Grave’s vs Hashimoto’s: Difference and Comparison

Both Graves and Hashimoto’s are autoimmune diseases. Both disorders can increase the level of thyroid hormones in our blood. Even though they might seem to be the same, they are not.

To draw out the difference between the two, we can say that Graves is related to hyperthyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is related to hypothyroidism.

Key Takeaways

1. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder causing overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), while Hashimoto’s thyroiditis results in an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
2. Graves’ disease symptoms include weight loss, anxiety, and irritability, while Hashimoto’s thyroiditis symptoms involve weight gain, fatigue, and depression.
3. Treatment for Graves’ disease may include antithyroid medications or radioactive iodine therapy, whereas Hashimoto’s thyroiditis requires hormone replacement therapy.

Graves vs Hashimoto’s

Graves’ disease causes hyperthyroidism, which can lead to weight loss, tremors, anxiety, and increased heart rate. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland, leading to a decrease in thyroid hormone production and hypothyroidism.

Graves is a disorder that includes hyperthyroidism. It stimulates several eye problems, and the patient can even lose a considerable amount of weight. Stress and scarcity of iodine can generate this condition, but even genetic issues can lead to it.

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune syndrome that is capable of destroying the thyroid gland slowly. It is divided into two stages. In the early stage, the symptoms are not very noticeable.

Many inconveniences like high cholesterol, high blood pressure are experienced in the later stage of Hashimoto’s.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Graves	Hashimoto’s
Stages	Graves has only one stage.	Hashimoto’s has two stages, the early stage and the late stage.
Diagnosis	Graves is diagnosed by a blood test.	Diagnosis of Hashimoto’s is done by a biopsy.
Treatment	To cure Graves, the patient has to take anti-thyroid drugs.	To cure Hashimoto’s levothyroxine needs to be taken.
Symptoms	Graves causes bulging eyes.	Here the bulging eyes are not seen.
Another term	It is also called Diffuse toxic Goiter.	Another name for it is lymphocytic thyroiditis.
Effect on weight	Here the patient faces weight loss.	Here the patient faces weight gain.
Impact on menstruation	In this disorder, the absence of menstruation is observed.	In this disease, heavy periods occur.

What is Graves?

Graves disease is also called Diffuse toxic Goiter, and it is a disorder that attacks the immune system. It causes the thyroid gland to increase the release of thyroid hormone.

This disorder is known as hyperthyroidism. Due to this, the thyroid becomes overactive.This disease can be the result of both external and genetic factors.

Both men and women can have this disorder, and it has a bunch of symptoms that include the absence of menstruation, hair loss, insomnia, weakness, weight loss, diarrhoea etc.

As stated before, the reason for Graves can be external as well as genetic. The precise factor is not apparent, but extreme stress and PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can lead to Graves.

It affects the eyes a lot. Thyroid eye disease is the most common indication of Graves.Many ophthalmic problems arise with Graves, such as bulging eyes, pain and sensation in the eyes and in addition to that, redness and inflammation of the eyes.

The seriousness of the problem can even lead to vision loss. The treatment of Graves includes the insertion of antithyroid agents in the body.

The remedy for it involves medication as well as surgery. Radioiodine therapy is also a part of the procedure.

What is Hashimoto’s?

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is also called lymphocytic thyroiditis. Several pieces of research show that in the US, Hashimoto’s is the primary reason for hypothyroidism.

This disorder can be seen in both men and women of all ages, but it is mostly found in middle-aged women.Hashimoto’s is categorised as an autoimmune disorder in which persisting inflammation takes place.

This results from the release of antibodies that are directed against the thyroid gland. This disease has several symptoms such as fatigue, irregular or heavy periods, weight gain, dry skin, depression, constipation etc.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or lymphocytic thyroiditis gets doctored with the help of levothyroxine. Many doctors proceed to reduce the size of the goitre.

Under such circumstances, the patients should avoid consuming a lot of iodine. But in case the sufferer is pregnant simultaneously, then having sufficient amounts of iodine is a must.

Besides levothyroxine, other medicines also get used in the thyroid hormone replacement method. One tablet a day can maintain hormone levels. However, the person has to keep on taking the medicines for the rest of his/her life.

Main Differences Between Graves and Hashimoto’s

1. Graves is also known as Diffuse toxic Goiter, and another name of Hashimoto’s is lymphocytic thyroiditis.
2. Graves has only one single stage, but Hashimoto’s consists of two stages. One is called the early stage, and another is the late stage.
3. To diagnose Graves, a blood test is required, whereas to confirm Hashimoto’s, a biopsy is needed.
4. The treatment of Graves requires the patient to take antithyroid drugs while Hashimoto’s demands levothyroxine to be cured.
5. Graves will cause bulging eyes in the patients, but this symptom is absent in Hashimoto’s.
6. In Graves’ disease, the thyroid becomes enlarged and soft, whereas, in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the thyroid gets firmed.
7. Graves can be caused due to excess iodine, and also smoking and stress can lead to it. On the other hand, Hashimoto’s can be caused by selenium deficiency combined with stress.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673674918157
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002929707636246

Last Updated : 13 July, 2023