What is Graves’ Disease? What are the symptoms of Graves’ disease?

Graves’ disease is an immune system condition that affects the thyroid gland. It causes the body to produce too much thyroid hormone. This condition is called hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormones affect many organs in the body. Symptoms of Graves’ disease can also affect these organs. Anyone can get Graves’ disease. However, it is more common in women and people over the age of 30. The onset of symptoms of Graves’ disease is usually gradual and usually takes several weeks or months to develop. Graves’ disease causes hyperthyroidism, which speeds up certain body functions. Hyperthyroidism has many symptoms. You may experience some of these symptoms but not others, or you may experience many of them at the same time. Treatment for Graves’ disease helps reduce the amount of thyroid hormone the body produces and relieves symptoms. Up to half of people with Graves disease also experience Graves’ ophthalmopathy, an inflammatory eye condition that can lead to vision loss if left untreated.

What is Graves’ Disease?

The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck. It naturally produces adequate thyroid hormone using iodine from food sources to help control metabolism, weight, body temperature, heart rate, menstrual cycles, and other body functions. Thyroid hormone production is governed by the pituitary gland, which produces thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH); This is the hormone that essentially tells the thyroid to produce higher or lower levels of hormones depending on the body’s needs at a particular time.

When a person has Graves’ disease, the immune system produces antibodies that mistakenly cause the thyroid to overproduce thyroid hormone. These antibodies are known by two names: thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) and/or thyroid-stimulating antibodies (TSAb). These antibodies encourage the thyroid to continue producing thyroid hormone despite the controls exerted by the pituitary gland. As a result, people with Graves’ disease produce more thyroid hormone than the body needs.

What are the symptoms of Graves’ disease?

Graves’ disease often causes symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease can also affect your eyes and skin. Symptoms may come and go over time. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism may vary from person to person and may include;

Graves’ disease symptoms for young people:

• Sleep problems as well as anxiety or irritability
• Breast enlargement in men (possible)
• concentration problems
• burnout
• frequent bowel movements
• hair loss
• Heat intolerance and increased sweating
• Increased appetite despite weight loss
• Irregular menstrual periods in women
• Muscle weakness in the hips and shoulders
• Mood swings, including irritability and anger
• Palpitations (the feeling of a strong or unusual heartbeat)
• Inability to get or maintain an erection, called erectile dysfunction
• Mild tremors in hands or fingers.
• Shortness of breath during activity
• weight loss

Many people with Graves disease have problems with their eyes;

• The pupils may appear protruding and may be painful.
• Eyes may become irritated, itchy or teary more often.
• Double vision may be present.
• In severe cases, decreased vision and damage to the cornea may also occur.

Older people may experience the following symptoms:

• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• chest pain
• Memory loss or decreased concentration
• Weakness and fatigue

Rarely, people with Graves’ disease experience skin darkening and thickening. It is most often seen on the shinbone or upper part of the feet. Its skin has a texture similar to orange peel. This is called Graves’ dermopathy. It is caused by protein accumulation in the skin. It is mostly mild and painless.

What Causes Graves’ Disease?

Causes of Graves’ disease Although it is not yet known, researchers believe that some people have a genetic predisposition to this condition and that this autoimmune disease may develop after exposure to one or more external triggers;

• viral infections
• bacterial infections
• Changes in hormone levels (in women)
• Iodine levels are higher than normal

How Is Graves Disease Diagnosed?

To diagnose Graves’ disease, the doctor may review medical history, perform a physical examination, and order one or more diagnostic tests. During the physical exam, the doctor checks for signs of hyperthyroidism, such as increased heart rate, unexplained weight loss, hair loss, and bulging-looking eyes. Additionally, the neck area may be examined to check for signs of an enlarged thyroid gland.

Graves’ disease diagnosis The following tests can be used for:

• Blood tests: Blood tests are performed that can determine whether the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) are produced at normal levels. In Graves’ disease, T4 and T3 are elevated while TSH is low (suppressed). They may also indicate the presence of thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) antibody, which is elevated in people with Graves’ disease.
• Thyroid scan with radioactive iodine: The body needs iodine to produce thyroid hormones. This test involves taking a small amount of radioactive iodine. A special scanning camera then shows how much iodine has entered the thyroid gland. This test can show how quickly the thyroid gland takes up iodine. The amount of radioactive iodine the thyroid gland receives helps indicate whether the cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves’ disease or another condition. This test can be used in conjunction with a radioactive iodine scan to show a picture of the uptake pattern.
• Doppler ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to detect increased blood flow to the thyroid due to Graves’ disease. The doctor may order this test in cases where taking radioactive iodine is not a good option (for example, during pregnancy or breastfeeding).

How Is Graves Disease Treated?

Graves’ disease is a chronic health problem. Therefore, there is no definitive cure, but some treatment methods can help manage this condition: There are two purposes in the treatment of Graves’ disease. The first is to stop your thyroid gland from producing excess thyroid hormone. The other is to prevent increased thyroid hormone levels from causing problems in your body. There are various treatment options to achieve one or both of these goals.

Graves’ disease treatment includes:

• Beta blockers: Beta blockers such as propranolol and metoprolol are often the first choice in treating Graves’ disease. These medications regulate the heart rate and protect the heart until other hyperthyroidism treatments are effective. These medications do not stop thyroid hormone production.
• Antithyroid medications: Antithyroid medications, such as methimazole and propylthiouracil, block your thyroid’s production of thyroid hormone. In a small percentage of people, these medications cause skin rashes and low white blood cell counts, which can increase your risk of infection. Rarely, liver disease develops.
• Radioiodine therapy: This therapy involves taking a dose of radioactive iodine in pill or liquid form. Over two to three months, radiation gradually destroys thyroid gland cells. (The rest of your body is not exposed to radiation.) As your thyroid gland shrinks, hormone levels return to normal. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not receive this treatment. If you receive this treatment, you will likely eventually develop hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), which requires medication. However, hypothyroidism is easier to treat than hyperthyroidism and causes fewer long-term health problems.
• Surgery: Thyroidectomy involves surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. After surgery, some people produce too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism).

Antithyroid drug therapy, radioiodine therapy, and surgery all have benefits and risks, and there is no consensus in the medical community about which treatment is the best option.

What Should Not Be Consumed in Graves’ Disease?

Nutrition in Graves’ diseaseIt is extremely important as it helps manage and reduce the symptoms of the disease. People with this disease should consult a specialist to determine which foods should be avoided. Foods that should not be consumed in Graves’ disease and drinks are as follows;

• Seafood and seafood additives: Sea fish, seaweed, shrimp, crab, lobster, sushi, carrageenan, agar, seaweed, etc. products should be avoided.
• Foods and additives high in iodine: It has been observed that when there is an excessive amount of iodine in the body, this can trigger symptoms of hyperthyroidism in the elderly or cause the disease to progress in those who already have a condition. These foods can be listed as iodized salt, iodized water, eggs and foods containing eggs.
• Medications containing iodine: Amiodarone, cough syrups, medical contrast dyes, herbal supplements, any vitamins or supplements containing iodine
• Ingredients containing gluten (potential food allergens): Such as wheat, barley, malt, rye.
• black cumin molasses
• soy products
• Substances containing caffeine, such as coffee, soda, tea, and chocolate (these can aggravate anxiety, nervousness, rapid heartbeat, tremors, and weight loss)