GOITERSJames Cooper

Khoa Le

Andrea Fuentes

Period 1

WHAT IS IT?

A goiter is a swelling in the thyroid gland, which can lead to a swelling of the neck or larynx (voice box). Goiter is a term that refers to an enlargement of the thyroid and can be associated with a thyroid gland that is functioning properly or not.

Non-toxic small goiter - the whole thyroid gland swells. When touched it feels smooth.

Multinodular goiter - certain parts of the thyroid gland - nodules - swell. The gland may feel lumpy when touched.

NON-TOXIC VS. MULTINODULAR

THE WHAT CONT.

Signs and symptoms may include a visible swelling at the base of your neck that may be particularly obvious when you shave or put on makeup, a tight feeling in your throat, coughing, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing

Effects of the goiter after removal can include change in voice because it might affect the voice box.

LOCATION OF A GOIETR

THE WHO

There is no certain age for goiters as it can be affected in any age range.

Your chances of developing a goiter increase with age. Because women are more prone to thyroid disorders, they're also more likely to develop goiters.

THE WHO CONTINUED…

Goiters are also more common in people who live in third world countries where the food is not iodized. This if the case in some places in Asia and Central Africa.

In the U.S., where food is iodized,a goiter is most often due to the over- or underproduction of thyroidhormones or to nodules that develop inthe gland itself.

WHEN DO GOITERS OCCUR

Age - people over the age of 50 are significantly more likely to have goiter compared to younger people.

Pregnancy and menopause – Goiters are more likely to happen after a woman becomes pregnant, or goes through the menopause.

PROGNOSIS WHILE HAVING A GOITER

Depending on the severity of the Goiter, people can have two different outlooks on the situation.

For a simple Goiter, it may disappear on its own, but it may become larger and over time it may cause the gland to stop making enough thyroid hormones for the thyroid, which is also known as hypothyroidism.

WAY OF PREVENTING GOITERS

A way to prevent the occurrence of endemic colloid goiter is to take iodized table salt with your food.

TREATMENT OF GOITERS

Ever since ancient times people have had to find ways of curing Goiters and different methods have been used.

The ancient Chinese were the first to find an effective treatment by using seaweed and burnt sponge. This treatment was so effective that it made its way throughout the world to the countries that had people experience Goiters.

In the 1800’s surgery was the new way of dealing with Goiters, where surgeons would remove the whole thyroid gland. This treatment would cause the person to survive, but they would experience dry skin, depression and rapid weight gain.

TREATMENT OF GOITERS CONTINUED…

As surgeons realized that, wasn’t an effective treatment, they started removing the nodules that invaded the thyroid gland and even if they weren't able to save the whole gland, it enabled patients to make a full recovery.

THIS WOULD BE SURGICALLY REMOVED…

TREATMENT OF GOITERS CONTINUED…

Most small to moderate (non-toxic) goiters can be treated with thyroid hormone in the form of a pill. By supplying thyroid hormone in this fashion, the pituitary will make less TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), which should result in stabilization in size of the gland.

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Brunkhorst, K. (20 Wednesday Oct 2010 ). What is a Goiter?. In Fruit Root Life. Retrieved 2005, from http://fruitrootlife.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/what-is-a-goiter-no-really/.

Christian Nordqvist. (2009, October 15). "What Is Goiter (goitre)? What Causes Goiter?." Medical News Today. Retrieved fromhttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/167559.php.