Grave’s disease is an autoimmune disease that can cause hyperthyroidism, which means that the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. This can affect your body’s ability to use energy, regulate your heart rate and metabolism, and maintain a healthy weight.
It’s the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in adults, and is 7 times more likely to occur in women than men. Although it usually develops in people between ages 30 and 50, it can start at any age.
The main symptom of Grave’s disease is an enlarged thyroid gland, which may be noticed on physical exams. It can also be seen on an ultrasound.
Occasionally, people with Grave’s disease have problems with their eyes. This can include eyelids that retract and protrude, a bulging of the eyes and a swelling of the eye muscles (Grave’s ophthalmopathy).
Your doctor will be able to diagnose Grave’s disease by doing a physical exam, examining your thyroid and running blood tests for high levels of thyroid hormone or a low level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. Your doctor will also look at your family history and determine if you have any other medical conditions that might be causing your symptoms, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
If you do have Grave’s disease, your doctor will prescribe anti-thyroid medicine to help control the condition and bring your thyroid hormone levels down to normal. This can take several months or even years to work, but it’s a very effective treatment option for most people.
Once your levels of thyroid hormone have gone down, your doctor will recommend other treatments to control your symptoms. These options include radioactive iodine therapy or surgery to remove the thyroid gland.
Surgical treatment is used less frequently than radioactive iodine therapy and medication. It is only used if previous treatment hasn’t worked or you have a large goiter, a bulging or enlargement of the thyroid gland.
The treatment is often successful, but it can lead to hypothyroidism, which causes a decrease in your thyroid hormone production and other symptoms. This is why you need to be monitored regularly after surgery or radioactive iodine therapy to make sure that your levels are in the normal range.
Another complication of hyperthyroidism is osteoporosis, a condition that occurs when too much calcium in your bones makes them weaker and more fragile. You can prevent this complication by eating lots of calcium-rich foods and taking calcium supplements.
Your doctor might also recommend iodine-containing seaweed, such as kelp or dulse, to improve the condition of your thyroid and help control symptoms. This can be especially helpful if you have a family history of Grave’s disease or if you are sensitive to iodine or have a high iodine intake, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
It’s also important to keep track of your symptoms and report them to your doctor if you have them. The more you let your doctor know, the sooner they can help you.
