| Goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The | | | | (hyperthyroidism), or that is underactive, producing too |
| thyroid gland is a small gland located in the neck, below | | | | little hormone (hypothyroidism). Causes There are |
| your Adam’s apple. The thyroid can be enlarged | | | | various types and causes of goiter. In underdeveloped |
| due to generalized enlargement of the thyroid or | | | | parts of the world, it is often brought on by a lack of |
| nodules (tissue growths) within the thyroid. The thyroid | | | | iodine in the diet. Iodine---found in fish products, drinking |
| gland produces the hormones thyroxine (also called | | | | water and table salt---is essential for the production of |
| T4) and a small amount of triiodothyronine (also called | | | | thyroid hormone. Without it, the gland enlarges in an |
| T3). Most of the T4 is converted to T3 outside of the | | | | attempt to increase the output of the hormone. The |
| thyroid. | | | | World Health Organization estimates that 750 million |
| There are different kinds of goiters. A simple goiter | | | | people still suffer from this problem, earning it the name |
| usually occurs when the thyroid gland is not able to | | | | endemic goiter. Take Iodine in its organic form. Eat |
| produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body's | | | | foods like turnips, carrots, garlic, pineapples, whole rice, |
| needs. The thyroid gland makes up for this by | | | | tomatoes, watercress, strawberries, guavas, lettuce, |
| becoming larger, which usually overcomes mild | | | | onions, oats, citrus fruits, egg yolks, seafoods, etc |
| deficiencies of thyroid hormone. A simple goiter may | | | | should be taken in ample amounts. Treatment Nontoxic |
| be classified as either an endemic (colloid) goiter or a | | | | goiters usually grow very slowly and may not cause |
| sporadic (nontoxic) goiter.Endemic goiters occur within | | | | any symptoms, and thus may not require treatment. |
| groups of people living in geographical areas with | | | | However, if the goiter grows rapidly, or you have |
| iodine-depleted soil, usually regions away from the sea | | | | symptoms that affect your neck or obstruct your |
| coast. Colloid nodular goiters tend to occur in certain | | | | breathing functions, treatment may be required. If a |
| geographical areas with iodine-depleted soil, usually | | | | nontoxic goiter progresses to the nodular stage, and |
| areas away from the sea coast. An area is defined | | | | the nodule is found to be cancerous, you will need |
| as endemic for goiter if more than 10 % of children | | | | treatment. Medications. If you have hypothyroidism, |
| aged 6 to 12 have goiters.Certain things in the | | | | thyroid hormone replacement with levothyroxine |
| environment may also cause thyroid enlargement. | | | | (Levothroid, Synthroid) will resolve the symptoms of |
| Small- to moderate-sized goiters are relatively | | | | hypothyroidism as well as slow the release of |
| common in the United States. The Great Lakes, | | | | thyroid-stimulating hormone from your pituitary gland, |
| Midwest, and Intermountain regions were once known | | | | often decreasing the size of the goiter. For an |
| as the "goiter belt." The presence of an enlarged goiter | | | | inflammation of your thyroid gland, your doctor may |
| usually means that the thyroid gland is not functioning | | | | suggest aspirin or a corticosteroid medication to treat |
| normally. Causes of a goiter include an imbalance in the | | | | the inflammation. For goiters associated with |
| thyroid gland and Goiter symptoms generally occur in a | | | | hyperthyroidism, you may need medications to |
| gland that is overactive, producing too much hormone | | | | normalize hormone levels. |