British actress Daisy Ridley has announced she was diagnosed with Graves’ disease last September , having suffered symptoms while filming the psychological thriller Magpie. She rose to prominence for her role as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy: The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker. The 32-year-old isn’t the only famous face to be candid about being diagnosed with the condition.
In 2010, Australian singer-songwriter Sia confirmed in a tweet she had contracted it. US rapper Missy Elliott said she first started struggling with the disease in 2008. Here is all you need to know about the condition: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that can cause overactivity of the thyroid , a small gland in the front of your neck.
The immune system produces antibodies that cause the thyroid to produce excessive thyroid hormones (thyroxine or T4 and triiodothyronine or T3). About four in every five people with an overactive thyroid gland have Graves’ disease, according to the NHS website. Thyroid hormones control the way your body uses energy.
As such, the National Institutes for Health (NIH) says on its website that the condition affects almost every organ. Graves' disease is named after Robert J. Graves, an Irish physician who first described the condition in the early 19th century.
Dr Graves provided a detailed account of a patient with symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including an enlarged thyroid gland and protruding eyes, which are now recognised as characteristic features of the disease. His work, along with that of other physicians, contributed significantly to the understanding and identification of this autoimmune disorder. The name "Graves' disease" honours his contributions to medical science and his role in identifying and documenting the syndrome.
In some countries, particularly in Europe, the condition is also known as Basedow's disease. This is after the German physician Karl Adolph von Basedow, who independently described the same disease around the same time. Symptoms can develop gradually and may initially be mistaken for anxiety or stress, according to the Graves’ Disease and Thyroid Foundation.
However, it said an overactive thyroid can become serious and must be treated to avoid complications such as heart problems and bone and muscle wasting. Here are the most common symptoms: The cause of Graves’ disease is unknown. However, it mostly affects young or middle-aged women and often occurs in people with a family history of thyroid or other autoimmune diseases.
Smoking can also increase your risk of getting it, according to the NHS. Treatment for Graves' disease aims to reduce thyroid hormone production and manage symptoms: Antithyroid medications : Radioactive iodine therapy : Surgery (thyroidectomy) : Graves' ophthalmopathy : Regular follow-up with an endocrinologist is crucial to monitor and adjust treatment. Visit the NHS website for more information.
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