Graves Disease
Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system of the body attacks mistakenly on the thyroid gland that results in increased secretion of the T3 and T4 (thyroid hormones).
Grave’s disease affects the nervous system, metabolism rate that causes weight loss, depression, irritability, physical and mental weakness.
Causes of Grave’s disease:
Grave’s disease is an autoimmune disease where immune systems make thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins that attack the thyroid gland called results in increased production of thyroid hormones.
Symptoms of Graves Disease:
1. Heat intolerance
2. Irritability
3. Mood swing
4. Weight loss despite increased appetite.
5. Irregular menstrual cycle.
6. Infertility
7. Depression
8. Increased heart rate
9. Trembling of hands and legs
10. Difficulty in breathing
11. Exophthalmos
12. Thickening of the skin
13. Enlargement of the thyroid gland
14. Difficulty sleeping at night.
15. Restlessness
16. Anxiety
17. Increased frequency of stools
18. Irregular heartbeat
19. Intolerance of heat
20. Chest pain
Risk factors:
• Family history of Grave’s disease.
• Women under the age of 40 are at higher risk to develop
Grave’s disease as compared to men.
• Stress
• Suffering from another autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes.
• Vitamin 12 deficiency.
• Celiac diseases.
Complications of Grave’s disease:
• Goiter
• Infertility
• Exophthalmos
• Loss of vision
• Abnormal thickening of the skin
• Depression
• Heart stroke
• Heart failure
• Preeclampsia
• Low birth weight
• Congestive heart failure in mother
• Miscarriage
Diagnosis:
1. Blood test: to see the TSH or parameters of T3 and T4.
2. Radioactive iodine uptake test: thyroid gland absorbed the iodine to make thyroid hormones. Swallowing the radioactive iodine helps to see what amount of iodine is absorbed by the thyroid gland. Increased absorption of iodine indicates a positive sign for Graves disease.
3. Imaging test ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI helps to determine the size, shape of the thyroid gland.
HOMEOPATHY MEDICINES:
1. lodum: lodum is well-indicated medicine for hyperthyroidism where the thyroid gland produces excessive hormones that cause an increased metabolic rate and weight loss even if the patient is taking a good diet. The patient is restless and feels hot flushes in the body. Anxiety with tachycardia. Hoarseness of voice, bulging out of eyeballs with chronic diarrhea can be there.
2. Conium maculatum: it works well in the enlarged thyroid gland of the patient with depression. A person with depression who has lost interest in his or her work. The patient is very irritable with weak memory. Excessive perspiration on the hands. It can be given in women with hyperthyroidism when there is an irregular menstrual cycle.
3. Natrum muriaticum: natrum muriaticum can be given in exophthalmos goiter. Hypertrophy of tonsils and thyroid gland.
Goiter with a chronic sore throat. Hoarseness of voice in the morning. Voice weak, exhausted from talking. Bad effect of speaking for a longer period.
4. Kali iodatum: kali iodatum is well indicated for thyroid disorder.
There is swelling of the thyroid gland. Hoarseness of voice with pain. Goiter is sensitive to contact.
