Graves’ Disease vs Hyperthryoidism
Dr. Friedman is one of the world’s experts on treating Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease is a type of hyperthyroidism that is autoimmune in nature. The thyroid gland is stimulated by the same antibodies that can lead to hypothyroidism in Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism. In Graves’ disease, the thyroid gland is enlarged and makes excess thyroid hormone, especially T3 but also T4. The TSH is suppressed. The symptoms of Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism are the similar, and they include palpitations and rapid heart beat, sweating, shakiness, diarrhea or loose stool, weight loss, and increased appetite.
There are different causes of hyperthyroidism besides Graves’ disease, which is the most common. A patient with hyperthyroidism can also have a single hot nodule, a toxic multinodular goiter, thyroiditis, or is taking too much thyroid medicine. However, in Graves’ disease, the gland is uniformly enlarged, while in a single nodule, an ultrasound or palpation can reveal the single nodule, and in toxic multinodular goiter, there are multiple nodules present. In thyroiditis, the gland is usually very tender. Graves’ disease is also associated with Graves’ exophthalmos, where the eyes are bulging, and occasionally can be associated with Graves’ dermopathy, which is a skin change usually in the shin area.
It is important to distinguish between Graves’ disease and other causes of hyperthyroidism as the treatment and prognosis may be different.
For more information on Graves’ disease, please look at Dr. Friedman’s website, goodhormonehealth.com.