Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism

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Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism
One of the primary causes of hyperthyroidism is Graves' Disease. Graves' Disease, an autoimmune illness that sees an individual's thyroid gland as a foreign item invading the body and produces antibodies to attack the gland. This causes the thyroid gland to produce a greater than typical amount of thyroxine. As a person's thyroxine level increases, the body's metabolic rate increases also. A higher metabolism rate can lead to a number of health issues, including irregular heartbeat and anxiety disorders.

Graves' Disease happens mainly in middle-aged women, but it has also been known to happen in children and the elderly. There is said to be a genetic predisposition of the illness, but the cause stays unknown.

Symptoms of Graves' Disease include a sensitivity to heat, weight reduction, brittle hair, restlessness, muscle weak point, increased hunger, tremors, blurred or double vision, anxiety, soreness and swelling of the eyes, fatigue, changes in heart beat and sex drive. While Graves' Disease is an incurable condition, it is not life threatening and can extremely well be treated with anti-thyroid drugs, radioactive iodine, or surgery to eliminate most of the thyroid gland.

While most individuals seem to do well on anti-thyroid medication, surgery might just be the best option in certain circumstances, such as individuals that have issues where the thyroid gland is interfering with the ability to swallow. Radioactive iodine destroys part or all of the thyroid gland and renders it incapable of overproducing thyroxine. The treatment consists of swallowing a pill including radioactive iodine. Side results are minimal and the treatment is fairly painless.

More serious problems of Graves' Disease are damaged heart muscle that can lead to heart failure, osteoporosis, or possible extreme emotional disorders. However, these problems are only likely to appear if Graves' Disease is extended, untreated, or incorrectly treated. By visiting your doctor for an examination and discussing your symptoms and treatment options for Graves' Disease long previously your symptoms begin to turn serious, you can safely treat Graves' Disease and live happier and healthier knowing that although there is no remedy for Graves' Disease, it can be effectively treated.


One of the primary causes of hyperthyroidism is Graves' Disease. Graves' Disease, an autoimmune illness that sees an individual's thyroid gland as a foreign item invading the body and produces antibodies to attack the gland. By visiting your doctor for an examination and discussing your symptoms and treatment options for Graves' Disease long previously your symptoms begin to turn serious, you can safely treat Graves' Disease and live happier and healthier knowing that although there is no remedy for Graves' Disease, it can be effectively treated.