What Is Graves' Disease?

By james

Article Sources

Medical Expert

More About Us

Our bodies produce chemicals that are known as hormones. These chemicals are produced and released by organs that are known as glands. Once released, the hormones will have a deep impact on many aspects of how our bodies function. It is important that the right balance of these hormones is in balance, and we could fall quite ill otherwise.

One of the most important glands in our bodies is the thyroid gland. This gland is responsible for producing hormones that are key to regulating our metabolism, among other things. This gland will sometimes develop problems, however, and one of these problems is Graves’ disease.

1. Graves’ Disease

Graves’ disease is a type of autoimmune condition, which means that the patient’s body is being attacked by their immune system. In the case of Grave’s disease, it is the thyroid gland in particular that is being attacked. This can result in hyperthyroidism, which means that the thyroid gland is releasing more hormones than it usually would be.

The hormones that are produced by the thyroid gland have a profound impact on various bodily functions. This, in turn, means that the patient can experience a variety of rather unwelcome symptoms. There is no known cure for the condition, but it can usually be managed.