Signs and Symptoms of Graves’ Disease

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune thyroid disease that manifests as hyperthyroidism. If you have Graves’ disease, your body produces autoantibodies that attack thyroid cells, and the cells respond by producing too much thyroid hormone.

Graves’ disease is different from “regular” hyperthyroidism because unlike regular hyperthyroidism, Graves’ is an autoimmune disorder with measurable thyroid antibodies. You can get a blood test that tests for the presence of thyroid antibodies to determine whether your symptoms are autoimmune in nature.   We have put together a list of signs and symptoms of Graves’ disease below.

The Most Common Signs and Symptoms of Graves Disease include:

• bulging eyes
• insomnia
• rapid weight loss
• increased appetite and sometimes enormous hunger
• the need to eat large quantities of food every few hours, even at night
• enlarged thyroid
• fatigue
• feeling hot, sweating more than usual
• a raspy, croaky voice (can also be a sign of hypothyroidism)
• hand tremors
• diarrhea
• anxiety, nervousness or panic attacks
• palpitations
• depression
• light menstrual periods
• muscle weakness, especially in the upper arms and thighs
• feeling a lump or swelling in the thyroid area
• hair loss
• sensitivity to iodine
• extreme sensitivity to light
• itching, burning eyes and skin
• mood swings
• premature greying of the hair
• extreme irritability and nervous tension during a “thyroid storm”

Diagnosis of Graves Disease

Diagnosis of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is typically done through a TSH test, as well as through a T4 or total thyroixine test, a free T4 or free thyrosxine test, a total T3 test and a free T3 test.  As well, thyroid antibody tests can detect antibodies that signal the presence of Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease, even when TSH levels are normal.

Books for People With Signs and Symptoms of Graves Disease

What Causes Graves’ Disease?

• Inherited Tendency Towards Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
• Stress
• Iodine Intake
• Overuse of Diet Pills
• Heavy Metals Such as Mercury and Lead
• Toxic Chemicals
• Smoking
• Radiation to the Neck
• Certain Drugs (Such as Alpha Interferon and Interleuken-2)
• Infectious Organism
• Viral Infections

Graves’ Disease Resources

General Patient Resources

• Graves’ Disease Foundation

Educational organization open exclusively to people with Graves’ disease, their families, friends and health care professionals.

http://www.ngdf.org/

• Living With Graves Disease . com

Living With Graves‘ Disease offers a unique website dedicated to interaction between sufferers of illnesses through active, health minded health forums.

http://www.livingwithgravesdisease.com/forums/

• MD Junction

Graves’ Disease Forums. Discussions, Q&A and friends dealing with Graves’ Disease.

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/graves-disease-discussions

• American Thyroid Association

Patient information and brochures

http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Graves_brochure.pdf

• National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Services

A service of the National Institute of Health

http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/graves/

Medical Resources

• Mayo Clinic

Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, treatment of this thyroid disorder.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/graves-disease/DS00181

• Web MD

Have you heard of Graves’ disease but don’t really know what it is? Find out now.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-graves-disease-basics

• Medscape Reference

Professional website for  doctors discussed treatments and trends.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/120619-overview