What is Goiter?

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goiter

Goiter refers to one or more kinds of growths that occur in the thyroid gland. Goiter manifests as an extraordinary enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is located just below the Adam’s apple on front side of the neck. Goiter occurs when a thyroid gland generates a lot or little thyroid amounts of thyroid hormone. The condition where the thyroid gland produces excess thyroid hormone is referred to as hyperthyroidism while a situation where the gland produces low levels of thyroid is referred to as hypothyroidism. In rare occasions, thyroid problems may be caused by stimulation of thyroid growth by the pituitary gland to generate more hormones. Ordinary generation of thyroid hormone like the non-poisonous multi-nodular gland may also cause enlargement of the thyroid gland. A different kind of thyroid enlargement is referred to as sporadic goiter. This type of goiter can result where a person’s diet contains too much of goiter enhancing food like soya beans, cabbages, rutabaga, peanuts, spinach and peanuts. Taking large amounts of these foods lead to goiter because they suppress production of thyroid hormone by influencing the ability of the thyroid to process iodide. Exposure to radiation can also cause goiter.

Signs and Treatment of Goiter

Though not all symptoms may indicate goiter, some common goiter signs include an obvious swelling on the lower part of neck, tight feeling around the throat, hoarse voice, difficulty on breathing and swallowing as well as coughing. Treatment of goiter varies depending on size and symptoms underlying its causes. At very early stages, doctors may prefer to observe and see what happens. Medication may be prescribed for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. In serious cases, surgery may be required to remove all or sections of the thyroid gland. This happens when the goiter is very large and uncomfortable leading to difficulty in swallowing or breathing. Surgery is also done in case of thyroid cancer.

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