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The grave disease is characterized by the metabolic imbalances that results form the increased production of the thyroid hormones which is called thyrotoxicosis. Grave disease is found commonly in women than men this most frequently attacks those between the age group of 20 to 40 years and also expected to arise after any physical infection or emotional stress. This disease is caused by the formation of the auto antibodies that binds to the receptors in the thyroid cell membranes. And this in turn will stimulate the gland for hyper functions.
To know more about what is graves disease, here are some symptoms. The symptoms of grave disease are mostly common to the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The classic symptoms of this disease include enlarging of the thyroid gland, heat intolerance, nervousness, sweating, and loss in weight, diarrhea, palpitation, exophthalmos and tremors. The grave disease may also result in weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, pretibial myxedema, double vision, increased eye tearing, muscle wasting, abnormal breast enlargement, absent and infrequent menstrual periods, increase in hair loss, diminished sex drive and brittle nails.
If the grave disease is more complicated then it may also lead to life threaten like failure of liver, kidney and heart. The diagnosis for grave disease is done first by the doctor’s examination by looking for the goiter that is enlarged thyroid gland, tremor, rapid pulse, and other symptoms for the disease. Then blood test is performed to know the function of thyroid. Some times a radio active iodine test and scan for thyroid is also required. These tests will help in determining the complete activity of the thyroid gland or if the portion of gland is over active.
The treatment for grave disease depends on the age of the patient and the severance of the disease. It may also depend on the thyroid gland size. There are currently three treatment methods are followed. They include drugs to inhibit the thyroid hormone production or providing relief for symptoms, using the radio active iodine for destroying the part of thyroid gland in order to reduce the production of hormone and the third method is the removal of gland by surgery. But in other terms though the surgery and treatment for grave disease gives relief it may in on other side cause hypothyroidism. If there is no proper dose for replacement of thyroid hormone then the hypothyroidism may cause depression, weight gain and mental and physical sluggishness. These clearly states about what is graves disease.
