Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that results in the increase of production of thyroid hormones. The immune system is designed to protect the body and fight off any infection; it is meant to differentiate and abolish any harmful elements within the body (Medow, 2013). For example, bacteria or viruses. Autoimmune disorder does the opposite and attack itself instead of the harmful products. With a disorder that affect the body’s ability to do so, it can be very harmful. This condition is more prevalent in those younger than 40 and is found more in women compared to men.
The symptoms that most patients with Graves’ disease will be much like that of those with hyperthyroidism. In Graves’ disease, autoantibodies are attacking the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor which then stimulated the thyroid gland to create more thyroid hormone, thus resulting in hyperthyroidism. Two other conditions that typically go hand and hand with Graves’ disease is Graves’ dermopathy and Graves’ ophthalmopathy (Charters, 2013). These usually occur in extreme cases but result in redness of the skin that covers their shins and/or a bulging appearance of the eyes and withdrawn eyelids (Charters,