Is Grave’s Disease Fatal?
There is rarely a risk of death associated with Graves’ disease. It can, however, result in several problems without treatment. Following your doctor’s treatment regimen is crucial after you’ve been diagnosed with Graves’ disease. From the eyes and skin to the heart and bones, Graves’ disease can cause complications if not managed correctly. (12)
You can reduce your risk by knowing about these potentially dangerous complications – that may include.
Skin problems
Graves’ dermopathy is a dermal complication of graves’ disease. It occurs when the skin on the tops of the feet and sometimes on the shins becomes red, thick, and swollen. Graves’ dermopathy is also commonly associated with pretibial myxedema, also known as pretibial edema – a complication of the eye.
The autoimmune process that causes Graves’ dermopathy is similar to that that causes Graves’ eye disease. The condition progresses as a result of inflammation accumulating proteins in the skin. Therefore, Graves’ dermopathy might not develop simultaneously with Graves’ disease.
Graves’ dermopathy is usually mild and subsides on its own after a year or two. Occasionally, it is painful and requires treatment. Compression socks may be recommended by your doctor to treat and prevent these complications.
When the skin lesions are more severe, topical steroids often help within a few weeks. As a result of a buildup of lymphatic fluid, lymphedema can be improved by physical therapy.
Thyroid storm
When Graves’ disease symptoms flare up suddenly, a thyroid storm can occur. According to Mycoclinic, the condition occurs in patients who have a chronic condition (suffered from hyperthyroidism for a long time). In most cases, it develops due to serious stress on the body (due to an infection or a heart attack). However, it can also be secondary to irregular use of antithyroid medications or following radioactive iodine therapy.
Symptoms of thyroid storm include anxiety, confusion, agitation, palpitations (a pounding heart), shaking, and excessive sweating. A thyroid storm can cause heart failure and death without immediate treatment.
Poorly controlled hyperthyroidism is linked to frequent thyroid storms. Therefore, to minimize your risk of Graves’ disease complications, you must follow your prescribed treatments.
Heart problems
Heart rate is controlled by thyroid hormones. People with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease have a faster heartbeat. This occurs due to the effect of thyroid hormones on the beating of the heart. An irregular heartbeat (called tachycardia) can develop due to chronic or untreated hyperthyroidism or grave’s disease. A constat irregular heartbeat can lead to further complications such as blood clots, leading to stroke and heart failure.
It again signifies the importance that people with Graves’ disease must treat hyperthyroidism to prevent heart problems.
Osteoporosis
An excess of thyroid hormone in people with Graves’ disease (or hyperthyroidism) speeds up the bone resorption rate (the rate at which bone is lost quickly that it is replaced). As a result, bone mineral density will decrease and osteoporosis may develop – leading to an increased risk of bone fractures). In postmenopausal women, the risk of osteoporosis and brittle bones increases the longer hyperthyroidism is left untreated.
Early treatment of hyperthyroidism can prevent osteoporosis in most cases. Despite treatment, osteoporosis may persist in some cases. In addition to prescribing antithyroid drugs, your doctor may recommend doing more weight-bearing exercises and increasing your dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D to prevent or slow down the bone resorption process.
How does Graves’ disease affect the eyes?
Graves’ eye disease can develop in one-third of grave’s disease cases, according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA). Also called thyroid eye disease or Graves’ ophthalmopathy, it develops when the immune system starts mistakenly attacking the muscles and soft tissues around the eyes. Cells behind the eyes also contain thyroid stimulating hormone receptors. When there is overproduction of the thyroid hormones in the body, they also affect the eyes and they start to bulge outwards and produce classic symptoms.
As with Graves’ disease itself, Graves’ eye disease results from an autoimmune reaction. Hyperthyroidism is the most common cause of Graves’ eye disease. Of note, Graves’ eye disease cannot be cured by treating Graves’ disease.
Symptoms of Grave’s ophthalmopathy include bulgy and dry eyes that are sensitive to light. Also, people with this condition may experience double vision and pain in their eyes. Left untreated, you may experience permanent vision loss due to massive swelling of the eyes that can compress the optic nerve.
Bulging and dryness due to Graves’ eye disease is usually treated with surgery or antithyroid drugs. In the first three to six months of treatment for Graves’ disease, symptoms may worsen, then stabilize and eventually improve.
Radioactive iodine therapy can make Graves’ ophthalmopathy worse in some people. This is why radioactive iodine is not a first-line therapy for people with Graves’ eye disease. With mild form of ophthalmopathy, this therapy is sometimes alongside steroids. Your endocrinologist and/or ophthalmologist may recommend the following to relieve symptoms of mild Graves’ eye disease:
- Drops that lubricate the eyes
- Eyes should be treated with cold compresses
- In the case of light sensitivity, wearing sunglasses is recommended
- Correcting double vision by wearing special glasses
- Swelling can be relieved by raising your head at night
There may be a need for specific medications in more serious cases. Severe cases may require surgery to the eyelids to help reduce the startled appearance of the eyeballs.