Graves' Disease Essay

Hashimoto thyroiditis is a common disease caused by hypothyroidism. The immune system cells attack the thyroid gland, causing inflammation and eventually destruction of the gland. This reduces the thyroids ability to make hormones. These hormones are known as thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) (Better health channel 2015).

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).

Grave’s Disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid and its hormone production. Normally, a healthy immune system releases antibodies that are designed to attack bacteria and viruses. In addition to antibodies, the thyroid creates hormones that regulate overall hormone production. With Grave’s Disease, the immune system releases antibodies that imitate these thyroid hormones; this leads to overproduction of hormones, or hyperthyroidism. Doctors are not sure as to what exactly causes Grave’s disease, but it is speculated that factors such as age play a role; as in, younger people are typically more prone to this illness. Its symptoms include anxiety; sweating; heart

Symptoms are not always visible when Hashimoto’s is present in the immune system. The first signs and symptoms can come from the underlying hypothyroid disease. Those symptoms can include, but are not limited to, fatigue, sensitivity to cold, constipation, pale dry skin, a puffy face, hoarse voice, and unexplained weight gain. The thyroid may also become enlarged. The symptoms associated with Hashimoto’s are similar to hypothyroidism but include stiff joints, muscle aches, pain in the shoulders and hips, prolonged menstrual periods, and depression.

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].

Even though Hyperthyroidism in, Graves’s’ disease is an autoimmune disorder because of the increase demand on the body if left untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to serious complications , such as an increase in cardiac output, higher oxygen consumption and increased metabolic rate along with coagulation issues (Porth & Gaspard, 2015). The CNS reacts to too much thyroid hormone too much hormone induces anxiety and nervousness.

In the 19th Century (1801 – 1900) Robert Graves discovered Graves’ disease and that’s why its named Graves disease. Graves' disease is an auto immune system disease that affects the thyroid. It is due to an abnormal immune system response that causes hyperthyroidism which is when the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroid hormone. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Grave’s disease.

People with Turner syndrome have an increased risk of developing autoimmune disorders that affect the thyroid gland. A condition called autoimmune thyroiditis, or Hashimoto's disease, is common among Turner syndrome patients. The disorder occurs when the immune system attacks the patient's thyroid gland, causing the thyroid to swell. The thyroid gland, located in the neck, produces hormones called triodothyronin (T3) and thyroxine (T4). These hormones control growth and the rate at which the body uses energy (metabolism). The inflammation caused by Hashimoto's disease often leads to an underactive thyroid gland, called hypothyroidism. Therefore, patients with the condition may experience slowed development and fatigue. Patients typically receive

The reason I pick this disease is this is what my grandmother pass away from and is not in a better place. Graves disease which was first described by Robert Graves in the 19th century, this disease if one of the most common thyroid problems.It is also the leading cause of hyperthyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland produces excessive hormones. Once this disorder is diagnosed it is east to treat, in some cases the disease has gone into remission or disappeared completely after some months or years. if left untreated this disease can lead to many serious complications

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

Grave’s disease (GD) is rare in childhood (1); however, it is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents (2). Graves’s orbitopathy (GO) is the most common extrathyroid manifestation of GD but it can be present in 5 to 10% of euthyroid patients (3). Usually, both eyes are equally affected, although 9% of patients may present an asymmetric form (4). It can develop before, during or after the onset of hyperthyroidism (5), but presents a wide range of atypical presentations that reveal a pathogenesis still enigmatic. The evidence indicates that anti-TSHR antibodies are probably responsible for the genesis of the GO, and there are some polymorphisms that show a high enough risk of GO suggesting a complex genetic basis (6).

Graves’ disease is a precursor to hyperthyroidism. Named after the man who first discovered the condition, Robert Graves, this disease shares many immunologic features with autoimmune hypothyroidism (17). The most common symptoms that come with this disease are weight loss, fatigue, nervousness, and irregular heartbeats. This particular condition can be affected by a person’s age. Statistics show that the severity of different symptoms can increase as a person diagnosed with Graves’ disease grows older. This condition also makes people more susceptible to other autoimmune diseases and women who are diagnosed with Graves’ disease should refrain from becoming pregnant until their thyroid problems have been sufficiently treated.

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).

Graves disease is the swelling of the neck and protrusion of the eyes resulting from an overactive thyroid gland. Women are five times more likely to suffer from Graves disease, the most common ages are between 20 and 40 ("Graves' disease." par. 1). It is common for people with Graves disease to get it after they have had an infection or they have been under a lot of physical or mental stress. Graves disease only affects around 0.5% of the population, but it is the underlying cause of hyperthyroidism about 80% of the time (Brent, Gregory A. par. 3). Hyperthyroidism is when your thyroid is overactive, this causes an increased heartbeat and metabolism. I found this topic to be interesting because I’ve never heard of this disease before. Its name caught my attention and when I started a brief search on the disease, I wanted to deeper explore the topic. Graves disease affects many people in many different ways, which can make it hard to diagnose. Many of the small symptoms add up to this dangerous disease

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).