How to Prevent Graves' Disease

Graves' disease is an autoimmune deficiency that attacks the thyroid gland. With no known cause, there is also no known way to prevent the condition. Consider factors that put you at risk and have routine checkups for an early diagnosis and successful treatment. While you can't prevent Graves' disease, you may be able to start treatment early enough to avoid more serious symptoms and complications.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Family medical history
• Doctor

Prevent Graves' Disease From Advancing

1. Research your family's medical history to see whether anyone has been diagnosed with Graves' disease, hyperthyroidism or any other thyroid conditions.

2. Look for early signs of Graves' disease and work with your doctor if you have a family history of thyroid problems. Early symptoms can manifest as migraines, anxiety or insomnia.

3. Have annual physicals to make sure you are healthy. These routine exams can often catch Graves' disease and other conditions early.

4. Pay attention to your body. If things just seem strange or out of the norm, you should speak to your doctor. Signs of Graves' disease include common ailments like fatigue and irregular periods.

5. Live a healthy life, trying to keep stress minimal. Graves' disease often manifests itself after a stressful situation. Since it is an autoimmune disease, and stress weakens your immune system, it seems natural that more serious symptoms appear when you are most vulnerable.

6. Continue to take your medication, if prescribed by a doctor, to prevent your condition from advancing. With proper treatment, you may even enter into remission.

7. Learn more about Graves' disease and other thyroid problems from "The Thyroid Sourcebook" by M. Sara Rosenthal, available at Amazon.com (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Ask to be referred to an endocrinologist if you have a family history of Graves' disease. As a specialist, she may be able to recognize the symptoms at an earlier stage than a primary-care physician would.
• Graves' disease affects women more than men, carrying an almost eight to one ratio.
• Hyperthyroidism usually occurs after the age of 20, but young children can also be affected.
• Certain symptoms of Graves' disease can be aggravated by vitamin deficiencies. Taking vitamin B6 can help strengthen the heart, while vitamin A can reduce vision problems. Several other vitamins are also beneficial. Speak to a nutritionist to set up a daily vitamin regimen for your condition.

Resources

• Amazon.com

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