Symptoms of Graves Disease

The most common reason for hyperthyroidism in the United States is Graves’ disease, making too much of the thyroid hormone. It is classified as an autoimmune disorder and should be treated by an endocrinologist.

Graves’ Disease Symptoms

There are typical hyperthyroidism signs for Graves’ disease that include weight loss, heat intolerance, fatigue, muscle weakness, irritability, nervousness, sleep disturbances, tremors, rapid/irregular heartbeat, and frequent diarrhea. There is also a goiter which is an enlarged thyroid that will make the neck appear larger and swollen.

Graves’ Opthalmopathy

Graves’ opthalmopathy is where those with the condition will have the appearance of larger than normal eyes due to retracted eyelids and bulging eyeballs. Not all will have this symptom. Other parts to this symptom include double vision, puffy eyelids, dry eyes, irritated eyes, sensitivity to light, difficulty moving eyes, and pain/pressure in the eyes. 25 percent of patients will have this with their diagnosis of Graves’ disease.

Grave’s Dermopathy

Graves’ dermopathy is where those with this disease have thick red skin on their shins. While painless, it can be very embarrassing for some individuals. This is another optional sign of Graves’ disease, where not all will be showing signs of it.

Treatment

This condition is treated with surgery, antithyroid drugs, or by radioiodine therapy. Patients using radioiodine therapy take oral radioactive iodine-131 to shut down the thyroid gland. More than one treatment of this type will be needed. Drugs like beta blockers will help with some of the signs like tremors and nervousness but do not stop the production of the thyroid hormone. Surgery is often not used but can be an option for those who do not respond to other treatments.

While Graves’ disease typically affects women, there are men who get the condition. If you are showing symptoms, have your doctor test your thyroid for too low or too high function. Treatment options if the diagnosis is hyperthyroidism will rest on the cause of it, like Graves disease.

Source: NIH Publication No. 08-6217, May 2008


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