Medicine Net defines a goitre as a thyroid disorder that involves the butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in your throat area becoming significantly enlarged. The causes for this can be manifold, and the complications may cause quite a few concerns. Fortunately, with proper care, and in some cases even just with natural treatments, you can correct this problem and enjoy your life as if nothing even happened.
A Look at the Main Causes of Goitre
The main cause of goitre in your specific case will determine what type of treatment can be used. In some cases, it’s something as simple as iodine deficiency, but in others, it may be a much more serious problem.
The T3 and T4 thyroid-generated hormones are taken throughout your body to regulate your metabolism. A goitre is usually the sign that your endocrine gland produces too much or too little of these hormones – although it can happen that hormone levels are normal, despite the enlargement of the gland.
Graves’ disease – when hormone production is too high – and Hashimoto’s disease – when it’s too low – are two of the main reasons why a goitre might form. Solitary nodules, pregnancy and inflammation are three other cases, and in the case of pregnancy, the gland’s enlargement due to HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is considered to be normal.
Additionally, it’s also possible to get goitre because of cancer. Although thyroid-related non-cancerous nodules are far more common than cancer, it is possible to get a biopsy to determine if this is the case or not.
Symptoms and Detection
If you have goiter, experts from the Mayo Clinic point out that you should expect a few clear and easy to detect symptoms. These will include mainly a visible swelling in the lower region of your neck, right below the Adam’s apple. The swelling usually becomes very visible when you shave or apply make up, and it can also be accompanied by a sensation of tightness in the immediate area.
Other symptoms can also include difficulty breathing, coughing, difficulty in swallowing and hoarseness. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is advised to seek medical assistance from your physician before diagnosing the problem yourself or deciding upon any possible methods of treatment.