Question: What is Graves’ disease?
Answer: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Thyroid hormones control the way your body uses energy, so they affect nearly every organ in your body, even the way your heart beats.

With Graves’ disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid gland, causing it to make more thyroid hormones than your body needs. As a result, many of your body’s functions speed up.
Question: How common is Graves’ disease?
Answer: Graves’ disease affects nearly 1 in 100 Americans.1 About 4 out of 5 cases of hyperthyroidism in the United States are caused by Graves’ disease.1
Question: Who is more likely to have Graves’ disease?
Answer: Graves’ disease is more common in women and people older than age 30.2 You are more likely to develop the disease if you

have a family history of Graves’ disease orHashimoto’s disease
have other autoimmune disorders, such as3,4vitiligo, which causes some parts of your skin to lose colorautoimmune gastritis, which attacks the cells in your stomach liningtype 1 diabetes, which occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too highrheumatoid arthritis, which affects your joints and sometimes other parts of your body
vitiligo, which causes some parts of your skin to lose color
autoimmune gastritis, which attacks the cells in your stomach lining
type 1 diabetes, which occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high
rheumatoid arthritis, which affects your joints and sometimes other parts of your body
use nicotine products
Question: What are the complications of Graves’ disease?
Answer: Untreated, Graves’ disease can cause serious health problems, including

a rapid and irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots,stroke,heart failure, and other heart-related problems
thinning bones,osteoporosis, and muscle problems
problems with the menstrual cycle, fertility, andpregnancy
eye discomfort and changes in vision
Question: What are the symptoms of Graves’ disease?
Answer: Graves’ disease often causes symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Graves’ disease can also affect your eyes and skin. Symptoms can come and go over time.

Hyperthyroidism

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can vary from person to person and may include5

weight loss, despite an increased appetite
rapid or irregular heartbeat
nervousness, irritability, trouble sleeping, fatigue
shaky hands, muscle weakness
sweating or trouble tolerating heat
frequentbowel movements
an enlarged thyroid gland, called agoiter

Eye problems

More than 1 in 3 people with Graves’ disease develop an eye disease called Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO).6 GO occurs when your immune system attacks the muscles and other tissues around your eyes. Symptoms can include

bulging eyes
gritty, irritated eyes
puffy eyes
light sensitivity
pressure or pain in the eyes
blurred or double vision

These symptoms can start before or at the same time as symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Rarely, GO can develop after Graves’ disease has been treated. You can develop GO even if your thyroid function is normal. Most people have mild symptoms.

Skin problems

Rarely, people with Graves’ disease develop a condition that causes the skin to become reddish and thick, with a rough texture. Called Graves’ dermopathy or pretibial myxedema, the condition usually affects your shins but can also develop on the top of your feet and other parts of your body. Most cases are mild and painless.

Researchers aren’t sure why some people develop autoimmune disorders such as Graves’ disease. These disorders probably develop from a combination of genes and an outside trigger, such as a virus.

With Graves’ disease, your immune system makes an antibody called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) that attaches to your thyroid cells. TSI acts like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a hormone made in your pituitary gland that tells your thyroid how much thyroid hormone to make. TSI causes your thyroid to make too much thyroid hormone.
Question: How do doctors diagnose Graves’ disease?
Answer: Your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical exam to look for signs of Graves’ disease. To confirm a diagnosis of Graves’ disease, your doctor may order one or more of these thyroid tests

Blood tests.These tests can measure the levels of your thyroid hormones and also check for TSI.
Radioactive iodine uptake test.This test measures the amount of iodine your thyroid is taking up from your bloodstream to make thyroid hormones. If your thyroid is taking up large amounts of iodine, you may have Graves’ disease.
Thyroid scan.This test, often done together with the radioactive iodine uptake test, shows how and where iodine is distributed in your thyroid. With Graves’ disease, the iodine shows up throughout the gland. With other causes of hyperthyroidism such as nodules—small lumps in the gland—the iodine shows up in a different pattern.
Doppler blood flow measurement.This test, also called Doppler ultrasound, uses sound waves to detect increased blood flow in your thyroid due to Graves’ disease. Your doctor may order this test if radioactive iodine uptake is not a good option for you, such as during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Question: How do doctors treat Graves’ disease?
Answer: Treating hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is usually treated with medicines, radioiodine therapy, or thyroid surgery. Your doctor can help you identify the best option based on your age, health, symptoms, and other factors.