Understanding Graves' Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Creator: Doctronic
Published: 2024-02-09

Medically reviewed by Oghenefejiro Okifo | MD, Harvard Medical School | Henry Ford Hospital - Detroit, MI on February 9th, 2024.

Key Takeaways

This autoimmune condition occurs when thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) bind to TSH receptors, causing uncontrolled hormone production—affecting 1 in 200 people, with women 7-8 times more likely to develop it than men.
Classic symptoms include resting heart rate above 100 bpm, unintentional weight loss of 10+ pounds despite increased appetite, hand tremors, and heat intolerance even in cool temperatures.
Thyroid eye disease affects 25-50% of patients, causing eye bulging (proptosis), double vision, and dry eyes—this can occur before, during, or after thyroid hormone abnormalities appear.
Methimazole is the preferred first-line treatment, typically started at 15-40mg daily, with most patients seeing symptom improvement within 2-6 weeks and normal hormone levels in 6-12 weeks.
Radioactive iodine therapy permanently destroys thyroid tissue in 80-90% of cases but usually requires lifelong levothyroxine replacement starting 2-6 months post-treatment.

Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition that causes your thyroid gland to become overactive and produce too many hormones, a condition known as hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of your neck that releases hormones to regulate your metabolism. When you have Graves' disease, your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid, causing it to overproduce hormones and leading to various symptoms throughout your body.

Causes of Graves' Disease

The exact cause of Graves' disease is not clear, but it is believed to be triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Studies have shown that if one identical twin develops Graves' disease, there is a 20% chance that the other twin will also develop the condition. Additionally, women are more likely than men to develop Graves' disease, and smokers with the condition are more prone to eye problems than nonsmokers.

Symptoms of Graves' Disease

The most common symptoms of Graves' disease are related to hyperthyroidism and may include:

Nervousness, anxiety, or irritability
Fatigue or muscle weakness
Tremors in the hands
Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
Difficulty sleeping
Increased sensitivity to heat or excessive sweating
Unintentional weight loss
An enlarged thyroid (goiter)
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Changes in menstrual cycle (women)
Erectile dysfunction (men)
Reduced sex drive (low libido)

Understanding Graves' Disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Complications of Graves' Disease

Eye Complications

A small percentage of people with Graves' disease may develop thyroid eye disease, a condition in which the eye muscles and tissues become swollen. This can cause exophthalmos, where the eyeballs protrude from their sockets. In severe cases, swollen eye muscles can put pressure on the optic nerve, potentially leading to partial blindness or double vision.

Skin Complications

Some people with Graves' disease may develop a rare skin condition called pretibial myxedema or Graves' dermopathy. This condition causes a lumpy, reddish thickening of the skin on the shins. While it is usually painless and not serious, it does not necessarily begin with the onset of Graves' disease and is not related to the severity of the condition.

Diagnosing Graves' Disease

If you have symptoms or signs of Graves' disease, your doctor may recommend the following tests:

Blood tests to check levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and other thyroid hormones
Lab tests to detect antibodies that cause Graves' disease
A radioactive iodine uptake test to assess how much iodine your thyroid absorbs from your bloodstream
A thyroid scan to observe the distribution of radioactive iodine in your thyroid gland

Treatment Options for Graves' Disease

Treatment for Graves' disease aims to reduce the overproduction of thyroid hormones and manage the symptoms caused by elevated hormone levels. Options include:

Radioactive iodine therapy: Oral radioactive iodine is used to destroy some of the overactive thyroid cells, reducing hormone production.
Anti-thyroid medications: These drugs help reduce the production of thyroid hormones and can be used for long periods or in combination with other treatments.
Beta blockers: Typically used to lower blood pressure, beta blockers can help alleviate symptoms such as tremors, rapid heartbeat, and anxiety.
Surgery: In some cases, partial or total removal of the thyroid gland may be recommended, especially for pregnant women who cannot take anti-thyroid medications or those with large goiters.

With prompt and proper medical care, Graves' disease generally has no long-term adverse health consequences. If you suspect you may have Graves' disease, consult your healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

For more information on Graves' disease, visit:

The Bottom Line

Early recognition and treatment of this autoimmune thyroid condition can prevent serious complications like heart problems and severe eye changes. Most people achieve good control with anti-thyroid medications, though some may need radioactive iodine or surgery for definitive treatment. If you're experiencing rapid heartbeat, unexplained weight loss, or eye changes, Doctronic can help you get quick answers and appropriate care.