Here are some commonly asked questions that may help give you a better understanding of both Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease.
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid by mistake and causes it to become overactive. This is known as hyperthyroidism. The overactive thyroid makes more thyroid hormone than your body needs, which can cause a number of health problems such as heart complications and weaker bones.
Graves’ disease can be diagnosed through:
Many of the factors that cause Graves’ disease are still unknown, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Learn more about the causes of Graves’ diseaseGraves’ disease can affect the body in many ways, including:
There are currently 3 ways doctors are treating Graves’ disease:
Graves’ disease itself is not fatal, but can cause serious health problems, including heart disease and weaker bones.
It is not known whether Graves’ disease can be cured, but it can be managed with regular treatment.
Learn about treatment options for Graves’ diseasePeople who have a family history of Graves’ disease have a higher risk of developing it. However, not everyone who has a family history of Graves’ disease will get it.
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid by mistake, causing it to become overactive and make too much thyroid hormone.
Graves’ eye disease, also known as Thyroid Eye Disease, describes the separate eye disease that up to 50% of patients with Graves’ disease may develop.
If you have Graves’ disease and also have eye symptoms, you may have TED.
If you have Graves’ disease, you may notice changes to your eyes. These changes can include dry, gritty eyes, watery eyes, and even bulging eyes.
These symptoms are likely caused by a separate eye condition called Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). Up to 50% of people with Graves’ disease will develop TED.
Learn more about what causes bulging eyes in TED.
Like Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s disease is another autoimmune disorder that affects the thyroid.
While Graves’ disease causes an overactive thyroid (making more thyroid hormone than the body needs), Hashimoto’s disease causes an underactive thyroid (making less thyroid hormone than the body needs). This is also known as hypothyroidism.
Hashimoto’s disease affects 5 out of every 100 people (5%) in the United States. It is the most common cause of hypothyroidism.
Doctors can diagnose Hashimoto’s disease in multiple ways:
Symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease include:
There are 2 main ways doctors treat Hashimoto’s disease:
If your Hashimoto’s disease isn’t causing serious symptoms or if your thyroid is working properly, your doctor may monitor your condition to see if it gets worse before starting you on any treatment.