Graves’s disease is caused by an abnormal immune system response that attacks the thyroid gland, and causes too much production of thyroid hormones. Risk factors are being a woman over 20 years old, although the disorder may arise at any age and may involve men as well. Normally, the symptoms of Graves’ disease are identical to the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, a condition that can be caused by Graves’ disease. Classic symptoms comprise an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), anxiety, heat intolerance, weight loss, sweating, diarrhea, tremors, palpitations and exophthalmos.

Thyroid storm, a complication of Graves’ disease, may lead to life-threatening heart, liver, or kidney failure. Thyroid storm begins suddenly and may be caused by a stressful event. The signs and symptoms of thyroid storm comprise extreme irritability, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, vomiting, high fever, delirium and coma. Left untreated, it can be fatal. Treatment involves alleviation of symptoms and correction of the thyrotoxic state. Beta-blockers such as propranolol are frequently employed to treat symptoms of rapid heart rate, sweating, and anxiety until the hyperthyroidism is controlled.

Hyperthyroidism is treated with antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine, or surgery. Thyroidectomy is surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. Surgery is the preferred treatment for people with a huge goiter who chronically relapse after drug therapy. Other treatment of Graves ‘disease includes antithyroid drugs which diminish the production of thyroid hormone. Taping the eyes closed at night to prevent drying may sometimes be required. Sunglasses and eye drops may reduce irritation of the eyes. Rarely, surgery may be required to return the eyes to their normal position.

Graves’ disease is named after the Irish physician who described several cases in the London Medical Journal in 1835. In some cases, Graves’ disease goes into remission or disappears completely after several months or years. Similar antibodies may also attack the tissues in the eye muscles and in the pretibial skin (the skin on the front of the lower leg). There’s also a genetic influence contributing to Graves’ disease and it can run in families. In the case of Graves’ disease, the body sees the thyroid gland as the foreign object and produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. This will often (but not in all cases) cause the thyroid gland to become over active. Graves’ eye disease is currently believed to be due to a similar autoimmune reaction. Graves’ disease can have an effect on many parts of the body such as the nervous system, eyes, skin, hair/nails, lungs, digestive system, muscles/bones and reproductive system. Although many patients with Graves’ disease have redness and irritation of the eyes at some time, less than 1% ever develop enough inflammation of the eye tissues to cause serious or permanent trouble. Patients who have severe eye symptoms may benefit from visiting an eye doctor. Graves’ disease is rarely fatal, and people seldom get extremely ill because of it.

Causes of Graves’ disease

The common causes and risk factor’s of Graves’ disease include the following:

An autoantibody (called thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin, TSI) that acts like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and that causes the thyroid gland to produce excess thyroid hormone.

Toxic multinodular goiter.

Toxemia of pregnancy.

Iodine excess.

Discontinuation of antithyroid medication.

Excessive thyroid medication given to hypothyroid sufferers.

Symptoms of Graves’ disease

Some sign and symptoms related to Graves’ disease are as follows:

Muscle weakness.

Heat intolerance.

Blurred or double vision.

Nervousness & irritability.

Weight loss.

Increased appetite.

Dislike of hot weather.

Itching.

Weak leg muscles.

Lighter menstrual flow.

Nervousness.

Sweating.

Increased eye tearing.

Infrequent or absent menstrual periods.

Treatment of Graves’ disease

Here is list of the methods for treating Graves’ disease:

Your doctor will prescribe either methimazole (Tapazole) or propylthiouracil (PTU) pills. These drugs act to prevent the thyroid from manufacturing the thyroid hormone.

Anti-thyroid drugs which inhibit production or conversion of the active thyroid hormone.

Surgical removal of most of the thyroid gland is the other alternative for severe cases of Graves’ disease.

Fevers are treated with cooling measures and antipyretics.

Another medication, propranolol, is a beta-blocker that helps relieve the symptoms of Graves’ disease including rapid heart rate, tremor, sweating and anxiety.

Radioactive iodine therapy: This is an alternative if drug treatment fails.

Iodinated contrast agents can also provide effective treatment for hyperthyroidism of any cause.

