See also . . .
Autoimmune
Diseases
Thyroid Disease
What is Graves’ disease?
Graves'
Disease is a type of autoimmune disease in which the immune system
over stimulates the thyroid gland, causing hyperthyroidism. Over-activity
of the thyroid gland is also sometimes called "diffuse toxic
goiter." The thyroid gland helps set the rate of metabolism
(the rate at which the body uses energy), and when it is over-stimulated,
it produces more thyroid hormones than the body needs. High levels
of thyroid hormones can cause difficult side effects. This is
an extremely rare disease that tends to affect women over the
age of 20. The incidence is about 5 in 10,000 people.
What is an autoimmune disease?
An
autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system becomes
misdirected and attacks the very organs, cells, or tissues that
it was designed to protect. About 75% of autoimmune diseases occur
in women, most frequently during their childbearing years.
What are the symptoms of Graves'
Disease?
The
most common symptoms of Grave’s Disease, or thyroid over-stimulation
include insomnia, irritability, weight loss without dieting, heat
sensitivity, increased perspiration, fine or brittle hair, muscular
weakness, eye changes, lighter menstrual flow, rapid heart beat,
and hand tremors. Grave’s Disease is the only kind of hyperthyroidism
that is associated with inflammation of the eyes, swelling of
the tissue around the eyes, and protrusion, or bulging, of the
eyes. Some patients will develop lumpy reddish thickening of the
skin in front of the shins called pretibial myxedema. This skin
condition is usually painless. The symptoms of this disease can
occur gradually or very suddenly and are sometimes confused with
other medical problems. Women can have Grave’s Disease and
have no obvious symptoms at all.
How do I know if I have this disease?
The
only way to positively know if you have Graves' Disease is to
visit your doctor. Your doctor will perform a simple blood test
that will be able to tell if your body has the correct amount
of thyroid hormones.
What is the treatment for this
disease?
There
are many treatments for Graves' Disease.
Medications:
There are some prescription medications that can lower the amount
of thyroid hormones produced by the body, regulating them to normal
levels.
Surgery:
Part or all of the thyroid gland will be removed. In most cases,
people who have surgery for Graves' Disease will develop an under-active
thyroid (hypothyroidism), and will have to take thyroid replacement
hormones for the rest of their lives.
Radioactive
iodine: The iodine damages thyroid cells to shrink the thyroid
gland, to reduce hormone levels. Like surgery, this condition
usually leads to hypothyroidism, requiring medication for the
rest of the patient's life.
After
a diagnosis is made and a treatment is selected, you should return
to your health care provider annually to make sure that your thyroid
levels are normal and do not need to be adjusted.
What could happen if this disease
is left untreated?
If
left untreated, Grave's Disease can lead to more serious complications,
including birth defects in pregnancy, increased risk of a miscarriage,
and in extreme cases, death. Graves’ Disease is often accompanied
by an increase in heart rate, which may lead to further heart
complications.
For More Information . . .
You can find out more information about Graves' Disease by contacting
the National Women's Health Information Center (800-994-9662)
or the following organizations:
Thyroid Center
Phone: (800) 227-CPMC
Internet address: http://cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/thyroid/
Thyroid Foundation of America
Phone: (800) 832-8321
Internet Address: http://www.tsh.org/
The Thyroid Society, Inc.
Phone: (800) 849-7643
Internet Address: http://www.the-thyroid-society.org/
