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Symptoms Of Graves’ Disease
By peace | May 21, 2006
Graves’ Disease is the only kind of hyperthyroidism that is associated with swelling of the tissue around the eyes and bulging of the eyes. And rare cases, patients will develop a lumpy reddish thickening of the skin in front of the shins called pretibial myxedema. This skin condition is usually painless. The symptoms of this disease can occur slowly or very suddenly and are sometimes confused with other medical problems. Women can also have Graves’ Disease and have no visible symptoms at all.
Some Facts About Graves’ Disease
Graves’ disease occurs in less that 1/4 of 1% of the population.
Graves’ disease is
more prevalent among females than males.
Graves’ disease usually occurs in middle age, but also occurs in children and adolescents.
Graves’ disease is not curable, but is a completely treatable disease
The thyroid gland releases hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones help regulate metabolism, body temperature, muscle tone, cholesterol levels, growth hormone secretions and mood. In Graves’ disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce excess thyroid hormone. Physicians look for a combination of symptoms related to thyroid hormone overproduction to diagnose the disease. These may include:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat
- A tremor of the hands or fingers
- An increase in perspiration
- Sensitivity to heat
- Weight loss, despite normal food intake
- Brittle hair
- Enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter)
- Light menstrual periods
- Frequent bowel movements
Graves’ disease affects the eyes in approximately half of all patients, but only 5 percent of patients require treatment for eye symptoms. This eye condition, Graves’ ophthalmopathy (opf-thal-mop-athy), causes the eyeball to push out past its protective orbit due to swelling of the tissue and muscle behind the eye. The eye is so far forward that the front surface of the eye can become uncomfortably dry, causing excess tears, redness, light sensitivity, and eyelid swelling. In more severe cases, the condition can cause limited eye movements, with double vision, vision loss or (rarely) corneal infections.
Another less common sign of Graves’ disease is reddening and swelling of the skin, often on the shins and tops of the feet. This condition is Graves’ dermopathy.
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