Graves Disease Symptoms
The thyroid is a gland found in the neck that is responsible for controlling the metabolic rate of humans as well as other animals. Graves’ disease is the most common type of hyperthyroidism (over-active thyroid). It occurs due to the immune system attacking the thyroid gland mistakenly which leads it to produce more thyroxine than needed.
When the thyroxine is released into the body, it increases the body’s metabolic rate. This means that the body goes through calories much quicker. While Graves’ disease is almost never a life-threatening disease, it can have an effect on people’s moods and their physical appearance.
Grave’s disease is most common in women beginning at around the age of 20+. However, it can develop at any age in men and women. While there is no way to stop the immune system from attacking the thyroid gland, there are treatments to help ease the symptoms and decrease the thyroxine production so that it is at a more manageable level.
While doctors don’t know the cause of Graves’ disease, they do understand how it works. The immune system attacks the thyroid gland, but releases an antibody called thyrotropin receptor antibody. Instead of destroying the gland, this antibody is released which stimulates the thyroid. This stimulation causes the thyroid to make massive amounts of the thyroid hormone.
Symptoms of Graves’ Disease
While Graves’ disease is very rarely life-threatening, the symptoms can be incredibly bothersome and that leads patients to want to ensure that the symptoms are handled. By looking at the symptoms and then conducting some tests, the doctor can determine whether the individual has Graves’ disease. Typically, a blood sample is the way to check. If there are high levels of thyroxine, but low levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the doctor can conclude that the individual has Graves’ disease.
The symptoms of Graves’ disease are:
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Tremor in hands or fingers. This tremor is typically very fine.
- Increased perspiration
- Sensitivity to heat
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Weight loss
- Brittle hair
- Enlarged thyroid gland
- More frequent bowel movements
- Menstrual cycle changes
While none of these symptoms are too dangerous to an individual, they are a nuisance. Commonly used treatments are beta blockers which block some of the action of the thyroid hormone. This, used in conjunction with anti-thyroid medications can lead the patient to go into remission of the disease. However, typically, a relapse is very common and therefore, another approach is typically used. Known as radioactive iodine treatment, this radioactive iodine goes into the thyroid (because iodine is needed to make the hormone) and it destroys the overactive gland. This causes it to shrink, but on the flip side, most people who do this will have to take a thyroxine treatment to ensure the body has enough.
