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Things To Know When Diagnosed with Grave’s Disease

Thyroid deficiency

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce more thyroid hormone. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland, located in the neck, which produces hormones that regulate metabolism. Most often, Graves’ disease causes hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland makes more hormones than is needed.

Thyroid hormones regulate heart rate, body temperature, and metabolism in the body, but when the thyroid becomes overactive, it can harm organs such as the heart, bones, mensural cycle, fertility and muscles. Fortunately, it is one of the diseases that can be treated.

Who are at Risk?

Women are more likely than men to be affected by Graves’ disease. It usually affects people aged between 30 and 50. The disease tends to be hereditary.

A person is at risk of developing Graves’ disease if they have:

  • A family history of thyroid disease.
  • A preexisting autoimmune disease, such as Celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, etc.
  • A hormone disorder condition, such as Addison’s disease.
  • Some medical conditions such as Pernicious anemia.
  • Been suffering from Vitiligo, a skin condition that causes skin color changes.

What are the Causes?

Researchers don’t know why some people develop autoimmune disorder such as Graves’ disease. They speculate that the disorder is caused by a combination of genes and an external trigger, such as a virus. According to experts, something causes the immune system to overproduce thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI), an antibody that attaches to thyroid cells. TSI functions similarly to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a hormone produced by the pituitary gland which instructs the thyroid gland on how much thyroid hormone to produce. The TSI induces the thyroid to produce an excessive amount of thyroid hormone.

What are the Signs and Symptoms?

Certain bodily functions are stimulated through hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease symptoms include:

  • Trouble getting sleep
  • Thyroid enlargement
  • Inflammation of the eyes, causing the eyeballs to protrude from their sockets
  • A fast and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
  • Fatigue
  • Tremors in the hands
  • Intolerance to heat
  • Anxiety & Irritability
  • Muscle deterioration
  • Sudden weight loss

Rarely, individuals with Graves’ disease develop a reddish thickening of the skin on their shins, a condition known as pretibial myxedema or Graves’ dermopathy. This skin condition is usually painless and mild, but it can be painful for some people.

Graves

How is it Diagnosed?

You can take tests to confirm if you have Graves’ disease after being diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on symptoms. Among the tests are the following:

Blood Test

Thyroid blood tests assess the condition of your thyroid by measuring TSI, an antibody that induces thyroid hormone production. This test also examines the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH) in the body. A poor TSH value indicates that the thyroid gland has been producing excess hormone, which causes the pituitary gland to produce less TSH.

Radioactive Iodine Uptake (RAIU) Test

To produce thyroid hormone, the thyroid accumulates iodine from the blood. The RAIU test necessitates the ingestion of a small amount of radioactive iodine. Although ingesting a radioactive material may sound frightening, this treatment is safe because it only affects thyroid cells—the rest of the body is unaffected. A device is used to measure the amount of iodine absorbed by the thyroid gland, and a high level of iodine absorption is attributed to the presence of Graves’ disease.

Thyroid Scan

A thyroid scan is an imaging test that uses radioactive material to examine the thyroid’s function. It is typically performed by injecting a material known as technetium prior to the test, waiting a short time, and then creating images of the thyroid. During the scan, the test provider will be able to see a picture of the gland as well as the gland’s uptake pattern. This pattern aids in comprehending the gland’s operation. It can also be regarded as part of the diagnostic process, in which case if you diffuse high uptake, it is most likely caused by Graves’ disease. When there are focal areas of uptake, it is more likely that you have another type of hyperthyroidism.

During these tests, two types of antibodies associated with Graves’ disease may be detected- Thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSI) and TBII (thyrotropin binding inhibitory immunoglobulins). There will also be negative antibodies in some patients, and the diagnosis will be based on their lab results, radioiodine uptake, and thyroid scan.

What is the Disease’s Treatment & Management Procedures?

 

Graves’ disease is a chronic condition that lasts a lifetime. The thyroid gland can, however, be kept healthy through treatment. Medical treatment may even cause the disease to go into remission for a short time. Among the treatments necessary for managing Grave’s disease are the following:

 

Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers are frequently used as the first line of treatment. These medications control the heart rate and reduce the risk of heart failure until other hyperthyroidism treatments kick in.

Antithyroid Medications

These prevent the thyroid gland from producing thyroid hormone. These medications can cause skin rashes and a low white blood cell count in a small percentage of people, increasing their risk of infection. These medications can cause liver disease in rare cases.

Radiation Treatment

This procedure entails taking a dose of radioactive iodine, either in pill or liquid form. The radiation will gradually destroy the thyroid cells over a period of 2-3 months. It is critical to understand that the rest of the body is not exposed to radiation when this procedure is used. As a result, the thyroid shrinks and hormone levels normalize. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, on the other hand, should avoid this treatment.

Surgery

Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or a portion of the thyroid. Some people generate insufficient thyroid hormone after surgery, resulting in hypothyroidism. In such cases, they must take thyroid hormone replacement medications for the rest of their lives.

Graves

What is the prognosis for those suffering from Graves’ disease?

Keeping thyroid hormones within a recommended range can be difficult for people who have Graves’ disease. Treatments are frequently effective, but they are not without side effects. Following treatment, some people generate insufficient thyroid hormone and might even require thyroid hormone replacement therapy for the rest of their lives.

When to call us?

If you have Graves’ disease or experience the following symptoms, please contact us at Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals via our website or phone number:

  • Severe Muscle weakness
  • Rapid and irregular heartbeat
  • Fever
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Pain or pressure in the eyes.
  • Skin rash or itchiness that suggests medication allergy.
  • Persistent sore throat
  • Double Vision.

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