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.
Daisy Ridley in Sar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Here is all you need to know about the condition:
What is Graves’ disease?
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 an autoimmune disorder that can cause overactivity of the thyroid, a small gland in the front of your neck
Shutterstock / www.sciencephoto.com
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.
What are the symptoms of Graves’ disease?
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:
- Thyroid-related: Weight loss, rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, nervousness or irritability, and an enlarged thyroid gland (goiter).
- Eye-related (Graves’ ophthalmopathy): Bulging eyes, gritty sensation in the eyes, pressure or pain in the eyes, puffy or retracted eyelids, and double vision.
- Skin-related (Graves’ dermopathy): Thick, red skin usually on the shins or tops of the feet.
What are the causes of Graves’ disease?
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.
How is Graves’ disease treated?
Treatment for Graves’ disease aims to reduce thyroid hormone production and manage symptoms:
- Methimazole and Propylthiouracil (PTU): Inhibit thyroid hormone production.
- Beta-blockers: Manage symptoms such as rapid heart rate and tremors.
Radioactive iodine therapy:
- Destroys overactive thyroid cells, often leading to hypothyroidism, which requires thyroid hormone replacement.
- Partial or total removal of the thyroid gland, requiring lifelong hormone replacement.
- Corticosteroids: Reduce eye inflammation.
- Prisms: Correct double vision.
- Orbital decompression surgery: For severe cases.
Regular follow-up with an endocrinologist is crucial to monitor and adjust treatment.