An autoimmune disease occurs when your body's immune system begins to attack healthy cells in the body for an unknown reason. One kind of autoimmune disease is Graves' disease, which attacks the thyroid gland and causes it to produce too much thyroid hormone. Excess thyroid hormone production is called hyperthyroidism, and it results in a number of uncomfortable symptoms like anxiety, increased heart rate, insomnia, diarrhea, sweating and weight loss.
The good news about Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism is that it can be treated--but the result is often the opposite problem of hypothyroidism.
Step 1
See your doctor about symptoms. If you spot any of the symptoms of overactive thyroid, it's time to visit with your doctor. He can give you a physical exam and perform a blood test to see if your thyroid hormone levels are normal. He can also give you a test, using radioactive iodine, to see if your thyroid dysfunction is due to Graves' disease.
Step 2
Talk about medication as treatment. Though Graves' disease can't be cured, symptoms of hyperthyroidism can sometimes be managed with medications. Some drugs, like methimazole, can work against your thyroid gland to prevent excess hormone production. Beta blocker medications may be recommended to alleviate symptoms, but they don't have an effect on thyroid hormone production.
Step 3
Tackle the thyroid gland. One option to treat Graves' disease and hyperthyroidism is radioactive iodine treatment. The thyroid gland requires iodine to produce hormones, and it will absorb any iodine in the blood. When given radioactive iodine, the thyroid gland absorbs it, and the radioactive particles slowly destroy cells and shrink the thyroid gland.
Step 4
Remove the thyroid gland. For some people with Graves' disease, the best option is to have the thyroid gland removed through a simple surgery called thyroidectomy. This will alleviate excess hormone production and stop the symptoms of hyperthyroidism.
Step 5
Replace lost thyroid hormone. If you have radioactive iodine treatment or thyroidectomy, you'll need to replace the thyroid hormone that your body lost and needs, or symptoms of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) will result. A simple medication of synthetic thyroid hormone is all that is needed to replace these hormones, but you will need to take them for the rest of your life.
Tips and Warnings
- Pregnant women with Graves' disease should talk to their doctors about the best way to manage the disease during pregnancy, as hormone levels fluctuate.
- Untreated Graves' disease can lead to worsening symptoms and complications, so see your doctor promptly.
Things You'll Need
- Thyroid medications
- Radioactive iodine
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