Graves disease symptoms

If you have hyperthyroidism then you are at an increased risk of developing Grave’s disease. While hyperthyroidism refers to an increase in thyroid hormone production, individuals with Grave’s disease will also be experiencing an enlarged thyroid gland. The result of an increase in thyroid hormone production is various bodily systems stepping into overdrive to keep up with the amount of thyroid hormones that are produced. This is the reason for the symptoms of Grave’s disease to be prominent in all individuals with the condition.

Common Symptoms of Grave’s Disease
While there are many different symptoms that may occur in individuals with Grave’s disease, some are obviously more common than others. Some of the more common symptoms that individuals with Grave’s disease will experience include frequent tiredness, irritability, having difficulties sleeping, increased heart rate, anxiety, unexplainable weight loss, excessive sweating, heat sensitivity, and goiter (enlarged thyroid gland). You may want to look for a full list of symptoms if you are attempting a self-diagnosis for Grave’s disease from home.

Exophthalmos in Grave’s Disease Patients

Exophthalmos refers to a condition where your eyeballs extend out of the socket that they are normally situated in. This particular symptom is referred to as Grave’s ophthalmopathy in patients that have Grave’s disease but it is a condition of its’ own as well. The extension of the eyeballs outside of the eye socket occurs as a result of swelling of tissues and muscles that are located behind the eyeballs. This will cause a minor forward push to the eyeballs and make them slightly out of place. In some cases the eyeballs can even be pushed far enough that the front of the eyeball begins to dry out. Also, exophthalmos in Grave’s disease patients is 500% more likely if the patient smokes cigarettes routinely.

If exophthalmos is experienced then the symptoms of that condition may be noticed as well. It may help to detect and diagnose these symptoms as diagnosing the exophthalmos condition could lead to diagnosing Grave’s disease. These symptoms include dryness of the front of the eye, swelling of the eyelids and tissues surrounding the eyeball, tearing or burning sensation on one or both of the eyes, and inflammation of the eyes. Some of the more severe and less common symptoms of exophthalmos in Grave’s disease patients include blurred, double, or limited vision, restricted eye mobility, and cornea ulcers.

Other Symptoms of Grave’s Disease
There are some other possible symptoms of Grave’s disease that you may want to watch out for. These symptoms are not nearly as common as the symptoms that have already been listed. However, they may still occur so you should still be aware of them. Two symptoms that may be noticed include swelling and redness of the skin. The more common areas for this to affect include the top of the feet and the shins.

Grave’s disease is a serious health issue that should not be ignored. If you are experiencing more than a few of the symptoms of this condition then you should seek medical attention immediately. Some of the symptoms of this condition are also associated with hyperthyroidism and other health issues. It is still important to determine what the problem is even if it may not be anything severe. You most definitely should go to the doctor for a professional opinion and diagnosis of your condition if you are experiencing symptoms such as goiter, exophthalmos, anxiety, unexplainable weight loss, or heat sensitivity.

If you believe that you may have Grave’s disease then you should still read up on it some more. Find out about all the signs and symptoms of the condition and compare them with what you are experiencing. You may also want to look into hyperthyroidism and what may be experienced with that condition. It may be possible that you have multiple health issues as well and the symptoms are just affiliated with different conditions. Either way, if you are experiencing any of the serious symptoms of Grave’s disease then you should get your condition diagnosed as quickly as possible.

Last updated on Jan 4th, 2011 and filed under Endocrine System. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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