Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott, who is 39 years old, has been battling Graves' disease
for the past three years. She said she realized she had a problem
while driving, when she lost control of her muscles. Elliott went on to
suffer other symptoms, including hair loss and mood swings. The disease, which affects the autoimmune system and thyroid gland can be severe, but what is it really?
Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents, and usually presents itself during early adolescence. It has a powerful hereditary component, affects up to 2% of the female population, and is between five and ten times as common in females as in males. Graves' disease is also the most common cause of severe hyperthyroidism, which is accompanied by more clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory abnormalities as compared with milder forms of hyperthyroidism. About 25-30% of people with Graves' disease will also suffer from Graves' ophthalmopathy (a protrusion of one or both eyes), caused by inflammation of the eye muscles by attacking autoantibodies.
Elliott explains her symptoms further:
The disease typically begins gradually, and is progressive unless treated. If left untreated, more serious complications could result, including bone loss and fractures, inanition, birth defects in pregnancy, increased risk of a miscarriage. Graves disease is often accompanied by an increase in heart rate, which may lead to cardiovascular damage and further heart complications including loss of the normal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation), which may lead to stroke.
Elliot's condition improved after she underwent radiation therapy, and spent more time at the gym:
There is no "natural" way to "cure" Graves' disease. For instance, although there are no specific foods that will change thyroid function, the healthier, nutritionally dense foods consumed, the better the body will be able to fight against infection and further insult.
Equally, many of the treatments like acupuncture, exercise, meditation, and various mind-body therapies may provide comfort measures and relief, but are not a substitute for standard medical treatment. There are many studies of other auto-immune diseases that indicate that the more input and control a patient has in their care, the more rapid their recovery will be.
In a particular case, George H. W. Bush, U.S. president, developed new atrial fibrillation and was diagnosed in 1991 with hyperthyroidism due to the disease, and treated with radioactive iodine.
Barbara Bush also developed the disease about the same time, which in her case produced severe infiltrative exopthalmos. Scientists said that the odds of both George and Barbara Bush having Graves' disease might be 1 in 100,000 or as low as 1 in 3,000,000, presuming that the disease was independently caused.
Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in children and adolescents, and usually presents itself during early adolescence. It has a powerful hereditary component, affects up to 2% of the female population, and is between five and ten times as common in females as in males. Graves' disease is also the most common cause of severe hyperthyroidism, which is accompanied by more clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory abnormalities as compared with milder forms of hyperthyroidism. About 25-30% of people with Graves' disease will also suffer from Graves' ophthalmopathy (a protrusion of one or both eyes), caused by inflammation of the eye muscles by attacking autoantibodies.
Elliott explains her symptoms further:
"I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad. I couldn't even use a pen. I was trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping. I couldn't keep the brake down and almost crashed."
The disease typically begins gradually, and is progressive unless treated. If left untreated, more serious complications could result, including bone loss and fractures, inanition, birth defects in pregnancy, increased risk of a miscarriage. Graves disease is often accompanied by an increase in heart rate, which may lead to cardiovascular damage and further heart complications including loss of the normal heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation), which may lead to stroke.
Elliot's condition improved after she underwent radiation therapy, and spent more time at the gym:
"I'm 30 pounds lighter because I've been exercising. My thyroid is functioning, so I haven't had to take medication in about nine months, but you live with it for the rest of your life."
There is no "natural" way to "cure" Graves' disease. For instance, although there are no specific foods that will change thyroid function, the healthier, nutritionally dense foods consumed, the better the body will be able to fight against infection and further insult.
Equally, many of the treatments like acupuncture, exercise, meditation, and various mind-body therapies may provide comfort measures and relief, but are not a substitute for standard medical treatment. There are many studies of other auto-immune diseases that indicate that the more input and control a patient has in their care, the more rapid their recovery will be.
In a particular case, George H. W. Bush, U.S. president, developed new atrial fibrillation and was diagnosed in 1991 with hyperthyroidism due to the disease, and treated with radioactive iodine.
Barbara Bush also developed the disease about the same time, which in her case produced severe infiltrative exopthalmos. Scientists said that the odds of both George and Barbara Bush having Graves' disease might be 1 in 100,000 or as low as 1 in 3,000,000, presuming that the disease was independently caused.
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