Graves’ disease, an autoimmune condition that leads to hyperthyroidism, can affect several aspects of your health. Treatments can manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition that leads to overactivation of the thyroid gland, known as hyperthyroidism. It affects about
The thyroid gland makes hormones that work throughout the body and affect many organs and functions. As a result, overactivity can have many complex effects on a person’s health, including concerns related to the heart, muscles, eyes, and bones.
We examine some of your most frequently asked questions about the outlook with Graves’ disease and what it means for your future health.
Graves’ disease can cause many effects throughout the body that increase the likelihood of serious complications that can lead to death. Among the most common of these are cardiovascular (heart) effects.
Research suggests that life expectancy with Graves’ disease depends on how well thyroid function is controlled. This is typically assessed based on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, which are lower than normal in people with Graves’ disease.
Lower TSH levels happen when the body tries to compensate for the increased activity of the thyroid gland.
In studies that have looked at the correlation between thyroid function and mortality in Graves’ disease, low TSH levels have been found to increase the likelihood of death — by more than 10% as early as 6 months after diagnosis, according to one
The risk for premature death increases the longer thyroid function remains uncontrolled; by 5 years, those with persistently low TSH levels were found to be more than twice as likely to die early.
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of early death among people with hyperthyroidism and is also linked to thyroid function. In another
Even among people with thyroid function that’s within the range considered “normal,” people with higher thyroid activity have been found to live about 3 years shorter than those with lower thyroid activity.
In a long-term analysis of 182 people with Graves’ disease, though, more than one-third achieved normal thyroid function, and 13% developed hypothyroidism (low thyroid activity) with antithyroid treatment.
Over the 25 years of the study, 25 people died at a median age of 74 years. The most common cause of death was cancer.
In some cases, Graves’ disease can lead to
In many cases, these complications can be prevented or managed with treatment, but one study found that up to 18% of people had been on long-term sick leave or received permanent disability insurance as a result of their Graves’ disease.
Quality of life with Graves’ disease can be affected by several factors. Diminished quality of life in people with Graves’ disease is most commonly linked to the development of hypothyroidism after treatment.
In one older
These results suggest that the quality of life with Graves’ disease may be better with long-term antithyroid therapy than with treatments that lead to permanent hypothyroidism. However, serious complications can develop with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism is generally considered easier to manage.
When discussing treatment options with your doctor, it’s important to discuss how all aspects of your care — including both treatment and the disease itself — will impact your quality of life and overall well-being.
Graves’ disease can recur or “flare up,” even with treatment. It’s been estimated that about half of people will experience a recurrence of disease activity and may even require a change in treatment within 12 to 18 months of starting therapy.
Several factors have been linked to flare-ups after antithyroid drug therapy. Some of these, like age or male sex, cannot be controlled. Smoking has been identified as a predictor of treatment not responding well. So, smoking cessation is generally recommended to avoid flare-ups or complications related to Graves’ disease.
Graves’ disease eye complications (i.e., Graves’ orbitopathy) can be linked to uncontrolled thyroid activity as well as the use of
Treatment for Graves’ disease can help address the symptoms related to hyperthyroidism and decrease thyroid hormone levels, but they don’t address the underlying autoimmunity that causes the disease.
Surgery or radioiodine therapy can be used to help knock out thyroid activity, but this typically results in hypothyroidism that requires additional long-term care to manage. For this reason, many experts do not consider Graves’ disease a “curable” condition.
As noted above, though, an estimated one-third of people can achieve normal thyroid levels with treatment, and remission has been reported in more than a quarter of people.
Graves’ disease is a chronic autoimmune condition that leads to elevated levels of thyroid hormones, which can affect many aspects of a person’s health.
If left unmanaged, hyperthyroidism with Graves’ disease can lead to a variety of complications, including heart disease, eye problems, and early death.
Treatments are available to help restore thyroid activity and reduce the likelihood of complications. Medications, radioiodine therapy, or surgery can also be used with varying degrees of success.
Before beginning or switching treatment approaches, you should discuss the risks and benefits of each treatment — including their potential impact on quality of life — with your doctor.