Graves' Disease

 

Thyroid hormones control the rate of many activities in your body. These include how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. All of these activities are your body's metabolism. Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder, is the most common cause for hyperthyroidism.

 

 

Common causes are:

1. Thyroiditis

2. Consuming too much iodine

3. Taking too much synthetic thyroid hormone

 

 

The symptoms can vary from person to person. They may include:

1. Being nervous or irritable

2. Mood swings

3. Fatigue or muscle weakness

4. Heat intolerance

5. Trouble sleeping

6. Hand tremors

7. Rapid and irregular heartbeat

8. Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea

9. Weight loss

 

 

Your doctor will do a physical exam, look at your symptoms, and suggest thyroid tests.

 

 

Treatment includes:

1. Medicines

2. Radioiodine therapy

3. Thyroid surgery