Goiter: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Thyroid gland is a small, butterfly shaped endocrine gland located below adam's apple in the neck. It releases hormones such as thyroxine and triiodothyronine which are responsible for metabolism, body temperature, digestion, mood, pulse rate and heart rate. Irregular amount of these hormones leads to goiter. When the thyroid gland grows larger in size, it develops lumps such as thyroid nodules.

People with obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome are at higher risk of getting this disease. It is a very common disease now a days.

Types of goitre:-

• Simple goitre causes swelling in the whole thyroid gland.
• Nodular goitre happens when a solid or fluid nodule makes the thyroid gland feel lumpy.
• Multinodular goitre happens when many lumps or nodules develop in the thyroid gland.
• Toxic goitre is caused due to excessive secretion of thyroid hormones secreted from an enlarged thyroid gland.
• Non-toxic goitre is the one which occurs when the person has enlarged thyroid gland but does not suffer from any of the hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

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Symptoms:-

• Lumps in the front of the neck below the Adam's apple.
• Tightness in throat.
• Shaking.
• Agitation.
• Constipation.
• Hoarseness or scratchy voice.
• Swelling in neck vein.
• Dizziness on raising arms above head.
• Tachycardia or rapid heartbeat.
• Unwanted weight loss.
• Diarrhoea.
• Sweating without working out or in a hot climate.
• Dry skin.
• Fatigue or feeling of tiredness.
• Abnormal menstrual cycle.

Causes of goitre:-

• Iodine deficiency is one of the main cause of thyroid. Iodine is used by your thyroid gland to make the thyroid hormones. Lack of enough iodine in diet leads to goitre.
• Grave's disease is the condition in which thyroid gland is attacked by the immune system causing it to grow larger in size. It may also lead to hyperthyroidism.
• Hashimoto's disease leads to inflammation of the thyroid gland. Sometimes it enlarged the gland as well. It usually recovers on its own whereas thyroid hormone is required for the treatment of such a goitre in some cases.
• Cancer in the thyroid gland often causes enlarged thyroid.
• Pregnancy hormone called gonadotropin causes thyroid to grow.
• Thyroiditis is the condition of inflammation of the thyroid gland .

Treatment of Goitre:-

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• Proper medications and drugs to control goitre .
• Radioactive iodine treatment for taking iodine orally.
• Surgeries like thyroidectomy are used to remove a part or whole of the thyroid gland.
• Take a diet rich in iodine if you have iodine deficiency.
• Going for a regular checkup.

This disease has become very common today. Most of the time the person recovers naturally while other times they need proper treatment. Usually, the risk is low until it is severe.