Graves Disease

By Jessica Salas and Bryana Ybarra

What is Graves disease

Graves' disease is an immune system disorder that results in the
overproduction of thyroid hormones. Graves' disease may affect anyone,
it's more common among women and before the age of 40.

Causes and Risk factors

Cause: Disorders like Graves disease, the immune system begins to fight against healthy tissues and
cells in your body. Your immune system usually produces proteins known as antibodies in order to
fight against foreign invaders like viruses and bacteria. In Graves disease, your immune system
mistakenly produces antibodies called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins that target your own
healthy thyroid cells. Although scientists know that people can inherit the ability to make antibodies
against their own healthy cells, they have no way to determine what causes Graves disease or who
will develop it.
Risk Factors: The disease is typically found in people younger than 40. Your risk also increases
significantly if family members have Graves disease. Women develop it seven to eight times more
frequently than men.

Heredity (passing of traits from parent to offspring)

Stress
Age
Gender

Signs and Symptoms

Goiter (enlarged thyroid)

Trouble sleeping
Irritability or nervousness
Heat sensitivity, increased sweating
Hand tremors
Rapid heart beat
Thinning of skin or fine brittle hair
Frequent bowel movements
Weightloss
Fatigue or muscle weakness
Light menstrual flow and less frequent
periods
Problems getting pregnant

Eye changes
Reddening and thickening of the skin,
often on the shins and top of feet

These symptoms can occur slowly or very

suddenly and are confused with other health
problems. Others may not experience any
symptoms.

Quick Check for Understanding

What are some symptoms of Graves Disease?

Diagnosis
To diagnose Graves disease your doctor could use several test to find out
if you do have graves disease.
Thyroid function tests- blood sample is sent to lab to see if your body
has right amount of thyroid hormone.
Radioactive iodine uptake- tells how much iodine the thyroid takes
up
Antibody test- blood sample is sent to a lab to look for antibodies that
suggest Graves disease.

Treatment
There are 3 main treatments for Graves Disease:
Antithyroid medicine
Methimazole
Propylthiouracil
These drugs keep the thyroid from making too much thyroid hormone.
MMi is the preferred drug for most non pregnant people. These drugs
are generally not used for more than 1 or 2 years.

Prevention
The key to prevention is to watch for the onset of Graves
disease in the family and know that there is a chance to get
it later in life. Many environmental effects seem to trigger
the genetic potential and help it come to life. People who
are at the highest risk from Graves disease should try to
live their lives as healthy as possible. It is important to
avoid stress and incorporate various relaxation techniques
into everyday routine. Stress is one of the main
environmental causes of autoimmune diseases, but simple
methods such as breathing exercises, yoga, and relaxation
therapy can help to reduce the stress and live more calmly.
One should also try to avoid smoking and other unhealthy
habits. Keeping away from toxins from tobacco, foods and
environment can dramatically increase ones chances of
preventing Graves disease.

Prognosis
Graves disease often responds well to treatment. Many patients remain well after a single
course of anti-thyroid drugs, but recurrence can happen at any time. Radioactive iodide is
very effective, but often results in abnormally low levels of thyroid hormones. Surgery also
can cause low levels of thyroid hormones. The eye signs of Graves' disease tend to improve
with anti-thyroid drug treatment. However, some element of the staring appearance often
remains. Without getting the correct dosage of thyroid hormone replacement,
hypothyroidism can lead to:

Depression
Mental and physical sluggishness

Weight gain

How it affects the Endocrine system

It affects the endocrine system by the overproduction of thyroid hormones.

Quick Check for understanding

One way to prevent Graves Disease?

Works Cited
Graves' disease - Mayo Clinic
" Graves' Disease - Mayo Clinic ".Mayoclinic.org. N. p., 2016. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.

Graves' Disease
"Graves' Disease". Healthline. N. p., 2016. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.

Prevention of graves disease | General center | SteadyHealth.com

"Prevention Of Graves Disease | General Center | Steadyhealth.Com".Ic.steadyhealth.com. N. p., 2011. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.