How to treat Graves’ Disease, Hyperthyroidism
Hello everyone this is dr anis rahman i’m an endocrinologist and welcome to a yet another episode of district endocrine today we are going to talk about graves disease so let’s get into it graves disease is an autoimmune system disorder where there is an overproduction of thyroid hormone and that results in hyperthyroidism now grave disease is a common disorder
With over thyroid over active thyroid particularly affecting women and those who are younger than 40 years of age treatment is focused on reducing thyroid hormone production which helps with the severity of hyperthyroid symptoms treatment for graves disease is focused on reducing thyroid hormone production and protecting the heart from excessive thyroid hormone
Levels radioactive iodine therapy american thyroid association recommends that race disease treatment with radioactive iodine as the first line of treatment in most the case in most of the cases it is the most effective treatment and safe as compared to the other treatment options such as medications or surgery radioactive iodine is given by mouth which is
Taken up by the thyroid cells and it releases small doses of radiations that destroy the overactive thyroid cells over time this can take up to six months to be fully effective thyroid gland may shrink in size ninety percent of the patients lose their thyroid function and become hypothyroid which is the under thyroid under active thyroid and they will need thyroid
Replacement this therapy increases sometimes can cause increase in the symptoms of the crave disease which are temporarily and they can resolve with treatment it is given with caution in patients who have graves eye disease or those women who are pregnant or breastfeeding anti-thyroid medications have an effect on thyroid um and they stop the the use of iodines
In iodine in the thyroid cells and that’s how they reduce the thyroid levels uh the medications include methamphol or tapazole or profile thyroid uracil pto both these medications having can increase risk of liver damage which is rare however it can happen or they can affect the autoimmune system and reduce immunity in in in a disease called agranulocytosis
Which is a very rare side effect overall these drugs are safe in general steroids can also be be used in patients when there is over active thyroid and they are used very selectively beta blocker uh do not directly affect the thyroid levels but they can reduce thyroid hormone impact on the body and help with hyperthyroid symptoms their effect on the conversion
To more over active type over more active form of thyroid is is minimal but it is there they help with reducing the symptoms such as tremors anxiety diarrhea heat intolerance muscle weakness and overall they can help with overall symptoms specifically the heart when it is over active uh common uh beta blockers include metoprolol ethynol uh or uh or propanol
Uh beta blockers are prescribed with caution in patients who have asthma since these medications can increase or trigger uh asthmatic attacks in these patients surgery now subtotal uh or total thyroid replace a thyroid surgery or thyrotectomy are surgical procedures to remove the thyroid gland either completely or partially this is usually the last treatment
Options when the radioiodine ablation or the medications have failed or they are contraindicated patients uh may likely need thyroid replacement after the surgery potential risks include nerve damage that controls the vocal cord and that can result in hoarseness of voice parathyroid glands are also present very close to thyroid and sometimes the surgery can
Affect them and that can result in calcium balance issues and those these complications are very rare and it depends on the hands and experience of the surgeon treating graves ophthalmopathy or graves eye disease now while symptoms of graves ophthalmopathy can be treated with over-the-counter artificial tears or lubrication gel uh prescription medications
Include corticosteroid uh zipa is a new drug and they are used in moderate to severe um graves eye disease and sometimes it may require surgery or radiotherapy thank you so much for watching another episode of district endocrine this is dr raman signing off uh don’t forget to like subscribe to our channel you can visit our website www.districtendocrine.com for
More articles and more more articles and information thank you very much you
Transcribed from video
Graves' Disease (Hyperthyroidism) Treatment By District Endocrine