graves diease?

Question

I have Graves diease and i would like to learn more about it. i know it has to do with your thyroid but i dont really understand it...

can u explain it?

Answer 1

Graves Disease is an autoimmune disease in which your body generates antibodies that don't actually attack the thyroid, rather they bind to the receptor that causes release of thyroid hormone, essentially causing the thyroid gland to always be stimulated to release thyroid hormone.

Thyroid hormone is involved in body metabolism. It increases your metabolic rate. People with an overactivity of the thyroid will feel warm and flushed, will always feel hungry and eat frequently but will not gain weight, will have thin, brittle hair, will have a rapid heart rate, and in the case of Graves Disease, will develop the characteristic exophthalmos, or bulging of the eyes. This is due to a fibrosis behind the eyes the cause of which is unclear.

The mainstay of treatment is antithryoid medications such as propylthiouracil, which decreases the production of thyroid hormone. Radioactive iodine, which destroys thyroid tissue, is also sometimes used. Surgery is usually reserved for the most severe of cases and can precipitate a thyroid storm in which too much thyroid hormone is released into the system at once causing fever, increased heart rate, cardiovascular collapse and eventual heart failure.

Answer 2

Graves' Disease is a type of autoimmune disease that causes over-activity of the thyroid gland, causing hyperthyroidism. This over-activity is also sometimes called "toxic diffuse goiter." The thyroid gland helps set the rate of metabolism, which is the rate at which the body uses energy. When the thyroid is too active, it makes more thyroid hormones than the body needs. High levels of thyroid hormones can cause side effects such as weight loss, rapid heart rate and nervousness. This is an uncommon disease that affects 2 percent of all women at some time in their lives. Graves’ Disease also tends to affect women between the ages of 20 and 40, although it occurs in infants, children, and the elderly.
What is an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's immune system becomes misdirected and attacks the very organs, cells, or tissues that it is supposed to protect. About 75% of autoimmune diseases occur in women, most often during their childbearing years.

Graves' disease can be caused by a group of different factors that come together to cause thyroid problems, including heredity, your body's immune system, your age, sex hormones, and possibly stress.

You can inherit a greater likelihood to have hyperthyroidism, which means that you may develop Graves' disease at some time during your life.

Answer 3

search under medline medical encyclopedia under google
they have good explanations for conditions
and its a disease involving the eye, which usually leads to hyperthyroidism