Graves Disease

Graves Disease






Excess of secretion of thyroid hormones may cause Grave’s disease. Thyroid hormone is responsible for the normal growth of the body and Hypothyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormones) can cause various disorders in the body including Grave’s disease. It would significantly affect the well being of the person in many ways.

This disease is commonly found in adult women who are above 40 years and the consequences are serious and sometimes life threatening.

Symptoms :

Anxiety, irritation, Weight Loss, enlargement of thyroid gland, trembling fingers or hands, rapid heartbeat, profuse sweating, heat sensitivity, lack of sleep, irregular bowel movements, reduced sex drive, missing of monthly periods and change in skin color are some of the signs of this disease.

This disease may also affect your eyes causing Grave’s opthalmopathy where one can have symptoms of dryness, irritation in the eyes, bulging of eyes, watery eyes, inflammation of the eyes, pressure inside the eyes, gritty or sand like sensation in the eyes, vision problems, sensitivity to light and ulcers on the tissue surrounding the eyes.

In case the disease affects the skin it is called Grave’s dermopathy which can cause irritation on the skin, redness and thickened layer of the skin on the shins and feet area. It is very much necessary to seek prompt medical care if you have any of the above symptoms.

Causes :

Exact cause of Grave’s disease is not known. However many doctors believe that it is caused by weakened immunity or auto immune disorder wherein the body’s own immune system will start attacking the healthy cells thereby destructing them. The body produces antibodies for destroying one’s own cells triggering from thyroid gland.

When this happens, the normal production of thyroid hormone from the pituitary gland is affected and a special hormone by name Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody (TRAB) is released in excess quantity. It would deactivate the normal functions of thyroid resulting in excess of thyroxin causing hypothyroidism.

Due to over production of hormone, the body’s metabolism is affected resulting in abnormal functions of heart and nervous system causing rapid heartbeat, fever, muscular rigidity and disturbance in menstrual cycle.

The very same impact can affect the tissues of the eyes causing inflammation and pressure of tissues that surrounds the eyes.

Who are at risk ?

Grave’s disease does not spare any gender but women are largely affected with this disease when compared with men. People who have family history of this disease are likely to get this disorder. People who have underlying medical conditions like autoimmune disorder of AIDS, Diabetes or arthritis are at more risk than healthy individuals for getting Grave’s disease.

Smoking habit can normally affect the immunity of the person increasing the risk. Pregnant women will obviously have more of hormones and hence are at the risk of developing this disease. Any factors that increase the risk affect people who are genetically predisposed to this disease.

Complications :

If not treated in time, Grave’s disease can produce irreversible damage. When pregnant women are affected with this disease it can affect the infant’s growth causing premature birth or other complications in the child. People with this disorder for long can get Heart Attack or Stroke since it affects the normal functions of the heart. In case the heart fails to get enough blood it can cause Congestive Heart Failure.

In rare cases, Grave’s disease can cause a condition called thyroid storm in which there would be excess production of hormone resulting in tremor, fatigue, confusion, rapid heartbeat and in severe condition can cause coma.

Diagnoses :

The doctor will look for the above symptoms and will do a routine blood culture for checking the level of thyroid stimulating hormone. For some patients, he may do radioactive iodine uptake procedure for determining the thyroid level.

Pictures of Graves Disease :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Graves Disease

Treatment :

For many people, radioactive iodine is given orally which would block the overproduction of thyroid hormone. The thyroid gland would eventually shrink leading to reduction in the hormone production. However this method can take several weeks or even months to get completely cured. This treatment can cause side effects like inflammation of the eyes, vision problem, tender neck and lack of sex drive. The ultimate purpose of the treatment is to reduce the quantity of thyroid hormone.

Anti thyroid medicines like methimazole or propylthiouracil are given. You need to continue taking medicines as per the doctor’s advice, failing which Grave’s disease may relapse.

For some cases, beta blockers like atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol are used to control the effects of thyroid hormone in the body thereby reducing the symptoms like increased heartbeat, tremor, anxiety and bowel problems.

In case the person does not respond to any of the above methods, surgery is done to remove the thyroid gland (thyoridectomy). However he should take treatment for getting normal doses of thyroid hormone for the rest of his life.

For people who have got affected in their eyes due to this disease, ophthalmologists would give suitable drugs like corticosteroids for reducing inflammation or perform orbital decompression surgery or orbital radiotherapy for correcting the eye problems.

Graves Disease – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Diet, Pictures

Graves Disease – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Diet, Pictures

What is Graves Disease?

Named after an Irish doctor, Robert Graves in the 19th century, Graves’ disease is described as an autoimmune medical condition characterized by a serious imbalance in metabolism known as thyrotoxicosis and hyperthyroidism, resulting from overproduction of thyroid hormones. In this condition, the patient’s neck is diffusely enlarged and is hyperactive, thus, manufacturing too much thyroid hormone. The disease process involves the activation of the TSH-receptor by TSHR-Ab, in that way, the thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion and thyroid enlargement are stimulated.

