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All About Thyroid Disorders and Goiter and Their Health Impacts
If you’ve ever heard about goiter and thyroid disorders, but don’t quite understand what they are and how they can impact your health, you’ve come to the right place. This article will go over the basics and help you understand what thyroid disorders and goiter are, the various symptoms and treatments, and how you can protect your health.
What is a Goiter?
A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck, near your Adam’s apple. It can be caused by decreased levels of thyroid hormones or an enlarged thyroid gland. Goiter usually occurs when the thyroid gland is unable to make enough of the hormone thyroxine, leading to excessive production of other hormones, such as calcitonin and thyrocalcitonin.
Symptoms of Goiter and Thyroid Disorders
The most common goiter symptoms include a lump or swelling in your throat, shortness of breath, coughing, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and feeling a pressure on your neck, head, or face when lying down. Goiter can also cause general fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, and changes in hair texture, or brittle nails.
Thyroid Disorders and Their Treatments
Thyroid disorders are problems with the thyroid gland which can lead to over production or underproduction of hormones. The two main types of thyroid disorders are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism is caused by an underactive thyroid, while hyperthyroidism is caused by an overactive thyroid. For hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement therapy is used to increase thyroxine levels, while hyperthyroidism is usually treated with medicines to reduce thyroid hormone production.
Protecting Your Health: Prevention and Diagnosis
Goiter and thyroid disorders can be easily diagnosed by doing a physical examination, blood tests, and a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test. In order to protect your health, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of goiter and thyroid diseases and to get yourself tested if you experience any of the listed symptoms. You can also improve your health by eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, and reducing stress.
Overall, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of goiter and thyroid diseases and to get tested if they occur. Although it can be a bit scary, understanding the basics of what goiter is, the various symptoms and treatments, and how to protect your health can help you feel more in control and help you keep your thyroid in balance.
