Hashimoto’s vs. Hypothyroidism: What’s the Difference?

You may have heard the words Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism and wondered, “Aren’t they the same thing?” They are closely connected, but they are not the same. Let’s break it down in a simple way so you can understand the difference—and why it matters.

What Is Hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism means your thyroid is underactive. It’s not making enough thyroid hormones. These hormones help your body with energy, mood, and metabolism. When they’re too low, you might feel:

• Tired all the time

• Cold, even when others aren’t

• Foggy or forgetful

• Frustrated with weight gain

Hypothyroidism is the condition you have when your thyroid is not working well.

What Is Hashimoto’s?

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease. That means your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid, thinking it’s a threat. Over time, this damage can cause your thyroid to stop working properly—and that leads to hypothyroidism.

So here’s the key: Hashimoto’s is the cause, and hypothyroidism is the result.

Why the Difference Matters

Most regular doctors only test TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). If it’s too high, they’ll say you have hypothyroidism and give you medication. But they might not check for Hashimoto’s, even though it’s the #1 cause of hypothyroidism.

Functional medicine doctors do it differently. They check for thyroid antibodies to see if Hashimoto’s is the real problem. Then, they look deeper to find what’s triggering the immune system—like stress, gut health issues, or food sensitivities.

What You Can Do

• Ask for a full thyroid panel, including thyroid antibodies.

• Learn if your immune system is involved—it changes how your thyroid should be treated.

• Work with a doctor who looks at the whole picture, not just one lab number.

Knowing the difference between Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism will allow you to take better care of your overall health.