Rapper Missy Elliott Speaks About Her Experience With Graves Disease. Melissa Arnette Elliott, better known by her stage name “Missy Elliott,” is a Grammy Award-winning rapper who, for the past five years, has been battling Graves disease. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by an overactive thyroid.

How did Missy Elliot treat her Graves disease?

I was on medication for a short while but have been off it for quite some time now, she continued in the statement. I manage the condition through diet and exercise. Elliott on Thursday also opened up about her friendship with Janet Jackson.

What is thyroid eye disease?

Thyroid eye disease is a rare disease characterized by progressive inflammation and damage to tissues around the eyes, especially extraocular muscle, connective, and fatty tissue. Thyroid eye disease is characterized by an active disease phase in which progressive inflammation, swelling, and tissue changes occur.

Can Graves disease be debilitating?

Graves disease is rarely life-threatening. However, without treatment, it can lead to heart problems and weak and brittle bones. Graves disease is known as an autoimmune disorder. Thats because with the disease, your immune system attacks your thyroid — a small, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck.

What happened Missy Misdemeanor Elliott?

Ask Missy Elliott. The 39-year-old hip hop singer, songwriter, and producer told People Magazine that shes been suffering from the autoimmune thyroid disease since 2008, according to USA Today. Elliott found out she had Graves after experiencing tremors, a common symptom of the disease.

Is Missy Elliot sick?

Melissa Arnette Elliott, better known by her stage name “Missy Elliott,” is a Grammy Award-winning rapper who, for the past five years, has been battling Graves disease. Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder caused by an overactive thyroid.

Which celebrities have Graves disease?

Graves disease affects about 1 in 200 people in the U.S., according to the American Thyroid Association (ATA). Others who have struggled with it include rapper Missy Elliott, Olympic athlete Gail Devers, actress Faith Ford and former President George H.W. Bush, who was diagnosed in 1991.

What are the first signs of thyroid eye disease?

The symptoms that occur in thyroid eye disease include dry eyes, watery eyes, red eyes, bulging eyes, a stare, double vision, difficulty closing the eyes, and problems with vision. Research suggests that the cause of thyroid disease and thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune disorder.

Does thyroid affect sleep?

Thyroid imbalances have been linked to sleep problems. Hyperthyroidism (overactive) can cause difficulty sleeping7 due to arousals from nervousness or irritability, as well as muscle weakness and constant feelings of tiredness.

Does Graves disease get worse over time?

Graves ophthalmopathy is highly variable. In some individuals it may remain the same for many years, while in other individuals it may improve or worsen. It can also follow a pattern of worsening (exacerbations) and then going improving greatly (remission). Most individuals have mild disease with no progression.

How do you feel with Graves disease?

Common signs and symptoms of Graves disease include: Anxiety and irritability. A fine tremor of the hands or fingers. Heat sensitivity and an increase in perspiration or warm, moist skin.

Does Graves disease decrease life expectancy?

Patients who develop thyroid storm have a 20 to 50% chance of dying. In general, if your hyperthyroidism is caught early and you control it well with medication or other options, experts say your Graves disease life expectancy and prognosis is favorable.

Can your eyes go back to normal with Graves disease?

Although less variable than eyelid retraction, the protrusion of the eye can return to normal on its own. After being stable for several months or more, it is sometimes desirable to surgically move the eye into a more normal position.

What triggers thyroid eye disease?

Research suggests that the cause of thyroid disease and thyroid eye disease is an autoimmune disorder. An imbalance or recognition problem occurs in the immune system.

Can thyroid problems cause tired all the time?

In people living with an underactive thyroid(hypothyroidism), the bodys metabolism slows down. This can often lead to many symptoms, including lethargy and fatigue. In people with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), the bodys metabolism speeds up.

Does thyroid affect mood?

Yes, thyroid disease can affect your mood — primarily causing either anxiety or depression. Generally, the more severe the thyroid disease, the more severe the mood changes. If you have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), you may experience: Unusual nervousness.

Why did I get Graves disease?

Graves disease is an autoimmune condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid which causes it to become overactive. The cause of Graves disease is unknown, but it mostly affects young or middle-aged women and often runs in families. Smoking can also increase your risk of getting it.

What organs are affected by Graves disease?

Graves disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland. Your thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck. Your thyroid gland makes hormones that control many activities in your body, including how fast your heart beats and how fast you burn calories.

What does Graves disease do to your eyes?

Symptoms of Graves eye disease include: Feeling of irritation or grittiness in the eyes, redness or inflammation of the conjunctiva (the white part of the eyeball), excessive tearing or dry eyes, swelling of the eyelids, sensitivity to light, forward displacement or bulging of the eyes (called proptosis), and double