Graves disease is an autoimmune disease which mean that your body's own immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland causeing it to swell abnormaly large. In some cases causing the eyes to bulge out of their sockets. If this disease is not treated it could be life threatening. Without treatment ninety percent of patients die in the week that they are diagnosed with Graves.
Graves' disease can be genetic, but you can also develop it even if it does not run in the family. The people who get this disease varies. People who are most likely to get this disease are middle aged women who have a history of Graves's disease in their family. People can also get this disease if they are a middle aged male, teenager (of any gender), or a young child. In those cases it is less common but still is possible. The survival rate for people who are properly treated is eighty-five percent. The disease can be brought under control in about eight weeks with proper treatment and anti-thyroid drugs. Usually you need to take the medicine for at least a year. If the disease is not treated right away the person has a seventy-five percent chance of permanent damage to the thyroid gland and the eyes. Without treatment people have a fifty percent chance of death and a ninety-six percent chance of severe damage to the throat and the eyes.
People with Graves’ disease may have some of the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Such as nervousness, irritability, fatigue, muscle weakness, heat intolerance, restless sleep, hand tremors, irregular heartbeat, frequent bowel movements, weight loss, and an enlarged thyroid that may cause the neck to look swollen. In addition, the eyes of people with Graves' disease may appear enlarged because they bulge out from the eye sockets. This condition is called Graves’s ophthalmopathy. A small number of people with Graves' disease also experience thickening and reddening of the skin on their shins.
Patients who experience these symptoms should go to a doctor, Graves' disease specialist, or someone who is certified to help you with Graves' disease. Getting examined right away is crucial in preventing the disease from getting worse. Once you are officially diagnosed you go through many tests and treatments. One of the main tests is the ultrasensitive TSH test. TSH is usually the first test a doctor performs. This test detects even tiny amounts of TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) in the blood and is the most accurate measure of thyroid activity. TSH causes the enlarging of the thyroid gland in your neck. Another blood test used to diagnose Graves’ disease measures T3 and T4. These are substances in the blood that makes it easier for doctors to tell if someone has Graves' disease. In making a diagnosis, doctors look for below-normal levels of TSH, normal to elevated levels of T4 and elevated levels of T3. The combination of these low and high levels can occur with other thyroid problems. Doctors may order other tests to finalize the diagnosis. Two of these tests are based on the fact that the thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormones.
Doctors may also consider the thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin test, although it is not necessary to diagnose Graves’ disease. The TSH antibody test, measures the level of TSI in the blood. Most people with Graves’ disease have this antibody, but people whose hyperthyroidism is caused by other conditions do not. Graves is a disease that does not have stages. If the disease worsens the patient is required to take more medication.
No treatment is yet available to stop the production of anti-bodies that cause hyperthyroidism but treatment can help patients have more normal levels of thyroid hormone and control symptoms. Doctors may prescribe medicine but surgery may also be required in addition to other procedures. Doctors may prescribe one or more of the three treatment options: radioiodine therapy, thyroid drugs, or thyroid surgery. Radioiodine Therapy is the most commonly used treatment for Graves’ disease in the United States.
Doctors may also prescribe a drug called a beta blocker to reduce symptoms until other treatments take effect. Beta blockers act quickly to relieve symptoms such as hand tremors, rapid heartbeat, and nervousness. These drugs act by blocking the effects the thyroid hormone has on the body, but they do not stop thyroid hormone production.
Surgery is the least-used option in treating Graves’ disease. However, doctors sometimes choose surgery to treat pregnant women who cannot tolerate anti thyroid drugs. Surgery is also used for people in whom thyroid cancer is suspected or in cases where other forms of treatment fail. Graves’ disease itself does not cause cancer.
There are many long term effects of this disease such as rapid heart rate, increasing amounts of calories needed during the resting hours of a patient, and the risk of the disease coming back again. In some cases the effects can even lead to Death. Patients should not have many complications if they seek treatment early enough and follow up with their doctor at least every other month.
Graves' disease can be genetic, but you can also develop it even if it does not run in the family. The people who get this disease varies. People who are most likely to get this disease are middle aged women who have a history of Graves's disease in their family. People can also get this disease if they are a middle aged male, teenager (of any gender), or a young child. In those cases it is less common but still is possible. The survival rate for people who are properly treated is eighty-five percent. The disease can be brought under control in about eight weeks with proper treatment and anti-thyroid drugs. Usually you need to take the medicine for at least a year. If the disease is not treated right away the person has a seventy-five percent chance of permanent damage to the thyroid gland and the eyes. Without treatment people have a fifty percent chance of death and a ninety-six percent chance of severe damage to the throat and the eyes.
People with Graves’ disease may have some of the common symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Such as nervousness, irritability, fatigue, muscle weakness, heat intolerance, restless sleep, hand tremors, irregular heartbeat, frequent bowel movements, weight loss, and an enlarged thyroid that may cause the neck to look swollen. In addition, the eyes of people with Graves' disease may appear enlarged because they bulge out from the eye sockets. This condition is called Graves’s ophthalmopathy. A small number of people with Graves' disease also experience thickening and reddening of the skin on their shins.
Patients who experience these symptoms should go to a doctor, Graves' disease specialist, or someone who is certified to help you with Graves' disease. Getting examined right away is crucial in preventing the disease from getting worse. Once you are officially diagnosed you go through many tests and treatments. One of the main tests is the ultrasensitive TSH test. TSH is usually the first test a doctor performs. This test detects even tiny amounts of TSH (Thyroid stimulating hormone) in the blood and is the most accurate measure of thyroid activity. TSH causes the enlarging of the thyroid gland in your neck. Another blood test used to diagnose Graves’ disease measures T3 and T4. These are substances in the blood that makes it easier for doctors to tell if someone has Graves' disease. In making a diagnosis, doctors look for below-normal levels of TSH, normal to elevated levels of T4 and elevated levels of T3. The combination of these low and high levels can occur with other thyroid problems. Doctors may order other tests to finalize the diagnosis. Two of these tests are based on the fact that the thyroid gland uses iodine to make thyroid hormones.
Doctors may also consider the thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin test, although it is not necessary to diagnose Graves’ disease. The TSH antibody test, measures the level of TSI in the blood. Most people with Graves’ disease have this antibody, but people whose hyperthyroidism is caused by other conditions do not. Graves is a disease that does not have stages. If the disease worsens the patient is required to take more medication.
No treatment is yet available to stop the production of anti-bodies that cause hyperthyroidism but treatment can help patients have more normal levels of thyroid hormone and control symptoms. Doctors may prescribe medicine but surgery may also be required in addition to other procedures. Doctors may prescribe one or more of the three treatment options: radioiodine therapy, thyroid drugs, or thyroid surgery. Radioiodine Therapy is the most commonly used treatment for Graves’ disease in the United States.
Doctors may also prescribe a drug called a beta blocker to reduce symptoms until other treatments take effect. Beta blockers act quickly to relieve symptoms such as hand tremors, rapid heartbeat, and nervousness. These drugs act by blocking the effects the thyroid hormone has on the body, but they do not stop thyroid hormone production.
Surgery is the least-used option in treating Graves’ disease. However, doctors sometimes choose surgery to treat pregnant women who cannot tolerate anti thyroid drugs. Surgery is also used for people in whom thyroid cancer is suspected or in cases where other forms of treatment fail. Graves’ disease itself does not cause cancer.
There are many long term effects of this disease such as rapid heart rate, increasing amounts of calories needed during the resting hours of a patient, and the risk of the disease coming back again. In some cases the effects can even lead to Death. Patients should not have many complications if they seek treatment early enough and follow up with their doctor at least every other month.