Thyroid Support

Archive for the ‘Goiters’ Category

Goiter, or bronchocele, is a swelling of the neck, caused by an enlarged thyroid gland. It is not dangerous or harmful, and can be treated quickly in the majority of cases.

Goiter is usually caused by an iodine deficincy, but can also be caused by Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Grave’s Disease, and acute thyroiditis. When there is a lack of iodine in the body, the thyroid cannot perform its job of creating hormones sufficently.

When the hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine, fail to be produced in necessary quantities, the body releases a thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH or thyrotropin) which causes the thyroid gland to swell.

Read through the NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopedia for more information.

Several symptoms of goiter include difficulty in breathing, and difficulty in swallowing. These are both caused by the swelling pressing up against the windpipe and oespophagus. The major problem is the appearance. Many people find having a swelling of their neck to be unsightly.

Goiters can be diagnosed by ultrasound scanning to find the swelling. A Doctor can usually tell if a goiter is present simply by touch, but other methods can still be used for comfirmation. Radioactive iodine intake tests can be used to track how much iodine is taken into the thyroid.

Higher than normal levels indicate hyperthyroidism, and lower than normal levels indicate hypothyroidism. Once it has been established which other illness is the cause of the goiter, then it can be treated to ensure that no more occur.

Like all thyroid disorders, Goiter is more common in females, but can be removed if it was not caused by a disease. Certain types of goiter need to remove the entire thyroid gland as well, which causes the individual to get hypothyroidism. This is known as a subtotal thyroidectomy. None of the thyroid hormones are produced, which leads to many problems.

In many cases, the goiter will go away by itself if the iodine levels in an individual’s body are corrected. To see more information, click here to read through this medical encyclopedia. The best way of trying to remove the cause of the goiter, is to address the thyroid hormone levels, which can lead to a number of other problems that can all be rectified.

Fortunately, goiter has almost been eliminated in Western nations because table salts have been supplemented with iodine. This swelling is still prevelant in under developed nations however.

Historically, goiters are common in geographical areas that have low iodine levels, such as inland plains.

Goiter is not associated with cancerous growths or inflammation.

In most cases, goiter is not dangerous, but can be a sign of more harmful diseases. For most people, the swelling will simply die down on its own, but surgery can also be used if this fails to happen.

By Russ Egan