Graves disease is a medical condition involving the thyroid and is the number one cause of hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is an illness where excessive hormones are produced by thyroid glands.

Graves disease explained

The thyroid glands secrete hormones that control over the metabolism of a person. When the thyroid glands release excessive hormone, and then a person’s metabolism shifts into a fast gear that in turn makes the heart pound, causes profuse sweating, dramatic weight loss and trembling.

The thyroid normally receives the orders for production from TSH or the thyroid-stimulating hormone that is produced by the brain through the pituitary gland. This however is not the case with the Graves disease since it causes the body to produce abnormal antibodies that are highly similar to TSH. The abnormal antibodies cause false signals to the thyroid to produce more hormones which accounts for the excess production of the hormones secreted by the thyroid glands.

Graves disease is easy to treat, and sometimes patients go into remission. But this medical condition can result in grave health consequences including death if not treated properly and immediately.

There are no conclusive studies to show why the immune system produces the abnormal antibodies. It is widely believed that heredity may have a role in the cause of Graves disease. Stress and other environmental conditions and genes can cause the Graves disease.

Women are more prone to getting this medical condition. Plus, smokers who have this disease are more likely to experience eye problems compared to those who suffer from this disease but do not smoke.

One of the complications of this medical condition is eye trouble. A patient of this condition may experience inflammation and swelling of his or her muscles and tissues in the eyes which can result in the protruding of the eyeballs from their eye sockets.