What is the nature of Graves' disease?
Based's disease or Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease in which the autoimmune system is tricked. It produces antibodies, which in turn helps the thyroid gland to produce more of the thyroid hormones needed by the body, leading to the condition of hyperthyroidism.
What risk factors are there?
The cause of this process is unclear, not only for this disease but also for a number of other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. However, several risk factors are known, for example, already established other autoimmune disease, female sex, pregnancy, use of tobacco products and stress.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Hyperthyroidism is accompanied by symptoms such as tachycardia (rapid heart rate), anxiety, loss of concentration, decreased body mass, trembling in the hands and fingers, more frequent bowel movements than normal, sweating, and sensitivity to heat. Some patients (1/3 of them) also develop bulging eyes, redness or pain and tension in the eyes, increased sensitivity to light and double vision.
What is the diagnosis of the disease?
Both the levels of free hormones T4 and T3 (thyroid hormones) in the blood, as well as the thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH (pituitary hormone) are determined.
It is TSH, reaching the thyroid gland, that triggers the production of T4 and T3. In the case where Graves' disease is found, free T4 and T3 are at elevated levels. The negative feedback mechanism suppresses TSH and it is because of this that the pituitary gland stops its production. Specific antibodies in the blood (TRAb) are determined and thyroid scintigraphy is performed to confirm the autoimmune origin of the process and to rule out other possible causes of hyperthyroidism (e.g., overactive thyroid nodules producing more T4 and T3 hormones that are redundant). Consultation with an ophthalmologist is also needed if the eyes become affected.
What treatment can be prescribed for Graves' disease?
Control of thyroid hormone production may necessitate through medications such as propylthiouracil and thiamazole. Beta-blockers, indicated to reduce heart rate in patients with severe cardiac symptoms, also have a beneficial effect on T4 metabolism. Because Graves' disease is often a self-limiting disease, the doses of medications taken by patients can be reduced gradually and stopped after a certain time.
Radioactive iodine therapy is also possible, as well as complete removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy). This is done in case of persistent hyperthyroid state or manifestation of side effects of antithyroid drugs. Radioactive iodine therapy is a safe treatment method in which radioactive iodine is taken orally, which the thyroid cells take up and destroy.
Is herbal treatment possible?
The intake of herbs for the treatment of Graves' disease, their safety and efficacy are not fully understood. However, abstaining from the use of tobacco products guarantees a lower risk of developing eye problems.
