what is graves disease?

Basically, Graves disease is technically a state of hyperthyroidism. Often accompanying this syndrome is a condition called goiter and opthalmopathy. It is often noted in those between the ages of 20 and 45 years, though it is certainly not restricted to this age reference.

Graves disease is classed as an autoimmune disorder which is characterized by abnormal overstimulation of the thyroid gland by thyroid stimulating antibodies. For reasons which are still obscure, the body produces these antibody proteins that are artificially over stimulating the thyroid gland to produce T4, and and too much of it. These are also referred to as thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibodies. Inherently, there is an exaggerated level of thyroid hormone (T4) with a subsequent over conversion of T3 thyroid hormone. T4, for arguments sake can have a profound effect on the body’s metabolic output. Individuals with an abundant secretion of T4 can experience something called thyroid storm or thyrotoxicosis. Think of an individual with too much adrenaline. It may mimic these catecholamine states. In such cases there may be extreme tachycardia (very fast heart rate), high fever, respiratory difficulties (oxygen starvation), uncontrolled anxiety, exaggerated sweating,restlessness, delirium and sometimes death due to heart failure (thromboembolism). Important; before the thyroid is treated (this condition is considered an emergency when severe), heart drugs (propranolol) might be priortiy to avoid heart failure.

If I may, the disease has been associated with a class 1 chain related gene A. (MICA) (Histocompatibility complex). If this gene is not altered, Grave’s disease may be prevented, so research has nearly confirmed.

Once suspected, ultrasound, biopsies or MRIs and other tests are commonly considered, to rule out malignant changes.

Conclusively, the goal of treatment is to reduce the T4 level, via radioactive iodine, partial or total surgery. Antithyroid drugs such as propylthiouracil and methimazole, block the conversion of T4 to T3 (true thyroid reagent). Treatment will be tailored in most cases.

Perhaps you are interested in an opposing condition, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, (hypothyroidism) This is autoimmune in nature as well. Tissue specimens of abnormal thyroids are quite interesting when studied in the lab. Hope this helps a little.

What are symptoms of Graves disease?

I have Graves’ disease and I have no symptoms at all. It was identified when routine blood tests showed that my thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was too low to be measured. That showed that I have hyperthyroidism, then additional blood testing and nuclear medicine scanning confirmed Graves’ disease. The following was copied from the Mayo Clinic website, listing most if not all symptoms and signs seen in people with Graves’:

Symptoms

Common signs and symptoms of Graves' disease include:

•Anxiety and irritability

•A fine tremor of the hands or fingers

•Heat sensitivity and an increase in perspiration or warm, moist skin

•Weight loss, despite normal eating habits

•Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)

•Change in menstrual cycles

•Erectile dysfunction or reduced libido

•Frequent bowel movements

•Bulging eyes (Graves' ophthalmopathy)

•Fatigue

•Thick, red skin usually on the shins or tops of the feet (Graves' dermopathy)

•Rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)

•Sleep disturbance

Is Graves’ disease harmful?T

his is a specific autoimmune disease that affects the thyoid and causes one form of hyperthroidism (different from other hyperthroid disorders). This problem has other systems involved. There are 17 different possible symptoms. This hyperthyroid disorder is the only one that has eye problems attached to it. It causes “bulging eyeballs” known as exothalmos medically.

In severe forms it may also cause eye inflamation and affects the eye muscles. Another problem of Grave’s disease is Goiter, an enlargement of the throat. It can also cause blotchy painless skin problems known as Pretibial Myxedema.

Treatments include oral medicines first, then radiation therapy and later thyroid surgery. So yes it is a very serious disease that will change your life.

It can lead to heart diseases, osteoporosis which can lead to three times the fractures of others, which leads to death. There are many more ramifications to this complex disease.

What are signs of Graves disease?

Graves Disease symptoms can vary from person to person and will depend on whether one is thyrotoxic (meaning you’re very sick and very hyperthyroid) or euthyroid (normal thyroid hormone levels). Graves Disease is an autoimmune disorder where antibodies caused by the autoimmune response end up over-stimulating the thyroid and every cell in your body uses thyroid hormones so it can manifest in many ways. Basically when you’re hyperthyroid your metabolism is extremely sped up, it’s like being on speed non-stop. There are also other diseases that can manifest as a side effect of GD, such as Thyroid Eye Disease (which is when antibodies attack the muscles behind the eyeball causing inflammation that then causes the eyes to bulge out, comedian Marty Feldman had Thyroid Eye Disease).

So, symptoms include…

1-Tacchychardia (a very rapid and irregular heartbeat), this can make people feel extremely anxious and as if they’re having panic attacks, tacchycardia can eventually lead to

2-weakness from muscle wasting, when GD is severe muscles waste away and you start to feel extremely weak.

3-extreme appetite, you may find you are hungry all the time, many people actually gain weight when they have GD because their appetite increases to match their metabolic needs, if you restrict calories you will always be hungry but will lose weight very easily…some people get thin but many people do not so thinness is not actually a good indicator of GD.

4-Because your metabolism is sped up you tend to be very warm all the time, it’s easy to mistake it for having menopausal hot flashes and your hands are likely to be extremely warm all the time, you will be more sensitive to temperature in general but you are most likely to feel hotter than everyone all the time (people who are hypothyroid tend to feel cold all the time and have a hard time getting warm, hyperthyroidism is the opposite)

5-extreme emotion, you may find yourself becoming extremely emotionally sensitive and you cry or get extremely angry for no really good reason (our minds may make up an excuse but if you find yourself constantly annoyed and irrationally enraged with people or feeling overwhelmed and as if everything is dramatic, this could be a symptom of GD and not a mental health issue of it’s own…it will make any emotional, psychological or mental health issues you have harder to manage

6-problems swallowing, losing your voice or a sore throat and swelling could indicate your thyroid is enlarged and you are developing a goiter

7-what you need to do is get thyroid tests done if you think you have GD, both your Free T3 and T4 and also tested for Graves Disease antibodies to confirm that the hyperthyroidism is caused by an autoimmune disorder and not consuming way too much iodine (which can also cause hyperthyroidism and trigger Graves Disease).