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Graves' disease

Graves' disease is an auto-immune condition affecting the thyroid gland in the neck. The body’s immune system produces antibodies that attack the thyroid tissue, leading to the thyroid becoming overactive. Symptoms include racing heart, sweating, weight loss, irritability, fatigue and sleep loss.

People who have had Graves' disease for long periods can develop bulging eyes, or exophthalmos. It is also possible to get a goitre, which is a swollen thyroid gland visible to others. Treatments involve reducing the activity of the gland with medicines, and sometimes surgery.

Follow the links below to find trusted information about Grave's disease.

Last reviewed: August 2014

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Graves' disease - Lab Tests Online AU

Graves disease is the most common cause of overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism). It is caused by an antibody that acts like thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and causes the thyroid gland to produce excess thyroid hormones.

Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)

Hyperthyroidism is a health condition where your thyroid becomes overactive and produces too many hormones. It is a serious health condition that is fatal if left undiagnosed or untreated.

Thyroid eye disease - myDr.com.au

Thyroid eye disease occurs in people with thyroid disease and is characterised by inflammation, swelling and eventual scarring.

Thyroid disease in children - myDr.com.au

Learn about the signs, symptoms and treatment of thyroid disease in children.

Autoimmune diseases - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA)

Autoimmune diseases are a broad range of related diseases in which a persons immune system produces an inappropriate response against its own cells, tissues and/or organs, resulting in inflammation and damage.

Read more on ASCIA – Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy website

Thyroid Eye Disease - Targeting Cancer

About Radiation Oncology What is Radiation Oncology? What is Radiation Therapy? Benefits and Effectiveness Side Effects Treatment Process Radiation Oncology Team Radiation Oncologists Radiation Therapists Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists Radiation Oncology Nurses GPs/Health Professionals FAQs Radiation Therapy External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Brachytherapy Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer Brachytherapy for Cervix Cancer Brachytherapy for Uterine Cancer Treatment By Cancer Type Benign Disease Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Pituitary Adenoma Meningioma Thyroid Eye Disease Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma) Bladder Cancer Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Cervix Cancer Colorectal Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Leukaemia Liver Cancer Lung Cancer Lymphoma Oesophageal Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Palliative Treatment Prostate Cancer Sarcomas Skin Cancer and Melanoma Stomach Cancer Thyroid Cancer Upper Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Uterine Cancer Our Stories Supporter Statements Patient Stories Treatment Team Videos about Radiation Therapy Talking To Your Doctor About Radiation Oncology What is Radiation Oncology? What is Radiation Therapy? Benefits and Effectiveness Side Effects Treatment Process Radiation Oncology Team Radiation Oncologists Radiation Therapists Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists Radiation Oncology Nurses GPs/Health Professionals FAQs Radiation Therapy External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Brachytherapy Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer Brachytherapy for Cervix Cancer Brachytherapy for Uterine Cancer Treatment By Cancer Type Benign Disease Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Pituitary Adenoma Meningioma Thyroid Eye Disease Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma) Bladder Cancer Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Cervix Cancer Colorectal Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Leukaemia Liver Cancer Lung Cancer Lymphoma Oesophageal Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Palliative Treatment Prostate Cancer Sarcomas Skin Cancer and Melanoma Stomach Cancer Thyroid Cancer Upper Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Uterine Cancer Our Stories Supporter Statements Patient Stories Treatment Team Videos about Radiation Therapy Talking To Your Doctor Thyroid Eye Disease Also known as Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy or Graves Disease, thyroid eye disease (TED) is a form of inflammation in the tissues surrounding the eye

Read more on Radiation Oncology Targeting Cancer website

Thyroid disease and osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones become fragile, leading to a higher risk of breaks or fractures. A minor bump or fall can be enough to cause a break in someone with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is more common in people with thyroid conditio ns than in the general population. This factsheet explains how thyroid disease can affect your bones, how to find out if you are at risk of osteoporosis, and what you can do to help protect your bone health

Read more on Osteoporosis Australia website

Benign Disease - Targeting Cancer

About Radiation Oncology What is Radiation Oncology? What is Radiation Therapy? Benefits and Effectiveness Side Effects Treatment Process Radiation Oncology Team Radiation Oncologists Radiation Therapists Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists Radiation Oncology Nurses GPs/Health Professionals FAQs Radiation Therapy External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Brachytherapy Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer Brachytherapy for Cervix Cancer Brachytherapy for Uterine Cancer Treatment By Cancer Type Benign Disease Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Pituitary Adenoma Meningioma Thyroid Eye Disease Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma) Bladder Cancer Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Cervix Cancer Colorectal Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Leukaemia Liver Cancer Lung Cancer Lymphoma Oesophageal Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Palliative Treatment Prostate Cancer Sarcomas Skin Cancer and Melanoma Stomach Cancer Thyroid Cancer Upper Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Uterine Cancer Our Stories Supporter Statements Patient Stories Treatment Team Videos about Radiation Therapy Talking To Your Doctor About Radiation Oncology What is Radiation Oncology? What is Radiation Therapy? Benefits and Effectiveness Side Effects Treatment Process Radiation Oncology Team Radiation Oncologists Radiation Therapists Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists Radiation Oncology Nurses GPs/Health Professionals FAQs Radiation Therapy External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) Brachytherapy Brachytherapy for Prostate Cancer Brachytherapy for Cervix Cancer Brachytherapy for Uterine Cancer Treatment By Cancer Type Benign Disease Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Pituitary Adenoma Meningioma Thyroid Eye Disease Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma) Bladder Cancer Brain Cancer Breast Cancer Cervix Cancer Colorectal Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Leukaemia Liver Cancer Lung Cancer Lymphoma Oesophageal Cancer Pancreatic Cancer Palliative Treatment Prostate Cancer Sarcomas Skin Cancer and Melanoma Stomach Cancer Thyroid Cancer Upper Gastro-Intestinal Cancer Uterine Cancer Our Stories Supporter Statements Patient Stories Treatment Team Videos about Radiation Therapy Talking To Your Doctor Benign Disease Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is a tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins

Read more on Radiation Oncology Targeting Cancer website

Autoantibodies - Lab Tests Online AU

Autoantibodies are a group of antibodies (immune proteins) that mistakenly target and damage specific tissues or organs of the body. In many instances they may not be pathogenic, that is cause disease, but a sign of damage that is occurring or may be going to occur. One or more autoantibodies may be produced by a persons immune systemwhen it fails to distinguish between self and non-self proteins. Usually the immune system is able to discriminate by recognising foreign substances (non-self) and ignoring the bodys own cells (self), yet not overreact to non-threatening substances such as foods, dust and pollen, or beneficial microorganisms.