According to reports by the Daily Mail, a 27-year-old teacher from Long Island New York suffers from a strange condition due to which her needs for sleep are way more than ours. She sleeps for about 16 hours a day which is more than normal. According to the reports Kristen Devanna for six years suffered from various other symptoms along with severe fatigue that she almost had to sleep within an hour of waking up. The reports said the other symptoms included cracked skin and a constant feeling of cold.

She tried several failed medication and changes in her diet which were of no use. It was only much later that she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease in the year 2013, a condition that affects about 0.3-to-1.5 per 1,000 people every year.

What is Hashimoto's disease?

Hashimoto's disease is related to your thyroid(a small gland that is responsible for making and storing hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, etc. located at the base of your neck). The thyroid gland which is an integral part of our endocrine system suffers from inflammation from Hashimoto's disease. It is also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis. One of the most common causes of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's disease and affects all men, women and children.

Symptoms of Hashimoto's Disease:

Since Hashimoto causes slow and chronic damage to the thyroid and leads to a drop in the levels of thyroid hormone, therefore the signs are not of Hashimoto perse but of hypothyroidism(underactive thyroid gland). The primary sign, however, remains a swelling around your thyroid glands(goitre). Here are signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism:

  1. Chronic fatigue

  2. An elevated sensitivity towards cold

  3. Pale, dry, cracked skin

  4. Constipation

  5. Puffy face

  6. Chronic hair loss

  7. Brittle nails

  8. Extended tongue

  9. Sudden weight gain

  10. Muscle aches and stiffness

  11. Weakness

  12. Menorrhagia (Prolonged menstrual bleeding)

  13. Memory Lapses

  14. Depression

Early diagnosis is the key because if the condition is left untreated, it can lead to various health problems like mental health issues, heart issue, goitre, myxedema, etc. along with its symptoms that take a toll on your body every day.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 13, 2018 11:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).