Graves’ disease
Overview
Graves Disease: A form of hyperthyroidism where the thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine which results in various symptoms such as goiter, protruding eyes and skin disorders.
Symptoms
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Graves Disease includes the 50 symptoms listed below: * No symptoms - it is possible to show no side effects of the disease * Increased energy expenditure * Weight loss * Increased appetite * Rapid heart rate * Palpitations * High blood pressure * Tremors * Nervousness * Sweating * Hyperactive * Breathlessness * Warm skin * Frequent bowel movements * Insomnia * Irritability * Heat sensitivity * Brittle hair * Thinning hair * Muscular weakness * Weak leg muscles * Lighter menstrual flow * High thyroid hormone level * Goiter * Lump on front of neck * Protruding eyes * Eye changes o Eye inflammation o Swelling around eyes o Bulging eyes o Blurred vision * Shin rash (pretibial myxedema) - thickened reddish skin on the shins * Swollen shins and knees * Hyperthyroidism * Goiter * Protruding eyes * Eye inflammation * Conjunctival edema * Paralysis of eye muscles * Double vision * Sensitivity to light * Redness over pretibial area * Itchy swelling over pretibial area * Hyperactivity * Tachycardia * Non-pitting edema of the lower extremities * Enlarged thyroid gland * Increased level of T3 hormone * Increased level of T4 hormone * Low levels of thyroid stimulating hormone * Cough * Lung fibrosis * Shortness of breath
Causes
The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Graves Disease that are listed by the Diseases Database: * Thyroxine * Choriocarcinoma * Amiodarone * Potassium iodide * Thyroid stimulating globulin * Testicular cancer * Teratoma, ovary * Jod-Basedow thyrotoxicosis * Pituitary tumour * Hydatidiform mole * Polyostotic fibrous dysplasia * Thyroid carcinoma * Thyroiditis * Graves' disease * Struma ovarii * Postpartum thyroiditis * De Quervain thyroiditis * Toxic nodular goitre * Thyroid adenoma * Thyrotoxicosis factitia
Diagnosis
Home medical testing related to Graves Disease: * Thyroid: Home Testing: o Home Thyroid Function Tests o Home TSH Tests o Home Adrenal Function Tests
Prognosis
Prognosis of Graves Disease: Good with treatment. Usually recovery with treatment. Fatal if not treated.The 'prognosis' of Graves Disease usually refers to the likely outcome of Graves Disease. The prognosis of Graves Disease may include the duration of Graves Disease, chances of complications of Graves Disease, probable outcomes, prospects for recovery, recovery period for Graves Disease, survival rates, death rates, and other outcome possibilities in the overall prognosis of Graves Disease. Naturally, such forecast issues are by their nature unpredictable.
Treatment
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources for Graves Disease includes the following list. Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment or change in treatment plans. * Anti-thyroid drug therapy o Methimazole o Carbimazole o Propylthiouricil * Radioactive iodine (radioiodine) treatment * Thyroid surgery o Partial thyroidectomy * Followup checkups to detect subsequent hypothyroidism caused by treatments * Iodine