Rarely, Graves’ disease is life-threatening. It is also the most common cause of spontaneous thyrotoxicosis representing about 60 to 90% of all origin of thyrotoxicosis worldwide. It can affect anyone, at any age, but more commonly; this disease affects women before forty years of age.

Graves Disease Symptoms

In general, the symptoms manifested by a patient with Graves’ disease are one and the same to the symptoms experienced by a patient with hyperthyroidism. These are virtually always the result from the direct and indirect effects of hyperthyroidism. Classic symptoms include:

• A diffusely enlarged, usually symmetric, non-tender thyroid gland


• Anxiety


• Nervousness


• Increased perspiration


• Weight Loss despite normal or similar eating habits


• Sweating


• Diarrhea / Frequent bowel movements


• Tremors


• Rapid or irregular heartbeat such as palpitations and arrhythmias such as sinus tachycardia, Atrial Fibrillation and premature ventricular contractions


• Exophthalmia


• Heat intolerance

It can also manifest with any or all of the following:

• Shortness of breath with exertion


• Proximal Muscle Weakness


• Back pain, increased risk for fractures


• Fatigue


• Difficulty in concentration


• Irritability


• Insomnia


• Pretibial myxEdema


• Double vision


• Muscle wasting


• Increased appetite


• Worsening diabetes control


• Easy bruising


• Increased eye tearing and irritation


• Infrequent menstrual periods


• Hair loss


• Erectile dysfunction


• Brittle nails

Graves Disease Causes

The primary cause for the production of the antibodies is undetermined. Given that this condition is autoimmune in origin which appears all of a sudden, doctors assume that an infection, either caused by viruses or bacteria, can activate the antibodies which cross-react with the human TSH receptor through a process known as antigenic mimicry.

Eventhough Yersinia enterocolitica seems not to be the main cause of this condition; it can still play a role in the occurrence of thyroid autoimmunity. Other individuals may have a hereditary predisposition to have TSH receptor autoantibodies in the system after adequate stimulation by factors.

Graves Disease Treatment

Treatment will depend on the patient’s age and overall condition, size of the thyroid gland and the patient’s preference. At present, there are about three modes of treatment. These include medications that slow down the production of thyroid hormones and which provide relief from symptoms, the administration of radioactive iodine to destroy a segment of the thyroid gland, in that way, reducing hormone production and lastly, surgical removal of a section of the thyroid gland.
Drug therapy
For symptomatic purpose, beta blockers like propranolol atenolol, metoprolol and nadolol are prescribed to impede sympathetic nervous system symptoms such as tachycardia, tremors, anxiety, irritability, sensitivity to heat, excessive perspiration, muscle weakness and nausea up to the time the antithyroid medications begin to take effect. Patients suffering from Asthma are not prescribed with beta blockers because these medications initiate attacks. Diabetic patients are also contraindicated because the drug can complicate diabetes. The drug must not also abruptly discontinued; doing so would cause patients to develop heart irregularities.

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The doctor will include methimazole and propylthiouracil in the treatment plan in order to prevent thyroid from producing thyroid hormones. These medications can result to drowsiness and minor exhaustion. This form of therapy is safe and restores hormones to normal level within a few months. Rarely, these may result to agranulocytosis.

Radioactive iodine therapy
If pharmacological therapy fails, attempts to treat the condition can be tried using radioactive iodine therapy as alternative treatment. A capsule or water containing the radioactive iodine is drank by a patient. Once swallowed, the radioiodine is rapidly absorbed by the thyroid cells which have previously become overactive. They then become destroyed by the radiation, therefore, diminishing the thyroid hormone produced. After a few days, the radioactivity fades away from the body. Pregnant woman should not undergo radioactive iodine therapy since this can negatively affect the developing fetus.

Surgery
The thyroid gland or a segment of it can be surgically removed through thyroidectomy. In cases when only a single nodule is producing excessive thyroid hormone, then only a small part of the gland is surgically eliminated. When the problem is the entire gland being overactive, which is more frequently the case, then, a total thyroidectomy is necessary.

Surgery is indicated for patients with a large Goiter especially when trachea is compressed or when enlargement continually worsens even after drug therapy or if there is a presence of a suspicious nodule or cancer. Those who are contraindicated to undergo the radioactive iodine therapy such as those pregnant women and young patients are suited for this modality.

Graves Disease Diet

The total amount of iodine found in the diet can have an effect on the hormonal synthesis activity in the thyroid gland. Therefore, diet is a particularly critical component in controlling the condition. To put it simply, given the idea that thyroid hormone is made up from iodine atoms, and with the patient’s condition where hormones are excessively produced, the vital step to do is to avoid dietary intake of iodine-rich foods. Avoiding foods especially those which are extremely high in iodine, including iodized salt, seaweed, kelp, shellfish and beef liver, must be observed.

Safe foods for patients with Graves’ disease include

• Fresh fruits


• Dried fruits


• Unsalted nuts


• Nut butters without salt


• Jams and jellies


• Fresh vegetables except broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts, corn, asparagus and kale


• Fresh, lean meats


• Whole grain products with verified low iodine content


• Apple sauce


• Grain pastas


• Egg whites


• Decaffeinated brewed coffees and tees

Graves Disease Pictures