What Is Graves’ Disease? Daisy Ridley Opens Up About Diagnosis

Actor Daisy Ridley recently opened up about her Graves’ disease diagnosis — an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperactivity of the thyroid.

More and more celebrities have been opening about their medical issues recently in an attempt to reduce stigma and open up conversations about health — and Star Wars star Daisy Ridley is the latest to do so.

Earlier this month, in an interview with Women’s Health, Ridley shared that she received a Graves’ disease diagnosis in September of 2023. She said she discovered she had the autoimmune disorder after her doctor suggested she see an endocrinologist about symptoms including hot flashes, a racing heart rate, weight loss, fatigue, and hand tremors.

In the interview, Ridley shared that she felt sad and irritated by her diagnosis as someone who already suffers from other health issues and works hard to take good care of herself — a sentiment no doubt shared by many who have multiple medical conditions.

But Ridley said the diagnosis has also taught her how to prioritize her wellbeing and better listen to her body, a lesson well worth learning.

“When celebrities such as Daisy Ridley openly discuss their autoimmune conditions, it can significantly impact public awareness and the broader conversation surrounding health issues,” says Amy Myers, MD, a functional medicine physician and a New York Times bestselling author of The Autoimmune Solution and The Thyroid Connection. “Celebrities sharing their experience with chronic illness can help normalize and reduce the stigma associated with being ill.”

What is Graves’ disease?

According to Myers, Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism or an overactive thyroid. This happens because the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone, Myers tells Healthnews. When thyroid hormones are too high, energy metabolism speeds up, causing the body to burn through nutrients too quickly.

This can result in malnutrition and lead to a wide range of problems, she says.

Normally, thyroid function is regulated by the pituitary gland, Myers explains — a tiny gland responsible for secreting thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which signals the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones T3 and T4. But with Graves’ disease, an antibody known as thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) can mimic pituitary hormones and completely override the system, causing an overactive thyroid. This can also lead to the development of Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies or Antithyroglobulin antibodies, she says.

Symptoms of Graves’ disease include hot flashes, unintentional weight loss, digestive issues, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, elevated heart rate, changes in menstrual cycles, reduced libido, bulging eyes, increased appetite, and more.

Graves’ disease is typically treated with ablation/radiation, surgery, and/or pharmaceuticals, Myers says, but she recommends a functional medicine approach to her clients that involves looking at diet, stress, infections, and other lifestyle factors in addition to using conventional treatments.

“Managing your thyroid levels through thyroid medication is only part of the process,” she says. “The real work comes in identifying the underlying factors that caused your thyroid disease and making healthy lifestyle changes to remove them.”

She also recommends prioritizing thyroid-supporting minerals such as zinc, selenium, and iodine, as well as antioxidants including vitamins C and E and other free radical scavengers, to support the thyroid.

“Autoimmune diseases are often misunderstood or not widely known,” Myers says. “Awareness can lead to more people recognizing symptoms in themselves and seeking medical advice earlier. Early diagnosis can be crucial in managing autoimmune diseases effectively and taking back control of one's health.”