Many people wonder if it’s possible to have Addison’s disease and hypothyroidism simultaneously. Before we answer that question, I’d like to get into what these two disorders are, and what one can expect from them.
A person with Addison’s disease has low-functioning adrenal, and is characterized by fatigue, anorexia, wasting, and hyperpigmentation. Addison’s disease is an autoimmune disease, meaning your immune system attacks your adrenal glands so that you no longer make adrenal hormones, including cortisol, DHEA, and aldosterone. People with Addison’s disease often have a low-functioning thyroid as well.
Someone with hypothyroidism has a low-functioning thyroid. It can be an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks your thyroid’s production of hormones. You can also have a low-functioning thyroid without autoimmunity.
Because your hypothalamus controls both your adrenals and thyroid, it is possible to have both Addison’s and hypothyroidism. Your hypothalamus produces a master hormone called POMC, which controls the function of the adrenal glands, the thyroid, and your glucose metabolism. High stress, infections, and toxicity can affect your adrenals and thyroid, and interfere with proper functioning.
In short, it is possible to have both hypothyroidism and Addison’s disease simultaneously, and the best way to combat these conditions is to support your hypothalamus. If you want more information on Addison’s disease and hypothyroidism, please join me in our Hormone Support Group, which you can access through my free Hormone Reboot Training.
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