Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that triggers the thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormones than the body needs. It’s the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid.
Dr. Marius Stan, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist, has more on this thyroid disorder.
“Thyroid, and mainly thyroid hormones, are the gas pedal, if you will, for the body,” says Dr. Stan.
“And as we’re pushing that gas pedal, metabolism accelerates, our heart rate beats faster, we feel hot, we can’t rest, we can’t sleep,” he says.
Other symptoms of Graves’ disease may include anxiety, weight loss, heat sensitivity and bulging eyes.
“It’s a situation of an overactive thyroid that is caused by antibodies that we unfortunately produce that end up really whipping the thyroid into an overactive state,” he says.
The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple.
Medications are often the first line of treatment. When that doesn’t work, surgery or radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid tissue may be an option.
