What is Goiter? What are the Symptoms and Causes?

The enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is located around the windpipe in the front and lower part of your neck, is called a goiter. It is a common ailment in people with iodine deficiency. Its incidence is very high in our country. If we look at the gender distribution, female individuals are in the risk group up to 5 times more than male individuals.

In goiter disease, the thyroid gland enlarges with or without a nodule. The follow-up of the nodules is carried out by doctors through various imaging tactics and methods. Although it is less common, surgical interventions may be required if it is thought to be malignant. Iodine therapy, which is used today, can also be used in the treatment of goiter disease.

If it works at a normal level, no matter how big the thyroid glands will grow, it does not cause any problem to the patient as long as it does not put pressure on the esophagus and trachea. However, if excessive secretion of thyroid hormones causes hyperthyroidism, iodine treatment method or surgical intervention can be applied. Such conditions are also called poisonous goiter.

Goiter is usually not painful, but if it grows too much, it can cause difficulty in coughing, swallowing and breathing. The treatment method varies depending on the size of the goiter, complaints and the factors that cause the disease. Small growths that are not obvious and do not cause problems for you are generally not applied because they do not require treatment.

Causes of Goiter

The most common cause of goiter today is iodine deficiency in the diet. Other causes are seen as:

• Graves' disease
• Inflammatory diseases of the thyroid
• Swelling or nodule on one side of the thyroid gland
• Encountering multiple swellings in the thyroid glands
• Thyroid cancer
• Pregnancy
• HCG hormone can cause enlargement of the thyroid glands, even if it is small.
• Cysts
• Persons exposed to radiation in the neck area
• People with a family history of nodules

In regions where iodine-containing foods are consumed less, women, people with various immune system disorders, those who consume drugs such as amiodarone and lithium, women during pregnancy and menopause, and people over the age of 40 are at risk of goiter.

Types of goiters

The condition of the thyroid gland growing and becoming visible when viewed from the outside is called goiter among the people. However, under the name of goiter, there are many thyroid gland disorders, the cause and cause, diagnosis and diagnosis methods and diagnostic treatment are extremely different.

• There are two types of goiters, with and without nodules.
• The way the thyroid gland enlarges completely in volume is called a nodule or diffuse goiter.
• In cases where there is nodule, it is called nodular goiter. If there is more than one nodule, it is defined as multinodular goiter. However, the function of the thyroid gland is not related to the amount of hormone secreted in the formation of goiter.

Goiter Symptoms

Not all goiter conditions show and cause symptoms. If it opens, the following complaints are seen.

• Swelling in the neck area. It is common to see it clearly, especially when shaving or having a massage. If it grows too much, it may be possible to become visible when viewed from the outside.
• Difficulty in swallowing is also among the complaints, and these complaints are frequently encountered in case of swelling of the gland and obstruction to the esophagus.
• Coughing situations and difficulty in breathing are also caused by the discomfort of the trachea.