Missy Elliott The rapper and producer announced she had Graves' disease in 2008 after experiencing symptoms including hair loss and her nervous system “shutting down.” Graves' disease is a cause of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).
Graves' disease is a thyroid condition that can be treated and managed successfully. However, Graves' disease is potentially fatal when left untreated or when it becomes extremely severe.
The oldest reported patient with a new diagnosis of Graves' disease is 82-year-old (Parperis et al., 2011). Classical signs of Graves' disease such as tremors, heat intolerance, hyperdefecation, palpitations, and weight loss may be absent in the elderly (Torlinska et al., 2010).
If left untreated, Graves' disease can lead to heart rhythm disorders, changes in the structure and function of the heart muscles, and the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to the body (heart failure).
Graves' disease is a lifelong (chronic) condition. However, treatments can keep your thyroid hormone levels in check. Medical care may even make the disease temporarily go away (remission).
What to Limit When You Have Graves' Disease. Caffeine: Foods that contain caffeine—coffee, soda, tea, and chocolate—can aggravate Graves' disease symptoms such as anxiety, nervousness, rapid heart rate, and weight loss.
If you have Graves' disease or another autoimmune thyroid disorder, you may be sensitive to harmful side effects from too much iodine in your diet. Eating foods that have large amounts of iodine—such as kelp, dulse, or other kinds of seaweed—may cause or worsen hyperthyroidism.
Graves' eye disease is often mild and may go away on its own. It doesn't usually cause vision loss, but it may cause double vision and other symptoms.
In Hashimoto's disease, immune-system cells lead to the death of the thyroid's hormone-producing cells. The disease usually results in a decline in hormone production (hypothyroidism).
While the precise diagnosis has not been fully revealed in the media, experts suspect that Oprah suffered from Hashimoto's thyroiditis—the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.
In an inspiring speech, Missy Elliott opened up about living with Graves' disease and how she believes she overcame the autoimmune disease.
Patients with Graves' disease (GD) are at a 2.5 times higher risk of developing thyroid cancer than the general population. Previous studies reported conflicting results about the prognosis of thyroid cancer concomitant with GD.
Surgery for Graves' disease requires complete removal of the thyroid gland. Total thyroidectomy prevents further progression of Graves' eye disease and is an immediate cure of the process. For this reason, surgery is the preferred treatment for patients with Graves' eye disease.
In January of 2020, Teprotumumab was approved by the FDA for the treatment of TED in Graves' Disease patients. Teprotumumab is a human-derived monoclonal antibody against IGF1-R, effectively blocking the inflammatory responses of IGF1-R on orbital fibroblasts and reducing the effects of TED.
The Roots of Hyperthyroidism
Once the gut is leaky, gluten can get into your bloodstream and confuse your immune system. The building blocks of gluten share a similar molecular structure with those of your thyroid gland, so the immune system can mistakenly attack your own cells in a process known as molecular mimicry.
Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition that causes hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid. It is not the same as having weakened immunity. A person with Graves' disease is not more prone to infection than someone without the condition.
Anti-thyroid medications
These prescription medications include propylthiouracil and methimazole (Tapazole). Because the risk of liver disease is more common with propylthiouracil, methimazole is considered the first choice when doctors prescribe medication.
The University of Maryland Medical Center, recommends avoiding caffeine, such as tea, coffee, chocolate and soft drinks. Caffeine could aggravate symptoms like anxiety and rapid heart rate.
Thyroid conditions such as Graves' disease (hyperthyroid) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (low thyroid) can be worsened by chronic stress. Feeling stressed has the added disadvantage of stressing your thyroid, the endocrine gland responsible for your body's metabolism and regulation of other vital body functions.
Foods to Eat More of If You Have Graves' Disease
Berries: In particular, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries are brimming with antioxidants. Fresh or frozen, these anti-inflammatory foods help to keep your immune system strong.
If you have Graves' disease — an autoimmune condition that causes hyperthyroidism, which is an overactive thyroid gland — you may already be taking medication for it. Unlike some other conditions, Graves' disease can't be reversed with dietary changes alone. It has to be treated with conventional medicine.
Any vitamins or supplements that contain iodine (especially kelp and dulse)
Outlook (Prognosis)
Graves disease often responds well to treatment. Thyroid surgery or radioactive iodine often will cause an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Without getting the correct dosage of thyroid hormone replacement, hypothyroidism can lead to: Depression.
Those with hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid are more susceptible to dental problems like cavities, osteoporosis in the jaws, rapid tooth growth in children, and others. Thyroid patients in general are prone to oral problems like dry mouth.