What is goitre and how to treat it correctly?

A goiter is a complex of diseases of the thyroid gland, in which specific neoplasms appear. Doctors adhere to the point of view that the course of the disease and the effectiveness of its treatment are affected not so much by the location and size of the tumor, as the hormonal state of the patient's body.

Basic views

Usually the goiter is classified according to its location:

• Normal
• Annular
• Heavy
• The root part of the tongue and thyroid

Most often, a person with this disease is hard not to notice, because on his neck there is a large subcutaneous knot that protrudes outward.

Causes of the disease

Physicians have not yet been able to name the exact causes of this disease. The most likely version is that this is affected immediately by a whole complex of negative factors.

1. Genetic predisposition.
2. The big lack of iodine in the body.
3. Hereditary or acquired energy insufficiency.
4. Rapid development of numerous diseases of internal organs.
5. Negative impact of the environment and residence in ecologically disadvantaged areas.

Symptoms of the disease

At the initial stages of the disease a person may not notice the formations that appeared on the thyroid gland or in the immediate vicinity of it. Huge cones, which can be seen in patients with goiter, indicate a neglected form of the disease.

Nevertheless, there are signs that a person can independently determine the onset of the disease and seek advice from an endocrinologist.

• Constant feeling of fullness of throat or pain in throat
• Difficulty in swallowing food or inhaling air
• Too frequent heart rate and pulse, which was not caused by physical exertion, stress or other external factors
• Rapid weight loss and increased sweating
• The state of depression, a constant general weakness and rapid fatigue
• Instability of emotional background, increased irritability

Rules for diagnosis of the disease

An ordinary visit to a doctor can help to manifest the disease even at the initial stage. A qualified doctor by palpation will examine the gland and, upon detection of neoplasms, will appoint an ultrasound examination.

1. If it is possible to detect a tumor larger than one centimeter, a special biopsy is mandatory. If the node is smaller, the procedure is prescribed only if there is reason to believe that the tumor is malignant. Usually doctors recommend to undergo such a study, as it allows more accurate diagnosis.
2. When the doctor discovers a goiter of the chest type, a chest X-ray is immediately assigned to make sure that the knot does not move and will not block the airways.

Rules of treatment and prevention

• When the goiter is not too large and has no pathological nature, surgical or hard medical intervention is not required. It will be enough to monitor the size of the node and annually undergo ultrasound.
• If the goiter is large and causes complications in the work of other organs and negatively affects the appearance, prescribe a treatment that reduces the burden on the thyroid gland. Usually, hormone drugs are administered in combination with effects on the factors that triggered the disease.
• Malignant tumors are removed surgically at a later stage. Less commonly used special therapy.

According to the recommendations of specialists, to prevent the appearance of goiter it is enough to take special vitamins and include in your diet more products that contain iodine.