist and cause long term fatigue and immune system problems.

How do you know if you have a chronic infection?

Common symptoms of low grade long term infections include fatigue, aches and pains, foggy head, low mood, poor quality sleep and unrefreshing sleep. Again, the most effective way to address these chronic infections is to strengthen your immune system by avoiding nutrient deficiencies. Selenomune Designer Energy capsules contain nutrients to strengthen your immune system and improve energy levels.

How can you strengthen your immune system?

Eating well, getting enough rest and sleep, having purpose and meaning in your life and spending time with loved ones. It is important to find out if you are deficient in any particular nutrients, as this will make it so much harder for your body to overcome infections.

  • A healthy diet is critical. Try to prepare most of your meals yourself and base them on protein, vegetables, fruit, nuts and natural fats. Home cooked meals such as salads, soups, stews and roasts will provide your body with more nutrients than takeaway or microwave meals.
  • Raw vegetable juices are a concentrated source of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that your immune system requires. See the book Raw Juices Can Save Your Life for recipe ideas.
  • Vitamin D is important and most people aren’t getting enough. Vitamin D has so many critical benefits in your body. You make vitamin D in your body when your skin is exposed to the sun’s UVB rays. During winter, in most parts of the world it is impossible to get enough vitamin D because the sun is too weak and it’s too cold to go outside wearing very little. Not many foods contain much vitamin D, so that’s when a supplement becomes important.
  • Selenium helps fight viruses in your body. Selenium also reduces the ability of a virus to mutate into a more aggressive (virulent) form and increases the chances that the virus will stay inactive or less active and not harm you. A normally harmless (or low-pathogenic) virus can become much more destructive (virulent) in a person who is selenium deficient
  • Zinc is very important for a healthy immune system and most of my female patients are deficient. Zinc is found in red meat and seafood. Many people don’t eat enough of those foods. Zinc has powerful anti-viral effects. Zinc deficiency is harmful to white blood cells and the thymus gland. Zinc deficiency causes a decrease in natural killer cell activity and increased susceptibility to infections.
  • Try to get sufficient good quality sleep. You can be doing all the right things with your diet and exercise, but if you are continually sleep deprived and stressed out, your immune system will suffer. Most people need 7 to 8 hours of good quality sleep each night. If you regularly do not get enough sleep, it will be much more difficult for your immune system to ward off an infection, and it will take you much longer to recover. A cold that may have lasted 3 days can linger for two weeks if you don’t receive deep, restorative sleep. Just about everyone finds that magnesium improves their sleep quality and helps them to feel less stressed and anxious during the day. I typically recommend a teaspoon of magnesium powder with the evening meal.

For more information, see our books Your Thyroid Problems Solved and Healing Autoimmune Disease: A plan to help your immune system and reduce inflammation.

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