Graves disease

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid, causing hyperthyroidism. The immune system makes antibodies that trigger the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs. An overactive thyroid increases the body's metabolic rate,

Common symptoms of an overactive thyroid include goiter (an enlarged thyroid), trouble sleeping, nervousness, irritability, heat sensitivity, and unexplained weight loss.

With Graves' disease, the immune system makes antibodies that act like TSH, which triggers the thyroid to make more thyroid hormone than your body needs. This is called an overactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism. An overactive thyroid causes every function of the body to speed up, such as heart rate and the rate your body turns food into energy. Many factors are thought to play a role in getting Graves' disease including genetics, gender or sex hormones, severe emotional stress or trauma, pregnancy, and infection.

Graves' disease treatments include medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and surgery. Methimazole and Propylthiouracil act on the thyroid from making too much thyroid hormone. Radioactive iodine destroys thyroid cells so that less thyroid hormone is made. Surgical removal of the thyroid is another treatment option. 

See your doctor for a racing heartbeat, unexplained weight loss, nervousness, heat intolerance, or an enlarged thyroid (goiter). Seek emergency care for a very fast or irregular heartbeat, high fever, or confusion.