Description goitre
Goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland. Zoom can be for many reasons, the most famous being iodine deficiency. It may or may not be associated with impaired thyroid function. This increase may cause minor problems, such as difficulty in swallowing but also serious problems such ashormones. Struma, colloquially speaking dude, causing unsightly swelling of the neck and bulging eyes, which can summon psychological problems.
Cause and risk factors for goiter
Shortly we will discuss a few things about the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is an organ located in the front of the neck in front of the windpipe. Its most important function is the production of hormones (thyroxine and triiodothyronine), which are involved in energy metabolism, at constant body weight, on the development of the central nervous system, the function of the digestive system, and many other important functions. To enable these thyroid hormones produce, urgently needs iodine ingestion.
The main causes of iodine deficiency include zoom, exposure strumigens, autoimmune inflammation, disorders of enzymes involved in the formation of thyroid hormones and thyroid tumors.
The human body needs sufficient iodine ingestion. Therefore in our iodinated salt. In the absence of the thyroid gland starts to increase to be able to scavenge from the blood and the smallest amount of iodine. Magnification gland is most effective, and therefore there is no significant reduction in hormone production. This problem can be solved quickly – increasing iodine intake.
Autoimmune inflammation caused by the reaction of our own antibodies against the thyroid gland.One is Graves-Basedow disease where antibodies forces the thyroid gland produce more hormones. The second Hashimtova disease has the opposite problem – antibodies reduced thyroid function. Treatment of both diseases is drug administration.
This can cause faults enzymes necessary for the production of thyroid hormones. If the disorder is congenital brain will stimulate the thyroid to increase production, causing namely gland enlargement, but not produce hormones. It then solves the medication.
For gland enlargement can sometimes even strumigens, which are substances, for example, in cabbage or cabbage. Their excessive supply of the thyroid gland gets larger but not malfunctions.The solution is to reduce your intake strumigens or possibly surgically removed.
Tumors of the thyroid gland usually does not grow a whole, but only part of it as a node. Benign tumors cause increased function and can be removed by surgery. Malignant tumors usually maintain normal thyroid function. When removing the malignant tumor is administered radioiodine against metstázám. Because metastasizing cells retain the ability to take up iodine from the blood, as well as picking up on the radioactive iodine and destroy them.
prevention of goiter
Prevention is very important – it is necessary to consume a sufficient dose of iodine. Iodine can be found mainly in iodized salt or fish meat.
Increased income is required especially in pregnancy because of the risk of fetal harm, so. Endemic cretinism. Cretinism is reflected dwarfism, reduced intelligence, deafness and dexterity problems. In the Czech Republic, endemic cretinism absent from the 20s of last century. Iodine is added to table salt only, but also in dietary supplements and infant formula.
It is also required increased intake of iodine during lactation and girls in adolescence.
symptoms of goiter
The main symptom is a visible enlargement of the thyroid gland. Since enlargement can cause oppression airway and esophagus, they may experience difficulty in swallowing or breathing.Furthermore, sometimes it appears hoarseness due to compression of the nerves controlling the vocal cords.
The patient’s doctor may also lead thyroid disorders.
Goiter is divided according to thyroid function in three groups – goitre with normal function, increased functionality and reduced thyroid function. Furthermore goitre divided into a bearing (is increased only one or more bearings gland) and diffuse (goitre is increased overall).
examination of goitre
If the patient comes first in endocrinology, with him written history. The doctor will ask you to create or develop problems if similar problems appeared in the family and especially detects signs of possible reduced or increased thyroid function. After evaluating the data collected will go to the actual examination.
The thyroid gland is used palpation examination. You do not worry, your doctor basically just fingering the front of the neck with his fingertips. The thyroid gland is most palpable in swallowing.If the doctor suspects a fault gland sends you on possible further examination: biopsy of thyroid fine needle, lab tests of your blood taken, an ultrasound, CT scan, X-ray barium meal orscintigraphy. Both methods, however, do not worry.
treatment of goitre
In the treatment of goiter must first resolve the cause. If a doctor knows the cause of the problem easier to solve.
The most common cause is a lack of iodine, so just increase your intake of this substance. For some problems it is necessary to surgery or drug treatment (mentioned above with specific causes).
complications goitre
The oppression of the respiratory tract caused by an enlarged goiter can lead to breathing difficulties. The oppression of the esophagus caused by an enlarged goiter can cause problems with swallowing.
Other names: enlargement of the thyroid gland, thyroid hypertrophy, diffuse goiter, dude
