Goiter is a medieval Latin word “bocĭa” or “bocius” meaning “tumor”, it comes from the French word “bosse”, which is described as “lump” or “hump”. Goiter is understood as the increase or increase in size, most of the time visible, of the thyroid gland, causing a bulge in the neck region; that is, it can be described as an external mass in the lower anterior part of the neck, specifically below the larynx. This inflammation mainly affects women and its frequency increases with age. Goiter is a very common condition that affects around 800 million people worldwide.
There may be several abnormalities that influence the appearance of goiter. The causes can vary from deficiency or lack of iodine, which is a mandatory element of thyroid hormones; On the other hand, it can also happen that the synthesis of thyroid hormones is defective or abnormal. Another series of thyroid-type diseases can also cause goiter, but it should be noted that they are less frequent, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Basedow’s disease, among other thyroiditis.
The types of goiter can be diverse, morphologically speaking, among them, diffuse, uninodular or multinodular goiter; differing according to their size, dividing as follows: State 1, it is detectable by palpation. Stage 2, the goiter is palpable and visible with the neck hyperextended. State 3 is visible with the neck in a normal position. State 4, the inflammation is visible from a distance.
There are many treatment options for a person with a goiter.
A goiter is an enlargement or inflammation of the thyroid, a small gland found near the Adam’s apple in the neck. The swollen area may be painful and tender, or it may not hurt at all. In some cases, it can put pressure on the esophagus, which can lead to a feeling of tightness around the throat, leading to shortness of breath or a choking sensation. There are different types of goiter, the most common being colloid, nodular toxic and non-toxic.
A goiter is a swollen thyroid gland, seen near the Adam’s apple.
Colloid refers to a goiter caused by hypothyroidism or decreased production of thyroid hormones. In this case, the thyroid gland gets bigger because it is trying to make more hormones. Weight gain or the inability to lose weight can be a problem for people with this condition because the hormones produced by the thyroid are essential for healthy metabolism. Slow metabolism causes people to burn calories at a reduced rate.
Iodized salt, which can help prevent goiter.
A toxic nodular goiter usually refers to hyperthyroidism or overproduction of thyroid hormones, as well as other inconsistencies, including malignancies, in the thyroid nodules. People with this condition may have trouble gaining weight. A nontoxic goiter does not include malignant tumors.
This type of bloating is thought to be caused by iodine deficiency in many cases, although with the advent of iodized products like table salt, iodine-related thyroid problems have greatly decreased in the United States and many other countries. Other causes include thyroid cancer and nonmalignant thyroid cysts. Hormonal changes in the body, such as pregnancy or puberty, as well as certain foods, can also cause lumps, but they are usually minor and not a problem.
Having a goiter can cause weight gain.
There are many treatment options available, although a very small or unproblematic goiter may simply be observed for some time before treatment is indicated. One that requires medical attention can be treated with hormone replacement therapy, although surgery is necessary in some cases. If the swelling causes excessive pressure on the trachea, prevents proper swallowing or breathing, or is not known to be malignant, for example, surgery may be advisable.
