What is “Graves disease”?

Graves disease can be described as the most common form of hyperthyroidism, which occurs when a person’s immune system erroneously attacks the thyroid glands in the body, causing them to over produce the thyroxine hormone. A higher level of thyroxine in the body could lead to a considerable increase in a person’s metabolic rate, which can have numerous effects on a person, ranging from the physical appearance, to the moods.


Fortunately, graves disease is not very serious and it can develop in men and women at any age. However, graves disease symptoms in women would usually become evident after the age of 20. While there is no way of preventing the immune system from attacking the thyroid gland, there are certain graves disease treatments that can help reduce the production of the thyroxine hormone.


This also controls the graves disease symptoms to a great extent.

Graves disease symptoms

There are several signs and symptoms that have been associated with this condition. Some of the common graves disease symptoms include:

• Frequent bowel movements
• Anxiety 
• Irritability 
• Goiter or enlargement of the thyroid gland 
• Sleeping difficulties 
• Changes in hair texture or brittle hair 
• Fatigue 
• Loss in weight for no apparent reason 
• Higher sensitivity to heat 
• Irregular heartbeat or high heart rate 
• Excessive perspiration
• Tremor in the hands or fingers
• Eyes bulging past their eye sockets (exophthalmos) 
• Swelling and reddening of the skin (graves dermopathy)
  

One of the graves disease symptoms in women includes a change in menstrual cycles. The symptoms of graves disease that should be checked by a doctor without any delay are weight loss, tremors, protruding eyes, excessive anxiety, heat intolerance and an enlarged thyroid gland. People who experience heartbeat related problem should preferably visit the emergency room right away.

Graves disease treatments

Graves disease treatments cannot prevent the immune system from producing those antibodies, which lead to the disease. However, there are certain graves disease treatments that can help reduce the amount of thyroxine hormones produced by the thyroid gland. This further helps alleviate the signs and symptoms to a considerable extent. Some of the graves disease treatments include:

• Beta blockers: These medications do not cure thyroid, but are quite effective in blocking some of the action of the thyroid hormones. Beta blocker medications include atenolol, propranolol, nadolol and metoprolol, mainly for relieving symptoms like elevated heartbeat, tremors and nervousness.

• Anti-thyroid medicines: These medicines prevent the thyroid gland from overproducing hormones. Anti-thyroid medication treat usually goes on for at least a year. However, there could be certain health effects associated with long-term use of these medicines. Moreover, the risks of a relapse are fairly high.

• Radioactive iodine treatment: The body requires iodine, to create the thyroid hormone. When a person goes through radioactive iodine treatment, the iodine gets collected in the thyroid gland and destroys the overactive thyroid cells over a period of time. However, there are several risks associated with this form of treatment.

• Surgery: People who do not think that any of the other graves disease remedies are suitable generally decide to go in for a surgery in which the thyroid gland is removed. However, there are certain risks with this form of treatment too and thyroxine treatment may be required after the surgery.

Graves disease diet

Choosing the right diet is very important for graves disease patients, who are trying to manage their weight. Hence, doctors recommend following a proper graves disease diet, which includes:

• Whole grains
• Fruits
• Vegetables 
• Lean meats
  

The consumption of red meats and foods that are high in carbs should be restricted in a graves diet. Additionally, drinking a lot of water can help a person remain well hydrated.