Experts, referring to the symptoms of goiter, a condition where the thyroid gland enlarges, note a lump in front of the neck, just below the Adam's apple, a feeling of tightness in your throat area, hoarseness (raspy voice), swelling of neck veins, and dizziness occurring when arms are raised above the head. Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that some people with goiter may also have hyperthyroidism, meaning an overactive thyroid, and said that rapid heart rate, unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, sweating without exercise or from increased room temperature, hand tremors, nervousness, and easily becoming irritable are symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Noting that goiter treatment should not be neglected, Prof. Dr. Kalemoğlu warned, ‘If your thyroid continues to enlarge, it can press on surrounding structures, causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing, and hoarseness.’
Goiter treatment should not be neglected
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Head of the Department of Surgical Medical Sciences at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, made evaluations about goiter disease.
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu noted that goiter is a condition where your thyroid gland enlarges, stating, ‘Your entire thyroid can enlarge, or you can develop one or more small lumps called thyroid nodules. Your thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in your neck, just below the Adam's apple. It produces the hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).’
Plays an important role in many bodily functions
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that these hormones play a role in certain bodily functions, including metabolism, body temperature, mood and excitement, pulse and heart rate, and digestion. Referring to the symptoms of goiter disease, Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu warned, ‘The size of a goiter can vary from very small and barely noticeable to very large. Most goiters are painless, but if you have thyroiditis, meaning inflammation in the thyroid gland, it can be painful.’
Beware of these symptoms!
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu listed the main symptoms of goiter as ‘a lump in front of your neck, just below your Adam's apple, a feeling of tightness in your throat area, hoarseness (raspy voice), swelling of neck veins, and dizziness when you raise your arms above your head.’
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu added that other less common symptoms of goiter include difficulty breathing (shortness of breath), coughing, wheezing due to compression of your windpipe, and difficulty swallowing due to compression of the esophagus.
Unexplained weight loss may be a symptom of hyperthyroidism
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that some people with goiter may also have hyperthyroidism, meaning an overactive thyroid, and listed the symptoms of hyperthyroidism as follows: ‘Rapid heart rate (tachycardia), unexplained weight loss, diarrhea, sweating without exercise or from increased room temperature, hand tremors, nervousness, and easily becoming irritable.’
Insufficient thyroid secretion can cause fatigue
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu also noted that some people with goiter may have hypothyroidism, meaning insufficient thyroid hormone production, and listed the symptoms of hypothyroidism as fatigue or feeling tired, constipation, dry skin, unexplained weight gain, and abnormal menstrual periods.
Its treatment should not be neglected
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu noted that goiter treatment should not be neglected, stating, ‘Simple goiter generally has a good prognosis. However, if left untreated, your thyroid may continue to enlarge, pressing on surrounding structures and causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing, and hoarseness. If goiter is a symptom of another thyroid disease, such as Graves' disease or Hashimoto's disease, the prognosis depends on the underlying cause of thyroid enlargement. Furthermore, there is a risk of cancer in some thyroid nodules.’
Beware of iodine deficiency!
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu also addressed risk factors for goiter disease, stating, ‘Worldwide, the most common cause of goiter is iodine deficiency, affecting an estimated 2.2 billion people. The more severe the iodine deficiency, the higher the likelihood of a person developing goiter:
•In mild iodine deficiency, the incidence of goiter is between 5% and 20%.
•With moderate iodine deficiency, the incidence rises to 20% to 30%.
•With severe iodine deficiency, the incidence rises above 30%.
Various treatments are applied
Speaking about goiter treatment, Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu stated that the treatment depends on how much the thyroid has enlarged, its findings, and what caused it, outlining the treatments as follows:
No treatment / ‘watchful waiting’: If the goiter is small and not bothering you, your healthcare provider may decide that it doesn't need treatment. However, they will carefully monitor your thyroid for any changes.
Medications: Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone replacement therapy. If the cause of goiter is an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), your doctor will likely prescribe it. If the cause of goiter is an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), other medications are prescribed. These include methimazole and propylthiouracil. If the goiter is caused by inflammation, your doctor may prescribe aspirin or a corticosteroid medication.
Radioactive iodine therapy: Used in cases of an overactive thyroid gland, this treatment involves taking radioactive iodine orally. The iodine travels to your thyroid gland and kills thyroid cells, which shrinks the gland. After radioactive iodine therapy, you will likely need to take thyroid hormone replacement therapy for the rest of your life.
Surgery: Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid gland (thyroidectomy). Surgery may be necessary if the goiter is large and causing problems with breathing and swallowing. Sometimes surgery is also used to remove nodules. If there is cancer, surgery must be performed. Depending on the amount of thyroid gland removed, you may need to take thyroid hormone replacement therapy for the rest of your life.
Iodized table salt should be consumed
Prof. Dr. Murat Kalemoğlu also listed his recommendations for the prevention of goiter as follows: ‘Goiter caused by iodine deficiency (simple goiter) is usually the only type of goiter you can prevent. Consuming a diet that includes fish, dairy products, and a healthy amount of iodized table salt prevents these types of goiter. Iodine supplements and other supplements are generally not recommended and can do more harm than good.’