Enlargement of the thyroid gland usually caused by lack of iodine in the diet, hyperthyroidism, or thyroid nodules. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing and swallowing.
Symptoms of Goiter
The following features are indicative of Goiter:
visible swelling at the base of neck
tight feeling in throat
coughing
hoarseness
difficulty swallowing
difficulty breathing
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Common Causes of Goiter
The following are the most common causes of Goiter:
iodine deficiency
autoimmune problem
medicines like lithium, amiodarone
cigarette smoking
foods like soy, peanuts, vegetables in the broccoli and cabbage family
Other Causes of Goiter
The following are the less common causes of Goiter:
toxic nodular goiter
people over age 40
hereditary
women
Risk Factors for Goiter
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Goiter:
lack of dietary iodine
female
after age 40
medical history
pregnancy and menopause
radiation exposure
Prevention of Goiter
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Goiter. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
add iodine to commonly used foods
Occurrence of Goiter
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Goiter cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Goiter can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Goiter can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Goiter
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Goiter:
Hormone test: To determine the amount of hormones produced by thyroid and pituitary glands
Antibody test: To confirm the presence of these antibodies
Ultrasonography: To form images of neck and back
Thyroid scan: To produces an image of thyroid
Biopsy: To obtain a tissue or fluid sample for testing
Doctor for Diagnosis of Goiter
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Goiter:
Endocrinologist
Complications of Goiter if untreated
Yes, Goiter causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Goiter is left untreated:
difficulty in breathing
difficulty in swallowing
cough
hoarseness
hyperthyroidism
weight gain
Procedures for Treatment of Goiter
The following procedures are used to treat Goiter:
Surgery: To remove all or part of thyroid gland
Radioactive iodine: To treat an overactive thyroid gland
Self-care for Goiter
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Goiter:
Get enough iodine: Use iodized salt or eat seafood or seaweed
Avoid excess iodine consumption: Sometimes leads to a goiter
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Goiter
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Goiter:
Massage therapy: Controls the thyroid hormone release
Yoga: Regulates the thyroid hormone secretion
Time for Treatment of Goiter
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Goiter to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: