Hyperthyroidism (Graves’ Disease)
Name
Institution
Hyperthyroidism (Graves’ Disease)
In addition to the prevalence of Graves’ disease in women, studies also show that graves’ disease impacts a woman’s reproductive health, making it harder for the patient to get pregnant or causing pregnancy complications (Quintono-Moro et al., 2014). Women, therefore, need regular checks in case of hormonal changes to check the endocrine system for abnormalities
In some cases, although few, graves’ diseases manifest as dermopathy, which is the thickening and reddening of the skin. The skin problems mostly affect areas around the shits or the top section of the feet. The thickening of the skin causes irritability, and patients may complain of skin sensitivity and swelling. Some of the more common symptoms in most patients include fatigue, changes in the menstrual cycle, frequent bowel movement, erectile dysfunction, sleep disturbances, and irregular heartbeat, among others (DeGroot, 2016). These symptoms may differ among patients.
The diagnosis for graves’ disease begins with a physical exam of the patient. Some of the expected physical symptoms of the disease include redness of the skin on shin and feet, swollen glands (goiter). The physician may then order the T3 and T4 tests, as mentioned in the paper. To add on to the said tests, physicians may also request for an ultrasound, CT scans, or an MRI to check for abnormalities in body tissues (DeGroot, 2016).
When it comes to the treatment of Graves’ disease, there are different options, as mentioned. Standard procedures for treatment include antithyroid drugs as well as radioactive iodine (DeGroot, 2016). The physician, however, needs to adhere to medical ethics when administering medication to ensure that there is patient autonomy in choosing treatment options.
Some of the available treatment guidelines for graves’ disease are in the databases below. The links contain information on the causes, testing, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of graves’ disease.
- https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/graves-disease
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/graves-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20356240
References
DeGroot, L. J. (2016). Diagnosis and treatment of Graves’ disease. In Endotext [Internet]. MDText. com, Inc..
Quintono-Moro, A., Zantut-Wittmann, D., Tambascia, M., da Costa Machado, H., Fernandes, A. (2014). High prevalence of infertility among women with Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. (link is external) International Journal of Endocrinology. doi:10.1155/2014/982705.