Which symptom is commonly associated with Graves' disease?

Graves' disease is an autoimmune hyperthyroid condition characterized by an overproduction of thyroid hormones. One of the hallmark symptoms of hyperthyroidism is a rapid heart rate, also known as tachycardia. In this condition, the increased levels of thyroid hormones accelerate the body’s metabolic processes, which can lead to increased heart rate. This symptom is not only prevalent but also significant in diagnosing and managing the disease.

The other potential symptoms associated with Graves' disease, such as hypertension and other changes in heart rate, may occur, but they are often secondary effects rather than primary symptoms directly associated with the pathology of Graves' disease itself. Bradycardia and weight gain are more characteristic of hypothyroidism, which is the opposite condition of what occurs in Graves' disease. Therefore, rapid heart rate stands out as a direct manifestation of the excess thyroid hormone activity typical in this autoimmune disorder.