An unhealthy lifestyle is a common culprit for chronic diseases from heart disease to lung cancer, but Graves’ disease, on the other hand, is an autoimmune condition that evades such a straightforward explanation.
When it comes to what causes Graves’ disease, the root of the autoimmune disorder, is widely unknown. Andrew Gianoukakis, professor of medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine and chief of the division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, says there is more to know about this complex disease.
So What Is Graves’ Disease?
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder which was named after the Irish physician Robert Graves. According to Gianoukakis, the disease is a constellation of symptoms. He noted that the condition can cause hyperthyroidism and lead to other conditions like eye and skin disease.
Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the body produces too much thyroid hormone in adults. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that typically secretes hormones that control your metabolism, body temperature, breathing, digestion, and fertility. If it becomes overactive, the body’s metabolism speeds up causing irregular heartbeat, rapid weight loss, and hand tremors.
