Essay On Graves Disease

Graves ' disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism). The thyroid gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. The gland is located at the front of the neck above where the collarbones meet. This gland releases the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which control body metabolism. Controlling metabolism is important for regulating mood, weight, and mental and physical energy levels. When the body makes too much thyroid hormone, the condition is called hyperthyroidism. Graves disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and is most common in women over age 20. But the disorder can occur at any age and can affect men as well. Some of the symptoms of Graves diseases are

Graves’ disease was named after Robert J. Graves, MD, around the 1830’s. It is an autoimmune disease indicated by hyperthyroidism due to circulating autoantibodies, which is an antibody that attacks the person’s own body. The immune system attacks the thyroid gland, which causes it to produce too much thyroxine. Thyroxine is a hormone that helps control growth and also regulates metabolism in the body. While the thyroxine levels are high the patient’s metabolic rate increases, which can have an effect on their physical appearance as well as their frame of mind. Graves’ disease is the number one cause of hyperthyroidism in the U.S.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, also called Hashimoto’s disease is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid gland. It was named for the Japanese surgeon who discovered it in 1912 The thyroid is a small butterfly shaped gland in the front of the neck. The thyroid makes hormones called T3 and T4. These hormones regulate metabolism. The thyroid is controlled by hormones of the pituitary gland, which is also called the “master gland.” It is a pea-sized gland located in the base of the brain which, among others, makes thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH. TSH stimulates the thyroid to make thyroid hormone. With Hashimoto’s disease, the thyroid cells are damaged resulting in the inability to make enough thyroid

There are several treatments for hyperthyroidism which will depend on several factors, including your age, overall physical condition, the underlying cause of the hyperthyroidism, how severe it is, and your own preferences.

However Graves' disease is named after the Irish physician who described several cases in London Medical Journal in 1835. Graves' disease is also known as Parry's disease. In Europe, the disease is known as Basedow's disease. It is the most common cause of thyrotoxicosis (the morbid condition due to over activity of the thyroid gland).

Whereas Hashimoto’s is an under active or under developed thyroid gland, Graves’ disease is the opposite. Graves' disease is an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones, better known as hyperthyroidism. Although a number of disorders may result in hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease is a common cause. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/graves-disease/basics/definition/con-20025811)

Graves’ disease is often associated with the over activity of the thyroid gland, also known as hyperthyroidism. It is more common among women, and

Graves' disease, which is caused by a generalized overactivity of the thyroid gland, is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. In this condition, the thyroid gland usually is renegade, which means it has lost the ability to respond to the normal control by the pituitary gland via TSH. Graves' disease is hereditary and is up to five times more common among women than men. The triggers for Graves' disease include stress,

Graves’ Disease is identified as an autoimmune disorder that directly affects the thyroid gland. Characterized as the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, Graves’ Disease encompasses an overactive, enlarged thyroid gland, which produces an excess of thyroid hormones [1]. Approximately 3% of the United States population is affected by Graves’ Disease and 60-80% of patients affected with Graves’ disease are diagnosed with hyperthyroidism [2]. The approximate female to male ratio is 5/1, with majority of those cases being diagnosed in adults over the age of 20. The peak incidence of cases fall between 40-60 years old [3]. In addition, a higher incidence of Graves’ Disease appears in African Americans and persons of Asian descent as compared to Caucasians in the United States.

Hyperthyroidism (too much hormone) may result Grave's disease. Symptoms include anxiety, rapid heart rate, diarrhea and weight loss, nervousness, anxiety, and irritability.

Central Idea: The thyroid controls so many things in your body and if not well taken care of can cause major damage to a person or their life.

There are many conditions that are categorized as autoimmune diseases. These include both systemic and organ specific diseases. One organ specific chronic autoimmune disease that hit me close to home was Graves disease. Understanding this chronic endocrine illness is important in understanding how a patient with this condition might feel. Grave’s is an autoimmune disease characterized by hyperthyroidism due to circulating autoantibodies. In this disease thyroid stimulating immunoglobins also known as TSIs bind to and activate thyrotropin receptors, this than causes the thyroid to grow and the thyroid follicles to increase synthesis of the thyroid hormone (Cooper, 2012).

The main cause of hyperthyroidism Graves’ disease which affects quite a few people in the general population. This disease is characterized as an autoimmune disorder. This means that the body makes antibodies known as thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin that bind and over activate the production of thyroid hormones [3]. So in essence the antibody mimics the thyroid stimulating hormone and when the negative feedback loop is in affect the antibody still binds to the thyroid and T3 and T4 are over produced [2].

Graves’ disease (GD) is a common autoimmune endocrine disorder characterized by thyroid hyperplasia and excessive thyroid hormone production (Karoutsou & Polymeris, 2011). Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO), is the most common extra-thyroidal manifestation of GD which characterized by orbital inflammation that affects mainly the extra-ocular muscles and fibro-adipose tissue (Marcocci & Marinò, 2012).

In medical journals, there is extensive information on how health care providers treat patients with Graves’ disease but there is little information on how Graves’ disease affects the quality of life. There is a need to incorporate patients’ quality of life considerations into treatment. The treatment includes thyroid hormone supplements, antithyroid drugs, radioiodine, and surgery (Watt, 2014; Abraham-Nordling, Torring, Hamberger, Lundell, Tallstedt, Calissendorff & Wallin 2005). The goal of treatment of Graves’ disease is to control symptoms of hyperthyroidism. These methods are all effectively restoring euthyroidism but have serious side effects. Anti-thyroid drug presence indicates a higher likelihood or remission or even hypothyroidism following drug therapy because of autoimmune destruction of the thyroid (Ginsberg, 2003).