Graves’ disease is named after the Irish physician who described several cases in the London Medical Journal in 1835. In some cases, Graves’ disease goes into remission or disappears completely after several months or years. Similar antibodies may also attack the tissues in the eye muscles and in the pretibial skin (the skin on the front of the lower leg). There’s also a genetic influence contributing to Graves’ disease and it can run in families. In the case of Graves’ disease, the body sees the thyroid gland as the foreign object and produces antibodies that attack the thyroid gland. This will often (but not in all cases) cause the thyroid gland to become over active. Graves’ eye disease is currently believed to be due to a similar autoimmune reaction. Graves’ disease can have an effect on many parts of the body such as the nervous system, eyes, skin, hair/nails, lungs, digestive system, muscles/bones and reproductive system. Although many patients with Graves’ disease have redness and irritation of the eyes at some time, less than 1% ever develop enough inflammation of the eye tissues to cause serious or permanent trouble. Patients who have severe eye symptoms may benefit from visiting an eye doctor. Graves’ disease is rarely fatal, and people seldom get extremely ill because of it.

Causes of Graves’ disease

The common causes and risk factor’s of Graves’ disease include the following:

An autoantibody (called thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin, TSI) that acts like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and that causes the thyroid gland to produce excess thyroid hormone.

Toxic multinodular goiter.

Toxemia of pregnancy.

Iodine excess.

Discontinuation of antithyroid medication.

Excessive thyroid medication given to hypothyroid sufferers.

Symptoms of Graves’ disease

Some sign and symptoms related to Graves’ disease are as follows:

Muscle weakness.

Heat intolerance.

Blurred or double vision.

Nervousness & irritability.

Weight loss.

Increased appetite.

Dislike of hot weather.

Itching.

Weak leg muscles.

Lighter menstrual flow.

Nervousness.

Sweating.

Increased eye tearing.

Infrequent or absent menstrual periods.

Treatment of Graves’ disease

Here is list of the methods for treating Graves’ disease:

Your doctor will prescribe either methimazole (Tapazole) or propylthiouracil (PTU) pills. These drugs act to prevent the thyroid from manufacturing the thyroid hormone.

Anti-thyroid drugs which inhibit production or conversion of the active thyroid hormone.

Surgical removal of most of the thyroid gland is the other alternative for severe cases of Graves’ disease.

Fevers are treated with cooling measures and antipyretics.

Another medication, propranolol, is a beta-blocker that helps relieve the symptoms of Graves’ disease including rapid heart rate, tremor, sweating and anxiety.

Radioactive iodine therapy: This is an alternative if drug treatment fails.

Iodinated contrast agents can also provide effective treatment for hyperthyroidism of any cause.

Graves’s disease is caused by an abnormal immune system response that attacks the thyroid gland, and causes too much production of thyroid hormones. Risk factors are being a woman over 20 years old, although the disorder may arise at any age and may involve men as well. Normally, the symptoms of Graves’ disease are identical to the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, a condition that can be caused by Graves’ disease. Classic symptoms comprise an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), anxiety, heat intolerance, weight loss, sweating, diarrhea, tremors, palpitations and exophthalmos.

Thyroid storm, a complication of Graves’ disease, may lead to life-threatening heart, liver, or kidney failure. Thyroid storm begins suddenly and may be caused by a stressful event. The signs and symptoms of thyroid storm comprise extreme irritability, high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, vomiting, high fever, delirium and coma. Left untreated, it can be fatal. Treatment involves alleviation of symptoms and correction of the thyrotoxic state. Beta-blockers such as propranolol are frequently employed to treat symptoms of rapid heart rate, sweating, and anxiety until the hyperthyroidism is controlled.

Hyperthyroidism is treated with antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine, or surgery. Thyroidectomy is surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. Surgery is the preferred treatment for people with a huge goiter who chronically relapse after drug therapy. Other treatment of Graves ‘disease includes antithyroid drugs which diminish the production of thyroid hormone. Taping the eyes closed at night to prevent drying may sometimes be required. Sunglasses and eye drops may reduce irritation of the eyes. Rarely, surgery may be required to return the eyes to their normal position.