Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSelf Checks/at-Home TestingMedical History and Physical ExamLab and TestsImagingDifferential TestsNext in Graves’ disease GuideHow Graves' Disease Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Self Checks/at-Home Testing
Medical History and Physical Exam
Lab and Tests
Imaging
Differential Tests
Next in Graves’ disease Guide
Listen to this article(6 minutes)
Graves' diseaseis an autoimmune disorder that can causehyperthyroidism(an overactive thyroid). The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ that produces too many hormones, which can cause many uncomfortable symptoms like night sweats, eye pressure, and unintentional weight loss.Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States.
Therapies include anti-thyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and, on rare occasions, surgery.
This article will explain how Graves' disease is diagnosed, including self-checks, physical exams, and lab and blood tests. Your healthcare provider may also recommend imaging tests or a biopsy to rule out other conditions.
Science Photo Library/ Getty Images
Keeping a journal of symptoms, what you eat, how you’re feeling, and your sleep habits can help you assess your health. Other checks you can do at home include:
A personal and family medical history will be taken. If you have another autoimmune condition or you have a strong family history of autoimmune conditions, you are at higher risk of another autoimmune condition (like Graves).
Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam to help confirm or rule out Graves' disease. These may be some of the things they are looking out for:
Although many of these symptoms are also signs of hyperthyroidism, having or exhibiting signs of hyperthyroidism does not automatically confirm that you have Graves' disease.
Graves' Disease: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications
Lab and Tests for Graves' Disease
Your medical provider may recommend blood tests to measure an antibody called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin (TSI). In those with Grave’s disease, TSI attaches to thyroid cells, causing your thyroid to make too many hormones.
Blood tests are also used to check amounts ofthyroid-stimulating hormones(TSH). A low TSH level alerts you that the thyroid gland is producing too much hormone, which causes thepituitary gland(which plays a role in hormone production) to make less TSH.
Another test you might have is theradioactive iodine uptake(RAIU) test, which measures how much iodine the thyroid takes in. High levels of iodine absorption can be a sign of Graves' disease.
During the test, you will be asked to swallow a small amount of radioactive iodine. This is safe; this treatment targets thyroid cells only. A device measures the amount of iodine thethyroid glandabsorbs and a scan will show how much iodine you have in your blood.
Your healthcare providers may recommend athyroid ultrasoundto rule outthyroid cancer(an unlikely occurrence).
Tests may be done to rule out other conditions. These are called differential tests. The differential tests will check for causes ofthyrotoxicosis(overproduction of thyroid hormone), which can sometimes occur in thethyroid nodules. Other things your healthcare provider is looking for are thyrotoxicosis factitia (a hyperthyroid state due to the accidental or intentional ingestion of the hormone thyroxine) and thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland).
Pheochromocytoma, a neuroendocrine tumor that grows from cells in the kidneys, can mimic symptoms of thyrotoxicosis and must be ruled out. However, the occurrence of this tumor is extremely rare.
Summary
Graves' diseaseis an autoimmune disorder that can causehyperthyroidism. This condition can cause a combination of uncomfortable symptoms, including bulgingeyes, goiter, high blood pressure, unintentional weight loss, loose stools, and more.
Diagnosing Graves' disease may involve a physical exam and blood work to measure thyroid hormone production and check iodine levels. In some cases, albeit rare, your healthcare provider may recommend a biopsy to fully diagnose your condition.
Since some symptoms of Graves' disease are shared with many other conditions, your healthcare provider will need to rule out other possibilities.
A Word From Verywell
It’s scary to experience new symptoms and not know what is causing them. If you are experiencing the symptoms of Graves' disease and think it may be the culprit, discuss your thoughts with your healthcare provider. Getting the appropriate tests and ruling out other conditions may give you peace of mind and get you on the path to healing. If you have Graves' disease, there are many treatments available to help you be comfortable and feel better.
Thyroid Testing and Diagnosis
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Insitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.American Thyroid Association.Graves' disease.Berta E, Lengyel I, Halmi S, et al.Hypertension in thyroid disorders.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:482. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00482Sugiura T, Yamanaka S, Takeuchi H, et al.Autoimmunity and pulmonary hypertension in patients with Graves' disease.Heart Vessels. 2015;30(5):642–646. doi:10.1007/s00380-014-0518-3University of Michigan Health.Hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.UCLA Health.Radioactive iodine uptake test.DeGroot LJ.Diagnosis and treatment of graves’ disease. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., eds.Endotext. MDText.com, Inc.; 2000.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Insitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.American Thyroid Association.Graves' disease.Berta E, Lengyel I, Halmi S, et al.Hypertension in thyroid disorders.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:482. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00482Sugiura T, Yamanaka S, Takeuchi H, et al.Autoimmunity and pulmonary hypertension in patients with Graves' disease.Heart Vessels. 2015;30(5):642–646. doi:10.1007/s00380-014-0518-3University of Michigan Health.Hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.UCLA Health.Radioactive iodine uptake test.DeGroot LJ.Diagnosis and treatment of graves’ disease. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., eds.Endotext. MDText.com, Inc.; 2000.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Insitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.American Thyroid Association.Graves' disease.Berta E, Lengyel I, Halmi S, et al.Hypertension in thyroid disorders.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:482. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00482Sugiura T, Yamanaka S, Takeuchi H, et al.Autoimmunity and pulmonary hypertension in patients with Graves' disease.Heart Vessels. 2015;30(5):642–646. doi:10.1007/s00380-014-0518-3University of Michigan Health.Hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.UCLA Health.Radioactive iodine uptake test.DeGroot LJ.Diagnosis and treatment of graves’ disease. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., eds.Endotext. MDText.com, Inc.; 2000.
National Insitute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Graves' disease.
American Thyroid Association.Graves' disease.
Berta E, Lengyel I, Halmi S, et al.Hypertension in thyroid disorders.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019;10:482. doi:10.3389/fendo.2019.00482
Sugiura T, Yamanaka S, Takeuchi H, et al.Autoimmunity and pulmonary hypertension in patients with Graves' disease.Heart Vessels. 2015;30(5):642–646. doi:10.1007/s00380-014-0518-3
University of Michigan Health.Hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease.
UCLA Health.Radioactive iodine uptake test.
DeGroot LJ.Diagnosis and treatment of graves’ disease. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., eds.Endotext. MDText.com, Inc.; 2000.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
