Grave’s Disease
About 150 years ago, Robert Graves, an Irish doctor, made the first official diagnosis of Graves' disease. Depending on the patient and the extent of the disorder, Graves' disease symptoms can vary greatly. The widespread and significant roles played by the thyroid gland in the body make Graves' disease symptoms typically quite noticeable and capable of having a wide range of negative effects on general health and wellbeing. Thyrotoxicosis, an overproduction of thyroid hormones, causes Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition that affects the entire thyroid gland.
The pituitary gland in the brain normally releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which controls how much thyroid hormone the thyroid produces. However, Graves' disease patients encounter a breakdown in the pituitary gland's and thyroid gland's usual communication, which leads to the creation of aberrant antibodies that mimic TSH and, as a result, cause too much thyroid hormone to circulate in the bloodstream.
These antibodies are known as thyrotropin receptor antibodies and thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI) (TRAb). TSH, which humans require in sufficient amounts to support the thyroid's healthy function, has a similar impact on TSI cells. However, TSI antibodies make the thyroid gland generate more thyroid hormones than is required for health.
These antibodies can interfere with regular signals from the pituitary gland and lead to hyperthyroidism because the thyroid misinterprets them for TSH. Inflammation increases as TSI and TRAb levels rise, a sign that the immune system is overreacting and unintentionally attacking the body's own healthy tissue. Because the immune system gets more active, more biological tissue is injured, and then more activated T-cells and auto-antibodies are released, Graves' disease patients may experience a damaging cycle.
The thyroid hormones T3 and T4 are among the many types that we naturally make. On a blood test, people with Graves' disease have abnormally high levels of T3 and T4, low TSH, and abnormally high amounts of T4 compared to healthy individuals without autoimmune or thyroid diseases.
The following is a list of some of the most typical signs:
Here is a list of some of the most common symptoms:
Hashimoto’s
Hyperthyroidism
Anxiety
A fine tremor in the hands or fingers
Panic Attacks
Insomnia
Fatigue
Heat sensitivity
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Sensitivity to heat
Bulging eyes
Sweating
Weight loss
Change in menstrual cycles
Muscle weakness
Diarrhea and frequent bowel movements
Goiter
My TSH is too low; why?
Low TSH might have two distinct reasons when it comes to Graves' illness.
The endocrine system includes the pituitary, hypothalamus, and adrenals (together referred to as the HPA axis), all of which interact with one another throughout the course of the day. The brain can tell the pituitary to create less TSH when the body is under stress, which causes the thyroid to produce more thyroid hormones (FT4). The TSI antibody imitates TSH and signals the thyroid to produce too much FT4 by imitating TSH. Less TSH is released by the pituitary as a result of this. Remember that TSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary, thus it cannot actually tell you how your thyroid is functioning. You should check your FT4 level to determine how much thyroid hormone is being made.
What causes a high FT4?
FT4 is typically elevated when there is a severe case of either emotional stress or environmental stress from things such as synthetic pesticides, toxic metals, and possibly glyphosate. Due to TSI's ability to imitate TSH and instruct the thyroid to produce extra FT4, FT4 can similarly be increased.
How come my FT3 is so high?
Most frequently, excessive FT3 results from the thyroid producing too much T4, which is then transformed into FT3. This may also occur, though, if the body is overloaded with toxins.
Here’s the list of labs to ask for :
TSH
TPO
TAA
TSI
Free T3 (FT3)
Free T4 (FT4)
Reverse T3
T3
T4
T3 uptake
Total T3
All autoimmune diseases take time to be reversed, so working with a naturopath will help you discover the right path and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
RESOURCES:
https://www.nature.com/nrneurol/
2022. NP. Malika Katrouche. All Rights Reserved.
