Missy Elliott has been battling Graves disease, an autoimmune illness that affects the thyroid. Graves' disease is rarely life-threatening, it’s easily controlled, and treatment is almost always successful

For more than a decade, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott was one of the leading ladies of hip-hop. She's sold more than seven million records in the United States and is the only female rapper to have six platinum albums and one double platinum album. But during the last three years, Elliott, 39, has been absent from the spotlight. The reason, she explains, has been her battle with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune illness that affects the thyroid.

The Grammy-winning star says her symptoms came on very fast and nearly cost her the ability to do everyday things like drive and write.  In a recent interview, she said, “I was driving and trying to put my foot on the brake, but my leg was jumping. I couldn't keep the brake down and almost crashed. [Then] I couldn't write because my nervous system was so bad.  I couldn't even use a pen.” Those symptoms were followed by a string of more alarming symptoms: dizzy spells, lumps in her throat, mood swings, hair loss, a fast, irregular heart rate and bulging eyes.  In 2008, after a series of doctor visits, she finally got an official diagnosis of Graves’ disease. 

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid gland to produce too much of the hormone thyroxin.  High levels of thyroxin increase the body's metabolic rate which in turn affects everything from your mood to your physical appearance. According to the National Graves’ Disease Foundation, there are 10 million people in the United States living with this form of hyperthyroidism. 

Symptoms of Graves' disease usually come on slowly and often times they’re confused with other health issues such as stress.  However, as the thyroid becomes more overactive symptoms become more pronounced.  The symptoms to watch for include, anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, rapid or irregular heartbeat, mild tremors in your hands or fingers, heavy perspiration, sensitivity to heat, weight loss, brittle hair, enlarged thyroid gland, change in menstrual cycles, and frequent bowel movements.

About 25% of people with Graves’ disease also develop an eye condition called Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). GO occurs when the immune system attacks the muscles and tissues around the eyes. The inflammation causes the eyeballs to bulge out and in rare cases the pressure becomes so severe that it compresses the optic nerve and causes blindness.

Though the cause of Graves' disease is unknown, researchers believe a combination of factors contributes to the likelihood of developing the illness. Those risk factors include a family history of thyroid or autoimmune diseases; sex - women are eight times more likely to develop Graves' disease than men; age – Graves’ disease usually develops between 20 - 40, stress, pregnancy, and smoking.

To diagnose Graves' disease your doctor will typically start with a thorough physical exam. Your doctor will examine your eyes to see if they're irritated or protruding. Then he’ll feel your thyroid gland to see if it’s enlarged. Finally, he may examine your feet and shins to see if you have raised red patches of skin. This skin problem is called pretibial myxedema. 

If the results of your physical exam indicate the possibility of Graves’ disease your doctor may request a blood sample. Blood tests are used to determine the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxin. TSH is produced by your pituitary gland and is the hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland. A high TSH level is the most accurate indicator of hyperthyroidism, so your annual physical should always include a TSH test.

Finally your doctor may check your radioactive iodine uptake. Your body needs iodine to make thyroxin. By giving you a small amount of radioactive iodine and later measuring the amount of it in your thyroid gland, your doctor can determine the rate at which your thyroid gland takes iodine.  A high uptake of radioactive iodine indicates your thyroid gland is producing too much thyroxin which is an indicator of Graves' disease.

As far as illnesses go Graves' disease is rarely life-threatening, it’s easily controlled, and the treatments are almost always successful.  Although there is no way to stop your immune system from attacking your thyroid gland, the treatments for Graves' disease can ease your symptoms and decrease the production of thyroxin. These treatments include anti-thyroid drugs, radioiodine, and surgery.  As with most forms of treatment they all have advantages and disadvantages however most patients find one that works for them.

Elliott’s doctors chose a course of treatment that was a combination of radiation and medication and she says she is feeling much better. “Under my doctor's supervision, I've been off medication for about a year and I'm completely managing the condition through diet and exercise.  I’m 30 lbs. lighter. But, I’ll live with [Graves’] for the rest of my life,” she said. 

Although it is a lifelong disease Elliott says that Graves’ disease has not and will not slow her down. Since her diagnosis, she’s toured Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia and written and produced Grammy-nominated songs for Monica, Keyshia Cole and Jazmine Sullivan.  Currently she is working on a new album with Timbaland.

Stacy Matson, a health enthusiast from Southern California, regularly blogs on Celebrity Health for A Healthier World, as well as contributing to the Best of the Best.