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What is Graves' Disease? |
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Symptoms
Graves’ disease is the most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism, wherein your body’s immune system mistakes your thyroid gland for a harm-causing organism, attacking and inducing it to produce thyroxine in excessive amounts. This anomaly in the body’s immune reaction can have an effect on the tissues behind the eyes, and on certain parts of the skin. Higher levels of thyroxine production can also speed up the body’s metabolism, causing further health complications. The symptoms of Graves’ disease include excessive perspiration, insomnia, goiter, heat sensitivity, and hair brittleness; a condition called Graves’ opthalmopathy is also common, causing the eyeballs to bulge outside of their protective orbits. Skin redness and inflammation may also be observed on the shins or on the feet (Graves’ dermopathy).
Causes
The immune system naturally makes use of antibodies and lymphocytes to eradicate foreign organisms and substances from the body (such as viral and bacterial organisms). With Grave’s disease, the system targets the thyroid gland, mistaking it for a harmful organism. However, a substance referred to as a thyroid receptor antibody encourages the thyroid to overproduce thyroxin, instead of destroying the gland which secretes it. Doctors are still looking for the cause of the condition, as well as the nature of the anomaly which induces the immune system to target the thyroid gland. A number of factors are believed to contribute to the development of Graves’ disease though, including a person’s genetics, gender, age, and stress levels.
Diagnosis
There are three diagnostic procedures which the doctor employs to assess if a person bears or has a chance for developing Graves’ disease. He may examine several physical conditions during an exam, such as determining if the eyes are irritated or protruded, or if the thyroid gland is inflamed. Since Graves’ disease can also speed up the metabolic rate, the doctor also checks the pulse and the level of blood pressure for any indication of trembling. A blood sample may be retrieved and examined for levels of thyroxine, as well as a substance secreted by the pituitary, the thyroid-stimulating hormone. Low levels of both substances can lead to a diagnosis of Graves’ disease. The rate at which the thyroid gland uses up iodine can also be measured; indications of a lower uptake may be a sign of hyperthyroidism.
Treatment Info
In order to treat Graves’ disease, the excessive production of thyroxine must either be reduced or stopped. Treatment may involve medications, such as beta blockers which usually ease the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, and block certain actions of thyroxine; these are usually taken along with anti-thyroid drugs like propylthiouracil or methimazole, or with radioactive iodine treatment, wherein the substance builds up on the thyroid and eventually eliminates the overproductive thyroid cells. If the patient has a low tolerance for medication, and if radioactive therapy is not an option due to certain risks, the thyroid gland may be surgically removed; and the body’s thyroxin needs will consequently be provided through medication. If the condition affects the patient’s eyes, milder symptoms may be managed with eyedrops, and severe conditions may necessitate oral medication or surgery.
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