Juliet Cohen

Therapy For Graves Disease

Several factors can influence a person's susceptibility to Graves' disease. Hormone levels are probably important in the initiation of the disease.

Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that involves overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). It occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland and causes it to overproduce the hormone thyroxine. he other causes of thyroid hormone excess are described in other sections of this book. Excess thyroid hormone causes a widespread disturbance in metabolism, since thyroid hormone effectively regulates the metabolic level in the body.

Graves' disease is more common in women and usually begins after age 20. White and Asian populations are at higher risk than black populations. Often, the onset of Graves' disease is preceded by a traumatic event, implicating that stress may play a role in initiation. Smoking is also a significant risk factor; it is most strongly associated with the development and persistence of ophthalmopathy in Graves' disease patients. Graves disease is associated with pernicious anemia, vitiligo, diabetes mellitus type 1, autoimmune adrenal insufficiency, systemic sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Graves disease is the almost popular reason of hyperthyroidism in the United States. Graves' disease can get a consequence on many parts of the system such as the anxious structure, eyes, rind, hair/nails, lungs, digestive structure, muscles/bones and reproductive structure. Generally, the symptoms of Graves' disease are indistinguishable to the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Classic symptoms include an expanded thyroid gland (goiter), nervousness, warmth intolerance, weight departure, perspiration, diarrhoea, tremors, palpitations and exophthalmos (swelling of the tissue behind the eyeballs causing protrusion of the eyeball.

There are many therapy you can use graves disease and treat it completely. The choice of treatment depends upon the age and overall condition of the patient, the size of thyroid gland, and patient preference. Drug therapy will prescribe either methimazole (Tapazole) or propylthiouracil pills. These drugs act to prevent the thyroid from manufacturing the thyroid hormone. Radioactive iodine therapy may increase your risk of new or worsened symptoms of Graves' ophthalmopathy. Orbital radiotherapy was once a common treatment for Graves' ophthalmopathy. Taping the eyes closed at night to prevent drying may sometimes be required.

Article Tags: Graves Disease, Thyroid Gland, Thyroid Hormone, Graves' Disease

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