Graves’ disease is a form of hyperthyroidism that affects women over 20. Symptoms include bulging eyeballs, rapid heartbeat, weight loss, and sensitivity to light. It is an autoimmune disease that can cause serious complications if left untreated. Treatment options include medication, radioactive iodine, and surgery.
Graves’ disease is a form of hyperthyroidism, which means that the body’s thyroid gland produces excess thyroid hormones, leading to a variety of symptoms. This condition appears more commonly in women than in men and typically appears in women over the age of 20. Symptoms of Graves’ disease range from mild to severe; generally, treatment of some form is recommended to ensure that no serious complications occur. You may also hear this condition called exophthalmic goiter, diffuse toxic goiter, Basedow’s disease, or Parry’s disease.
The most characteristic symptom of Graves’ disease is bulging eyeballs, caused by pressure in the tissue behind the eye. Patients may also experience a rapid heartbeat, agitation, dermatitis, thickened skin, edema, weight loss, sensitivity to light, brittle hair, lighter menstrual periods, and an assortment of other symptoms. Because the bulging eyeballs associated with Graves’ disease are so distinctive, they are a common diagnostic criterion.
This disease is classified as an autoimmune disease because it is caused by a change in the immune system that causes it to randomly attack the thyroid, causing the thyroid to produce more hormones. Often the root cause of the autoimmune condition is unknown; it can be a reaction to stress, the patient’s environment, diet or medications and could also be genetic in nature. Without treatment, Graves’ disease generally gets worse and can cause complications such as vision loss, birth defects, and sometimes even death.
The condition is named after Dr. Robert James Graves, who wrote a case of a patient with a thyroid problem and bulging eyes in 1835, although it has been documented as far back as 12th century Persia. Treatments for Graves’ disease focus on relieving symptoms and trying to block the thyroid, regulating hormone production so the body can get back to normal. Beta-blockers, antithyroid drugs, and radioactive iodine can all be used in the treatment of Graves’ disease, and in extreme cases, patients may opt for surgical removal of the thyroid gland, requiring lifelong hormone replacement.
Eye problems related to Graves’ disease can sometimes be relieved with eye drops and moisturizers, although the condition may require surgery if the bulging eyeballs become too severe. Generally a doctor will discuss all options with a patient before deciding on the best course of treatment to pursue, and many doctors are happy to work with patients to develop a treatment plan that is as non-invasive as possible.
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