Cause 3: Autoimmune Response – When Your Body Fights Itself
At the heart of Graves’ disease lies an autoimmune response, wherein the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its cells. In the case of Graves’ disease, the victim of this misplaced aggression is the thyroid gland, causing it to produce an excess of thyroid hormones, a condition known as hyperthyroidism.
The trigger for this autoimmune response is a type of antibody known as the Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI). Under normal circumstances, the pituitary gland produces Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which instructs the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. However, in the case of Graves’ disease, the TSI mimics TSH, causing an overproduction of thyroid hormones.
This erroneous attack on the thyroid gland by the immune system results in the typical symptoms of Graves’ disease, such as rapid heart rate, weight loss, and anxiety. Despite ongoing research, why the immune system turns against the body’s cells remains a mystery.
Several factors could be at play, from genetic predisposition to environmental triggers, but the exact combination of elements leading to this immune system dysfunction is not yet fully understood. Therefore, unravelling this cause remains a key focus in the research and understanding of Graves’ disease. (3)
