• Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Quizzes
    • Gut Health Quiz
    • Thyroid Quiz
    • Adrenal Quiz
  • About
    • Rejuvagen Difference
    • Testimonials
    • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Search

Rejuvagen Center

Functional Medicine

  • Podcasts
    • Thyroid Answers Podcast
    • Thyroid Thursday Videos
  • Blog
  • New Patients
  • Shop
  • Podcasts
    • Thyroid Answers Podcast
    • Thyroid Thursday Videos
  • Blog
  • New Patients
  • Shop
  • Thyroid Health
    • Thyroid Physiology
    • Hypothyroidism
    • Cellular Hypothyroidism
      • Cell Danger Response
      • Thyroid Allostasis vs Homeostasis
      • Multi-System Adaptive Disorder
    • Hyperthyroidism
    • Autoimmune Thyroid
      • Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
      • Grave’s Disease
  • Gut Health
    • Thyroid-Gut Connection
    • SIBO
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Bile Physiology
  • Hormone Health
    • Sex Hormones
      • Estrogen Metabolism
      • Androgen Metabolism
    • Adrenals
      • Cortisol
    • Mood Disorders
    • Blood Sugar Regulation
      • Insulin Resistance
      • Diabetes
  • Autoimmune Health
    • Autoimmune Conditions
  • Nerve Health
    • Peripheral Neuropathy
  • Thyroid Health
    • Thyroid Physiology
    • Hypothyroidism
    • Cellular Hypothyroidism
      • Cell Danger Response
      • Thyroid Allostasis vs Homeostasis
      • Multi-System Adaptive Disorder
    • Hyperthyroidism
    • Autoimmune Thyroid
      • Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
      • Grave’s Disease
  • Gut Health
    • Thyroid-Gut Connection
    • SIBO
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Bile Physiology
  • Hormone Health
    • Sex Hormones
      • Estrogen Metabolism
      • Androgen Metabolism
    • Adrenals
      • Cortisol
    • Mood Disorders
    • Blood Sugar Regulation
      • Insulin Resistance
      • Diabetes
  • Autoimmune Health
    • Autoimmune Conditions
  • Nerve Health
    • Peripheral Neuropathy
Autoimmune Health 1

Grave’s Disease

You are here: Home / Thyroid Health / Autoimmune Thyroid / Grave’s Disease

Grave’s disease is an autoimmune thyroid condition and one of the most common causes of hyperthyroidism. In Grave’s disease, something triggers the immune response to produce Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor (TSHr) antibodies. These antibodies stimulate the thyroid gland to produce excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, resulting in hyperthyroidism. The antibodies also stimulate the thyroid gland to grow, often resulting in an abnormal enlargement, or goiter.

Hyperthyroidism is characterized by hypermetabolism and elevated serum levels of free thyroid hormones. The diagnosis of Grave’s disease is based on signs and symptoms as well as abnormal thyroid function tests.

Common Signs & Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism & Grave’s disease

  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Fatigue
  • A rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • A fine tremor of your hands or fingers
  • An increase in perspiration or warm, moist skin
  • Sensitivity to heat
  • Weight loss, despite normal eating habits
  • Enlargement of your thyroid gland (goiter)
  • Change in menstrual cycles
  • Erectile dysfunction or reduced libido
  • Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea
  • Graves’ ophthalmopathy (eye complications -Eye bulging, tearing, dryness, irritation, puffy eyelids, inflammation, light sensitivity, blurred vision, pain)
  • Thick, red skin usually on the shins or tops of the feet (Graves’ dermopathy
    Source: Mayo Clinic

Conventional medical treatment for Grave’s Disease

In conventional medicine, patients diagnosed with Grave’s disease or hyperthyroidism are typically given anti-thyroid medications or beta blockers. Thyroid suppressing drugs hinder the thyroid gland’s ability to use iodine. Since iodine is necessary to make thyroid hormone, blocking iodine production will lower thyroid hormone levels. Since hyperthyroidism and Grave’s disease can cause increased heart rate or abnormal changes in heart rhythm, beta blockers are often given in conjunction to thyroid suppressing drugs to temporarily block the effects of excessive thyroid hormone on the heart.

When medications alone are unable to treat the symptoms and side effects of a hyperactive thyroid, doctor often recommend radioactive iodine to destroy the thyroid gland or surgery to remove the gland. Once the thyroid gland is destroyed or removed, patients usually become hypothyroid and will require thyroid hormone medications for the remainder of their lives.

Functional medicine for patients with Grave’s Disease

Regardless of whether a person has Grave’s disease, hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, identifying the root issues and cellular stressors that caused their compromised thyroid physiology should be the priority. Even if you have already had your thyroid gland irradiated or removed, the underlying stressors that caused this disease still need to be addressed to prevent other forms of autoimmune disease from developing in the future.

Many of the same foundational concepts that apply for hypothyroidism also hold true for hyperthyroidism. Strategic Functional Medicine at Rejuvagen may be the solution to help correct the underlying challenges of your thyroid physiology. There is no single protocol for hyperthyroidism that is best for all patients, however, uncovering and removing cellular stressors, supporting cellular function and supporting your thyroid physiology can help prevent further damage and start the pathway to healing.

Call 610.558.8920 or click to schedule your appointment. Schedule a Consultation

Disclaimer: All information, content, and material of this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of a physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before making any medical or lifestyle changes.

Footer

REJUVAGEN
225 Wilmington-West Chester Pike
Suite 263
Chadds Ford, PA 19317

Phone: 610.558.8920
Fax: 610.558.3530

[email protected]

Privacy Policy
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Request an Appointment

Monday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Thursday: 8:00am – 6:00pm
Friday – Sunday: Closed

Copyright © 2021 Rejuvagen Center · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Solution

Close Popup

Schedule a Free Health Evaluation

Hi, Im Dr. Eric Balcavage, owner and founder of Rejuvagen. I would love to learn more about your goals and needs. We can decide together what type of consultation is right for you.

Schedule a Consultation