Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder in which your immune system attacks your thyroid gland, causing damage to your thyroid cells. Graves’ disease is also known as Toxic Goiter. Naturally, our body forms antibodies to fight viruses or other microorganisms to help our body to get rid of the infection. In Graves’, your body forms self-attacking antibodies that destroy your thyroid (Confused Antibodies).
The inflammation caused by Graves’ autoantibodies wax and wane but every time it affects a part of your thyroid gland. Over the course of the years, your gland becomes diffusely involved or you may develop a Toxic / Hot nodule. The end result is your gland will be overactive (hyperthyroidism).
Doctors do not know what causes your immune system to attack your thyroid gland. The medical literature refers to a combination of factors, including heredity, sex, age, stressful life events that may determine your likelihood of developing the disorder.
Graves’ is most common in middle-aged women and sometimes it runs in families.
There is no known way to prevent this disorder. But on the bright side, this disorder is very treatable and now you can get the treatment of Graves’ disease without facing the risks of surgery, through performing radiofrequency ablation of the thyroid gland.