An autoimmune disorder, Graves’ disease causes the thyroid gland to produce an overabundance of thyroid hormone. As a result, people with Graves’ disease experience symptoms like heart palpitations, problems sleeping, bowel issues, and other health effects.
Certain autoimmune diseases and conditions can increase your risk of experiencing Graves’ disease. Here are a few of those conditions and their impact on your health.
It’s estimated that about 10% of people with type 1 diabetes eventually experience Graves’ disease. Along with causing distinct health effects involving an overabundance of thyroid hormone, Graves’ disease can also worsen type 1 diabetes. That’s because the thyroid condition can lead to excessive blood sugar levels, which can make it harder to control diabetes in some people.
People with Graves’ disease have a higher risk of experiencing rheumatoid arthritis, although the specific link is not entirely clear. However, researchers believe that a genetic link between the two conditions may play a role, much like the link between Graves’ and type 1 diabetes. Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with symptoms like painful, uncomfortable joints, as well as fatigue and fever.
Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune condition that causes dry eyes and mouth, as well as symptoms like rashes, joint pain, and persistent fatigue. People with Sjögren’s syndrome may also experience thyroid dysfunction due to the development of nodules on the gland, which can result in excess amounts of hormone being produced. It’s estimated that 23% of people with this disorder also experience Graves’ disease.
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation in areas like the joints, skin, and organs, as well as other body parts. People with lupus have a higher chance of developing thyroid conditions like Graves’ disease, but they can also experience hypothyroidism (which means that the thyroid doesn’t produce a sufficient amount of hormone). It’s likely that lupus and Graves’ disease share genetic links, which is a common feature in many co-occurring autoimmune disorders.