Is hyperthyroidism curable

  1. How Graves' Disease Is Treated
  2. Q and A: Can thyroid disease be cured?


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How Graves' Disease Is Treated

Radioactive Iodine Therapy Radioactive iodine therapy (RAI) treats Graves' disease by damaging or destroying thyroid cells through radiation. This may sound concerning but it is generally safe. During this procedure, you are given a pill to swallow. You will be instructed to drink a lot of water to flush the remaining radioactive iodine out of your system. You may experience a temporary change in taste. • Selenium: This is a mineral that plays a role in metabolism and brain function. Iodine, the key ingredient of the thyroid hormone, requires selenium to be synthesized properly into thyroid hormone. Selenium is the only supplement that has consistently proven to benefit people with Graves' disease. • Vitamin B-12: Vitamin B-12 is present mainly in animal products, including meats, dairy and eggs. You can take supplements in pill form or by injection (by a medical doctor), which may boost energy levels if you have a B-12 deficiency (which is more common in people with autoimmune thyroid conditions). • Iron: Graves' disease interferes with iron metabolism. If you are not able to get enough iron in your diet with foods like leafy greens, nuts, or red meat, a supplement may help. • Lemon balm: Preliminary studies have shown that this member of the mint family may calm an overactive thyroid; however, more research is needed. • L-carnitine: Some research has suggested that this substance can reduce symptoms associated with an overactive thyroid. Be sure to check with your health...

Q and A: Can thyroid disease be cured?

Q and A: Can thyroid disease be cured? Q: Can thyroid disease be cured? A: This is a difficult question to answer due to the differences between the ideas of “treatment” vs. “cure”. All thyroid diseases can be treated, resulting in normal thyroid function. However, this frequently requires being on medication to maintain the normal thyroid state. For example, most patients with thyroid cancer can be cured through surgery and radioactive iodine treatments (see Hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease is caused by antibodies attacking the thyroid and turning it on (see A similar situation occurs in patients with hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which is caused by antibodies attacking and destroying the thyroid (see There are self-limited thyroid disorders, such as post-partum thyroiditis and subacute thyroiditis, where no therapy is necessary after the disorder runs its course (see In summary, the most important aspect of thyroid disease is that effective treatments are available that can restore thyroid function to normal, even if the underlying cause of the disorder is not “cured”. Once diagnosed with thyroid disease, all patients need lifelong medical follow up to ensure that their thyroid function remains in the best range.