Graves Disease (1191 words)

7 pages in length. Graves’ disease, which was named after Robert Graves in 1835, refers to the hyperactivity of the thyroid gland, considered to be one of the body’s primary regulating organs. Having an overactive thyroid produces a number of symptoms that make life most difficult to endure; however recognizing those as being indicative of Graves’ disease is not always a simple matter. Sometimes the symptoms mirror other conditions or are not readily acknowledged until being somewhat advanced so that the physical indications are more than apparent. Graves’ disease occurs when the body’s immune system causes the thyroid gland to produce more of a certain hormone than the body can use. Graves? disease is caused by an abnormal immune system response that attacks the thyroid gland, and causes too much production of thyroid hormones.

?The cause
?The signs symptoms
?Treatment
?Life expectancy
Graves? disease is caused by an abnormal immune system response that attacks the thyroid gland, and causes too much production of thyroid hormones. Some of the symptoms are eye trouble that usually word because swollen eye muscles and tissues. In some cases this can cause the eyeballs to protrude from their sockets and is a distinguishing complication of Graves’ disease. However, only a small percentage of all Graves’ patients will experience this condition, known as exophthalmos. Even among those who do, the severity of their bout with Graves’ has no bearing on the seriousness of the eye problem or how far the eyeballs protrude. In fact, it isn’t clear whether such eye complications stem from Graves’ disease itself or from a totally separate, yet closely linked, disorder. With developed exophthalmoses, the eyes may ache and feel dry and irritated. Protruding eyeballs are prone to excessive tearing and redness, because the eyelids can no longer shelter them effectively from injury.

Diagnosis and Treatment Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. Hyperthyroidism is a disorder that occurs when the thyroid gland makes more thyroid hormone than the body needs. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of the neck below the larynx, or voice box. The thyroid gland makes two thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Thyroid hormones affect metabolism, brain development, breathing, heart and nervous system functions, body temperature, muscle strength, skin dryness, menstrual cycles, weight, and cholesterol levels.
Classic symptoms comprise an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), anxiety, heat intolerance, weight loss, sweating, diarrhea, tremors, palpitations and exophthalmoses.

Having a family history
Being a woman and producing female hormones.

Experiencing extreme emotional stress or significant trauma may help trigger the disease in people who are prone to it.

Being pregnant, which affects the thyroid.

Having an infection.

Graves’ disease is more common in women and usually starts after age 20.Graves?s disease is caused by an abnormal immune system response that attacks the thyroid gland, and causes too much production of thyroid hormones. Risk factors are being a woman over 20 years old, although the disorder may arise at any age and may involve men as well. Normally, the symptoms of Graves’ disease are identical to the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, a condition that can be caused by Graves’ disease. Classic symptoms comprise an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), anxiety, heat intolerance, weight loss, sweating, diarrhea, tremors, palpitations and exophthalmos. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by a metabolic imbalance resulting from overproduction of thyroid hormones (thyrotoxicosis). Graves’ disease is rarely life-threatening.

Graves’ disease can have a result on various parts of the body such as the nervous system, eyes, skin, hair/nails, lungs, digestive system, muscles/bones and reproductive system. Graves?s disease is the most familiar cause of hyperthyroidism. The production of thyroid hormone is augmented, causing a broad range of symptoms from nervousness and restlessness to insomnia and weight loss.

In severe cases of exophthalmos, which are rare, swollen eye muscles can put tremendous pressure on the optic nerve, possibly leading to partial blindness. Eye muscles weakened by long periods of inflammation can lose their ability to control movement, resulting in double vision.

Hormones secreted by the thyroid gland control metabolism, or the speed at which the body converts food into energy. Metabolism is directly linked to the amount of hormones that circulate in the bloodstream. If, for some reason, the thyroid gland secretes an overabundance of