Graves' disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. When you have this condition, your immune system assaults your thyroid and leads it to produce more thyroid hormone than your body requires.

Located near the front of the neck, the thyroid is a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland. Every organ in the body is affected by thyroid hormones, including how your heartbeats.

If hyperthyroidism is left untreated, it may lead to heart, bone, muscle, menstrual cycle, and reproductive issues. Pregnant women with untreated hyperthyroidism are at risk for various health issues, including those of their unborn child. Eye and skin problems are also possible with Graves' illness.

 

Prevalence of Graves' disease

Graves' disease most often causes hyperthyroidism in the United States. One in every 200 persons is infected with the illness.

 

Risk of developing Graves' disease

However, Graves' illness may affect anybody, regardless of age. Seven to eight times as many women have the condition as males. There is an increased risk of Graves' disease in families with a history of the illness.

Those with other autoimmune diseases are at greater risk of developing Graves' illness. Graves' disease-related conditions include

 

Symptoms

·       Rapid and irregular heartbeat

·       Frequent bowel motions or diarrhoea

·       Goiter

·       Heat intolerance

·       Agitation or irritability

·       Weariness or muscular weakness

·       Shaky hands

·       Difficulty sleeping

·       Weight loss

Pretibial myxedema, also known as Graves' dermopathy, is a rare complication of Graves' disease that occurs on the shins of a small percentage of patients. Most people don't experience any discomfort from this condition. However, it may be excruciating for individuals.

 

Causes

Some individuals get autoimmune diseases like Graves' disease for unknown reasons. Genes and an external trigger, such as a virus, are likely to be involved in developing several illnesses.

In Graves ' disease, an antibody known as thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) adheres to thyroid cells. Pituitary-derived TSI mimics the effects of TSH, which instructs the thyroid to increase the production of thyroid hormone. The overproduction of thyroid hormone is a side effect of TSI.

 

Treatment

You may choose between medication, radioiodine therapy, or thyroid surgery to address your condition. The most prevalent treatment for Graves' illness in the United States is radioiodine therapy; however, physicians increasingly use medication. As a patient, your doctor may prescribe a particular therapy based on criteria such as whether you are pregnant or have other medical issues.

 

Radiation treatment

A capsule or liquid form of radioactive iodine-131 (I-131) is used in radioiodine treatment. I-131, with a larger dosage than that used for imaging studies, gradually kills the thyroid gland's cells that make thyroid hormones. The dosage of I-131 used in radioiodine treatment does not affect other tissues in the body.

 

Medicines

When used in conjunction with other therapies, beta-blockers may alleviate symptoms while still allowing your thyroid to continue generating thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism may cause various symptoms, such as tremors, a fast heartbeat, and increased anxiety. When beta-blockers are used, most individuals see an improvement within a few hours.

 

Thyroid-suppressing drugs

To treat hyperthyroidism, antithyroid treatment is the most straightforward option. Antithyroid medications reduce the amount of thyroid hormone produced by the thyroid gland. These treatments don't normally give a long-term cure, but the effects continue even after they stop taking them in some individuals. Doctors most often prescribe antithyroid medications. methimazole

Make sure you tell your doctor if you're taking iodine supplements and what foods you should restrict or avoid. Cough syrups and multivitamins may include iodine, so let your doctor know about them.

 

References

1)    Wémeau JL, Klein M, Sadoul JL, Briet C, Vélayoudom-Céphise FL. Graves' disease: Introduction, epidemiology, endogenous and environmental pathogenic factors. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2018 Dec;79(6):599-607. 

2)    Hussain YS, Hookham JC, Allahabadia A, Balasubramanian SP. Epidemiology, management and outcomes of Graves' disease-real life data. Endocrine. 2017 Jun;56(3):568-578. 

3)    Girgis, C.M., Champion, B.L. and Wall, J.R. (2011) 'Current Concepts in Graves' Disease', Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2(3), pp. 135–144.

4)    Pokhrel, B. and Bhusal, K. (2022) 'Graves Disease', in StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

---

Find articles related to: Medicine Telehealth Health


More articles about General Health Tips & News

Back to the Health Tips Index