Prevention

Hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease is a genetic disease that you cannot prevent.

People who smoke are more likely to develop Graves' disease and Graves' ophthalmopathy than people who do not smoke.

Home Treatment

Be sure to see your doctor regularly so he or she can be sure that your hyperthyroidism treatment is working, that you are taking the right amount of medicine, and that you are not having any side effects.

If you are taking antithyroid medicine, take it at the same time every day.

If you have Graves' ophthalmopathy, you may need to use eyedrops to help moisten your eyes and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

To help reduce the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, you can:

• Lower stress. This helps relieve symptoms of anxiety and nervousness. For more information, see the topic Stress Management.
• Avoid caffeine. Caffeine can make symptoms worse, such as fast heartbeat, nervousness, and difficulty concentrating.
• Quit smoking. If you have Graves' disease and you are a smoker, you are more likely to develop Graves' ophthalmopathy. For more information, see the topic Quitting Smoking.