Autoimmune President George H.W. Bush,

Autoimmune

President George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, suffered Graves' disease or autoimmune hyperthyroidism. He was treated for this disease and has taken thyroid hormone replacement therapy to treat resulting hypothyroidism. The first symptoms the former President exhibited were atrial fibrillation, severe fatigue, hand-tremors, and a mild goiter. Approximately 13 million Americans suffer from thyroid disorders, most of whom are women. Strangely, more than half of these people don't know they suffer from it. Surprisingly, Barbara Bush was diagnosed with the same disorder.

According to experts, thyroid disorders are among the most undiagnosed and misdiagnosed cases in the United States, because doctors typically do not examine the thyroid. Further, the disorder worsens slowly and the symptoms can be difficult to identify. "The test, which is a simple blood test, is not part of a routine exam and is becoming less so because of managed care," said Dr. Robert J. McConnell, a thyroid specialist and an associate attending physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital. "Managed care groups don't like fishing expeditions. They don't like to pay for tests for no good reason." Therefore, the test must usually be ordered by a patient or doctor in order for it to take place. For unknown reasons, women are eight times more at risk than men to suffer from thyroid disorders. Thyroid inflammation stems from mistakes in the immune system. (Wilkinson)

The thyroid is a major part of the body. The butterfly-shaped gland at the stem of the neck makes important hormones, such as thyrozine and triiodothyronine. These two chemicals affect metabolism growth, nerves, muscles, and circulation. The thyroid is regulated by the pituitary gland. Autoimmune diseases, infections, hormonal imbalance or hereditary conditions can result in thyroid malfunction. These thyroid disorders usually come in one of two forms: functional, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and structural, such as nodules and goiters, as in the case of the former President. Earlier this year, Barbara Bush had a mild relapse of her Graves' disease. She began experiencing heartbeat irregularities that can lead to cardiac arrest in older patients.

Graves' disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in the United States. Symptoms of the disease, such as anxiety, restlessness, irritability, emotional instability, fatigue, muscle weakness or cramps, increased appetite, palpitations and heate intolerance can be accompanied by a quickened heartbeat, atrial fibrillation, tremor, an eye stare or changes in the hair. Other symptoms include increased sweating and bowl movements, shortness of breath on exertion and weight changes.

(Dwyer)