Graves Disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid in the UK. It tends to be more common amongst women aged between 30 and 50 years old and those who have a family history of the disease. In essence Graves Disease is an autoimmune disease which means that it comes about as a result of antibodies from the immune system attacking the body. The antibodies are known to mimic the activity of TSH, the hormone produced by the thyroid, causing the thyroid to over produce. This leads to hyperthyroidism and a consequences are various symptoms.
The main symptoms brought about by Graves’ Disease include weight loss despite increased appetite, intolerance to heat and increased sweating, tremor or shaking, anxiety and a feeling of nervousness, irritability or emotional, increased heart rate or palpitations, muscle weakness, frequent bowel movements, irregular periods, tiredness and poor sleeping patterns, loss of hair, shortness of breath, dry, irritable eyes often red and sore, and swelling of the thyroid gland itself in the neck.
On average about one in 20 people diagnosed with Grave’ disease will develop Graves’ ophthalmopathy which is a thyroid eye disease. The muscle in the eyes and the surrounding tissue swell up giving the eyes a bulging appearance. It severe cases eyeball movement is restricted and the patient may suffer with extreme double vision. This form of Graves’ disease can either present itself around the same time as the main symptoms of Graves’ disease or sometime after.
Fri, Jul 17, 2009
Diseases