Final answer:
Someone with Graves' disease would exhibit symptoms of hyperthyroidism, as the autoantibodies associated with the disease act as agonists for TSH receptors, leading to overproduction of thyroid hormones.
Step-by-step explanation:
Graves' Disease and Its Effect on Thyroid Function
In Graves' disease, the immune system creates autoantibodies that act as agonists for TSH receptors, leading to overstimulation of the thyroid gland. This results in hyperthyroidism, where there is excessive secretion of thyroid hormones. Significant symptoms of Graves' disease include heat intolerance, rapid and irregular heartbeat, weight loss, and the appearance of a goiter and exophthalmia. These symptoms contrast starkly with those of hypothyroidism, which is characterized by a reduced level of thyroid hormone production and symptoms such as tiredness and feeling cold.
Thus, someone with Graves' disease would exhibit symptoms of hyperthyroidism due to the elevated levels of thyroid hormones. The normal negative feedback mechanism that regulates thyroid hormone production is bypassed by the stimulation from the thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins, which mimic the effects of TSH.