Goiter Causes

The thyroid, a butterfly shaped gland located below the Adam's apple at the base of the neck, helps in the regulation of body metabolism. Goiter is a condition that occurs due to under or overactivity of the thyroid hormone.

Symptoms
Following are some of the goiter symptoms:

• Swelling at the base of the neck
• Psychological problems
• Lack of concentration in daily works
• Irritability
• Depression
• Coughing
• Hoarseness in voice
• Difficult in swallowing
• Difficulty in breathing

Causes
One of the most common goiter causes is the lack of iodine in the body. Iodine is an essential ingredient of the body and the thyroid gland absorbs iodine from the blood, using it to make the thyroid hormone. For balanced levels of iodine in the body it is necessary that iodine rich foods are included in daily diets. If there is imbalance in iodine levels, the body will be unable to produce the thyroid hormone leading to hypothyroidism or underactivity of the thyroid. Due to low levels of thyroid, the pituitary gland is triggered to produce more thyroid and this leads to a growth in the thyroid gland size. Thus, iodine deficiency is the main cause of goiter specially found in countries where there is lack of iodine consumption. In the US, goiter due to iodine deficiency is not a major problem as it has been effectively controlled.

Chronic thyroiditis or Hashimoto's disease is a thyroid disorder that is generally dominant among middle aged people and is a cause of goiter in some people. The immune system of people suffering from this disease reacts with the thyroid gland and impairs its functioning. Another form of autoimmune disorder similar to chronic thyroiditis is Grave's disease that facilitates overgrowth of thyroid in the body by interfering with the working of the immune system, causing goiter.

Some other causes of goiter are thyroid cancer, inflammation of the thyroid, and pregnancy. Women are at risk of goiter during pregnancy as in the third semester of pregnancy, the body releases human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) that can result in an enlarged thyroid gland. Multinodular goiters, genetic defects, and injuries in the thyroid are some other less common goiter causes.

Diagnosis
The doctor will examine the thyroid condition with the help of a thyroid scan so that he can detect the case of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. As part of the physical examination, the doctor will touch the area under the neck and see if your thyroid has enlarged more than the normal level. In advanced cases of goiter, an enlarged thyroid is visible easily. To measure the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and T4 in the blood stream, the doctor may ask for a blood test. Thyroid scan or ultrasound is done to determine the chances of thyroid cancer due to some mass, lump or cyst in the throat.

Cure
The treatment for goiter will be dependent on the cause of goiter. For instance, people with low levels of thyroid are given daily pills that help them to maintain the levels of thyroid. In case of hyperthyroidism, the treatment is given by administering radioactive iodine. In both these methods, goiter may not go away completely, however, if the doctor performs surgery to remove the thyroid gland, then the goiter can be removed. Total thyroidectomy or partial thyroidectomy involves the removal of thyroid gland for the treatment of thyroid problems. People going through this surgery may have to rely on thyroid hormone pills for the rest of their lives.

Discomfort from goiter symptoms are generally relived naturally by the help of massage therapy, homeopathy and acupuncture. Resorting to a healthy lifestyle and practicing yoga and breathing exercises can greatly help in the eliminating the threats of various goiter causes.