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Steven M Dawson, MD
12333 NE 130th Ln Ste 440Kirkland, WA 98034-3039425-899-3838
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Graves’ Disease

Dr. Steven M Dawson and his staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you. For a more comprehensive search of our entire Web site, enter your term(s) in the search bar provided.

As always, you can contact my office to answer any questions or concerns.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the front of the neck. It produces thyroid hormone, which controls your metabolism, temperature regulation, and keeps your muscles and organs working properly. Graves’ disease causes the thyroid gland to become overactive. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body fights against itself and causes the thyroid gland to become overactive. It is more common in women, but can also can occur in men.

What Are the Symptoms of Graves’ Disease?

The symptoms of Graves’ disease include:

  • Racing heartbeat
  • Anxiety
  • Weight loss
  • Tremors
  • Feeling warm
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Bulging eyes
  • Eye redness
  • Double vision, or decreased vision
  • Thickening of the skin in front of the shins

A blood test is used to diagnose Graves’ disease. A measurement of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is low in Graves’ disease. The levels of thyroid hormone, such as T3 and T4, are high in Graves’ disease. Measuring antibodies called TSI or TRAb also help confirm the diagnosis. Sometimes, a “radioactive iodine uptake study” is used to confirm the diagnosis of Graves’ disease.

What Causes Graves’ Disease?

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body produces inflammation of the thyroid gland causing it to be overactive. The specific cause is unknown but may occur at higher rates in certain families. 

What Are the Treatment Options?

Treatment for Graves’ disease includes daily medications, radioactive iodine, or thyroid surgery. Medications can be used for several months to try and control (but not cure) the hyperthyroidism. If the medications do not control the disease, surgery or radioactive iodine may be necessary. Radioactive iodine and surgery are used to manage the disease, but can cause the thyroid to be underactive and you must then take medication to replace the thyroid hormone.

Therapy depends on the presence of eye symptoms, the presence and size of thyroid nodules, and your preferences. Surgery is generally considered if the thyroid also has nodules, the gland is very large, the patient has eye disease (which may worsen if radioactive iodine is given), or if the patient wants to avoid radioactive iodine.

What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor?

  1. Do I have thyroid nodules or a goiter? What’s the difference, and how does that affect treatment?
  2. Do you have expertise in thyroid surgery? Can you tell me about your training?
  3. How effective are medications and what are the risks?

 

Copyright 2021. American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Last reviewed April 2020.


Learn More

  • Sinusitis
  • Sinus Headaches
  • Sinus Surgery
  • Snoring/Sleep Apnea

Patient Education

Patient Education
  • Throat
    • Aging and Swallowing
    • Aspiration
    • Cricopharyngeal Muscle Dysfunction
    • Dysphagia
    • GERD and LPR
    • Hoarseness
    • Salivary Gland Disorders
    • Sore Throats
    • Spasmodic Dysphonia
    • Tonsillitis
    • Tonsils and Adenoids
    • Vocal Cord Paralysis
    • Voice Box (Laryngeal) Cancer
    • Zenker’s Diverticulum
  • Ears
    • Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease
    • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
    • Cholesteatoma
    • Conductive Hearing Loss
    • Earaches
    • Ears and Altitude (Barotrauma)
    • Earwax (Cerumen Impaction)
    • Hyperacusis
    • Ménière’s Disease
    • Otosclerosis
    • Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
    • Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL)
    • Swimmer's Ear
    • Tinnitus
    • Vestibular Schwannoma
  • Nose
    • Asthma
    • Dysgeusia
    • Deviated Septum
    • Fungal Sinusitis
    • Geriatric Rhinitis
    • Hyposmia and Anosmia
    • Nosebleeds
    • Post-Nasal Drip
    • Sinus Headaches
    • Sinusitis
    • Rhinitis
    • Turbinate Hypertrophy
  • Head & Neck
    • Bell's Palsy
    • Fine Needle Aspiration
    • Graves’ Disease
    • Head and Neck Cancer
    • Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
    • Neck Mass in Adults
    • Sialadenitis
    • Skin Cancer
    • Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain
  • Thyroid & Parathyroid
    • Goiter
    • Hyperthyroidism
    • Pediatric Thyroid Cancer
    • Thyroid Cancer
    • Thyroid Nodules
  • Sleep & Snoring
    • Pediatric Sleep-disordered Breathing
    • Snoring, Sleeping Disorders and Sleep Apnea
  • Facial, Plastic & Reconstructive
    • Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate
    • Nasal Fractures
  • Kids ENT Health
    • Ankyloglossia (Tongue-tie)
    • Pediatric Hearing Loss
    • Pediatric Sinusitis
    • Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Our Location

12333 NE 130th Ln
Ste 440
Kirkland, WA 98034-3039
425-899-3838

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ENT in Kirkland, WA Steven M Dawson MD 12333 NE 130th Lane, Suite 440 Kirkland, WA 98034 (425) 899-3838 ENT in Kirkland, WA Call For Pricing!
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