Graves' disease occurs when your thyroid gland over-produces hormones, which can have harmful effects on your metabolism. While there is no cure for Graves' disease, there are several treatments which can reduce symptoms and occasionally result in a prolonged remission of the disease.
What is Graves' Disease?
Graves' disease is a type of hyperthyroidism, in which the thyroid gland over-produces hormones. In this case, your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid, causing it to produce excessive amounts of the hormone thyroxine. While Graves' disease is rarely life threatening, the high level of thyroxine effects your immune system and can lead to mood changes and weight fluctuations as well as other symptoms. Graves' disease can appear at any age, but usually develops after the age of 20. There is no cure for the disease but there are treatments to ease symptoms and lower thyroxine production.
Radioactive Iodine
Radioactive iodine is a very common treatment for Graves' disease. In order to make thyroxine, your body needs iodine. When you ingest the radioactive iodine, it travels to the thyroid gland and, in time, destroys the cells responsible for the over-productivity of the hormone. Eventually, the thyroid gland shrinks and the symptoms decrease. Because this treatment results in decreased thyroid activity, you may need thyroxine treatment to supply your body with the amount it needs.
Anti-Thyroid Medication
Prescription anti-thyroid drugs prevent your thyroid from producing excessive amounts of hormones. Usually, you will be on medication for at least a year. In some cases, the use of medication for a year or two has resulted in a long-term remission. However, relapses are common. Anti-thyroid medications are usually combined with other forms of treatment.
Surgery
Surgery is an option to treat Graves' disease if you cannot tolerate medication or radioactive iodine. The operation involves removing your thyroid gland. Similar to radioactive iodine treatment, you will likely need thyroxine treatment afterwards to supply the body with healthy levels of the hormone. Although complications are rare, they do exist. There could be damage to the vocal chords or the glands adjacent to the thyroid, which control the level of calcium in the blood.
Exercise
Exercise can also help treat Graves' disease. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, exercising 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week can reduce the symptoms of Graves' disease.
