Should i get graves

The antibody associated with Graves' disease — thyrotropin receptor antibody TRAb — acts like the regulatory pituitary hormone. That means that TRAb overrides the normal regulation of the thyroid, causing an overproduction of thyroid hormones hyperthyroidism. Graves' ophthalmopathy results from a buildup of certain carbohydrates in the muscles and tissues behind the eyes — the cause of which also isn't known. It appears that the same antibody that can cause thyroid dysfunction may also have an "attraction" to tissues surrounding the eyes.

Graves' ophthalmopathy often appears at the same time as hyperthyroidism or several months later. But signs and symptoms of ophthalmopathy may appear years before or after the onset of hyperthyroidism. Graves' ophthalmopathy can also occur even if there's no hyperthyroidism. Although anyone can develop Graves' disease, many factors can increase the risk of disease, including:.

Thyroid storm. A rare but life-threatening complication of Graves' disease is thyroid storm, also known as accelerated hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxic crisis. It's more likely when severe hyperthyroidism is untreated or treated inadequately. The sudden and drastic increase in thyroid hormones can produce many effects, including fever, sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, delirium, severe weakness, seizures, irregular heartbeat, yellow skin and eyes jaundice , severe low blood pressure, and coma.

Thyroid storm requires immediate emergency care. Graves' disease care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Thyroid gland Open pop-up dialog box Close. Thyroid gland Your thyroid gland is located at the base of your neck, just below the Adam's apple.

Also rarely, propylthiouracil may affect the fetus, but any effects are less harmful than having uncontrolled hyperthyroidism during pregnancy. Once treatment with antithyroid medicine begins, your thyroid hormone levels may not move into the normal range for several weeks or months. Sometimes doctors use surgery to treat people with large goiters, or pregnant women who are allergic to or have side effects from antithyroid medicines.

Before surgery, your doctor will prescribe antithyroid medicines to bring your thyroid hormone levels into the normal range. This treatment prevents a condition called thyroid storm—a sudden, severe worsening of symptoms—that can occur when people with hyperthyroidism have general anesthesia. After surgery to remove your thyroid, you will develop hypothyroidism and need to take thyroid hormone medicine every day for life.

After surgery, your doctor will continue to check your thyroid hormone levels and adjust your dose as needed. GO is a condition that occurs when the immune system attacks the muscles and other tissues around the eyes. The result is inflammation and a buildup of tissue and fat behind the eye socket, causing the eyeballs to bulge out. Rarely, inflammation is severe enough to compress, or push on, the optic nerve that leads from the eye to the brain, causing vision loss.

GO can occur before, at the same time as, or after other symptoms of hyperthyroidism develop. GO may even occur in people whose thyroid function is normal. Smoking makes GO worse. If you smoke and need help quitting, go to SmokeFree. Eye drops can relieve dry, gritty, irritated eyes—the most common of the milder symptoms.

If pain and swelling occur, your doctor may prescribe a steroid such as prednisone. Sunglasses can help with light sensitivity. Special eyeglass lenses may help reduce double vision.

If you have puffy eyelids, your doctor may advise you to sleep with your head raised to reduce swelling. Graves disease. From Genetics Home Reference. Description Graves disease is a condition that affects the function of the thyroid , which is a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower neck.

Frequency Graves disease affects about 1 in people. Causes Graves disease is thought to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Inheritance The inheritance pattern of Graves disease is unclear because many genetic and environmental factors appear to be involved. Research Studies from ClinicalTrials. Cutting edge: the etiology of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol.

Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in thyroid autoimmunity. Immunol Res. The HLA gene complex in thyroid autoimmunity: from epidemiology to etiology. J Autoimmun. Epub Jan 4. The search for the genetic contribution to autoimmune thyroid disease: the never ending story? Thyroid hormones help the body use energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working appropriately.

The immune system destroys foreign invaders with substances called antibodies produced by blood cells known as lymphocytes. Sometimes the immune system can be tricked into making antibodies that cross-react with proteins on our own cells. In many cases these antibodies can cause destruction of those cells. This results in an overactive thyroid hyperthyroidism. The diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is made on the basis of your symptoms and findings during a physical exam and it is confirmed by laboratory tests that measure the amount of thyroid hormones thyroxine, or T4, and triiodothyronine, or T3 and thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH in your blood see the Hyperthyroidism brochure.

The choice of initial diagnostic testing depends on cost, availability and local expertise. Also, in some patients, measurement of thyroidal blood flow with ultrasonography may be useful to establish the diagnosis if the above tests are not readily available.

The treatment of hyperthyroidism is described in detail in the Hyperthyroidism brochure.