Graves

Graves' Disease

Graves' Disease (pronounced: /ɡreɪvz/), also known as Basedow's disease, is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. The disease was named after Sir Robert Graves, an Irish doctor who first described the condition in 1835.

Etymology

The term "Graves' Disease" is derived from the name of the Irish doctor, Sir Robert Graves. The alternative name, "Basedow's disease", is named after the German physician Karl Adolph von Basedow, who independently reported the same condition in 1840.

Definition

Graves' Disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism, a condition where the thyroid gland produces excessive hormones.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Graves' Disease include insomnia, hand tremor, hyperactivity, hair loss, excessive sweating, and weight loss. More severe symptoms can include a rapid or irregular heartbeat (tachycardia), and eye problems such as bulging, red or swollen eyes, sensitivity to light, and blurred or double vision (Graves' ophthalmopathy).

Causes

The exact cause of Graves' Disease is unknown, but it is believed to involve a variety of genetic and environmental factors. It is an autoimmune disorder, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, causing it to produce too much thyroid hormone.

Treatment

Treatment for Graves' Disease includes medication to reduce the production of thyroid hormone, radioiodine therapy, and surgery. The choice of treatment depends on the patient's age, overall health, the severity of the disease, and the patient's personal preference.

Related Terms

• Hyperthyroidism
• Autoimmune disease
• Thyroid
• Graves' ophthalmopathy
• Radioiodine therapy

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Graves
• Wikipedia's article - Graves

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski