GOITER

Thyroid has a butterfly-shaped gland that's located below the Adam's apple, usually painless.

CAUSES OF GOITER

• Lack of dietary iodine, family history, people over age 40
• High levels of TSH
• Grave' disease,Hashimoto's Disease
• Multi-nodular goiter, solitary thyroid nodules
• Thyroid cancer, pregnancy,& inflammation

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS

• Enlargement of thyroid can put pressure on windpipe & food tube
• Breathing difficulties, cough
• Hoarsonesss & swallowing difficulties

TREATMENT

• Thyroid hormone replacement pills
• Small doses of Lugol's iodine or potassium iodine solution
• Radioactive iodine
• Surgery (thyroidectomy) to remove all or parts of the gland

SOURCES

• Www.ncbi.nlm.nin.gov
• Www.mayoclinic.org