Contents
What is a goiter?
Goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The name “goiter” itself is taken from the designation of the area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe dilated esophagus in birds. It is also called goiter and is a kind of sump for food.
This disease is most common in countries where there is an iodine deficiency (however, it can also be caused by a high iodine content against the background of the use of iodine preparations). Women are affected by this disease 5 times more often than men. Formed nodes are nothing more than a lot of fibrous scars that form in the tissues of the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland (thyroid gland) is the metabolic control center in the human body. She is often called a health guard, so she behaves accordingly if a person has any problems with her: irritability, mood swings, fatigue and drowsiness are possible.
Problems with the thyroid gland are more common in women in adulthood, but for men this problem is quite relevant.
The thyroid gland is one of the most important organs in our body. Despite its meager size and weight (about 20 grams), it is truly a generator of vital energy. No wonder doctors call it a “working bee.” The thyroid gland produces thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and these are precisely those substances, without which the production of the necessary energy by the body is practically impossible. Moreover, this energy is directed to the work of all systems and human organs.
The thyroid gland also regulates the activity of the heart, brain activity, muscle tone (“muscle armor”). This is a health guard. In women, hormonal changes occur with age – before and after the onset of menopause. Therefore, the thyroid gland is very sensitive during this period, quickly responding to stress, weakening of the immune system, infection, deficiency or excess of iodine. Due to the fact that there is a pathological activation of antibodies that oppose healthy cells, with age, a woman’s body is more exposed to autoimmune diseases. These antibodies reduce thyroid function. As a result, there is weakness, deterioration in the quality of memory, swelling, weight gain, dry skin, brittle hair, muscle pain and spasms, and constipation.
[Video] Endocrinologist Ph.D. Vinogradskaya O. I. — Symptoms and causes of the appearance of nodes in the thyroid gland:
Causes of goiter
Factors that directly affect the formation of goiter should be considered in more detail. This is due to the fact that lesions of the endocrine gland, as well as their causes, can be very different.
As noted earlier, the main cause that provokes the appearance of endemic toxic goiter is iodine deficiency in the body. Its insufficient quantity is explained by the absence of the presented compound in specific territories. This is precisely the reason that causes a decrease in the secretory degree of activity.
In addition, some negative impact on its work is associated with poor environmental ecology. So, substances of toxic origin, which are in the human body from the outside, are able to suppress the functioning of the endocrine system and slow down the degree of thyroid activity.
Endemic goiter can also be formed with a relatively small consumption of products, the list of components of which includes iodine. We are talking about fish, fruits and milk.
In the case of Graves’ disease, or toxic goiter of diffuse origin, the endocrine gland is under the influence of specific antibodies. They are produced by the human body and are an integral part of the immune protection of its own tissues. In this case, we are talking about the structure of the thyroid gland.
If we note the most important factors in the development of nodular goiter, then it is necessary to highlight:
Adenoma of the endocrine gland;
Neoplasms of oncological origin.
With such lesions, progressive disturbances in the process of cell division, as well as their differentiation, are noted. This can be triggered by a radiological background, dangerous substances from a toxic point of view, and also be of a genetic nature.
Goiter in children
Separately, it is necessary to talk about goiter in children, because this is the most common iodine deficiency disease. In the vast majority of cases, a diffuse form of the disease is formed.
The characteristic signs of goiter are associated with a more intense degree of severity. In addition, exclusively in children, the disease is most often complicated by the formation of specific endemic cretinism. This form is characterized by a delay not only in intellectual, but also in physical development, as well as disorders of the central nervous system.
Diagnosis of thyroid goiter
As part of the diagnosis of goiter, laboratory-type blood and urine tests are used. The blood of a person with any clinical signs of a neoplasm is checked for the ratio of hormones such as TSH, T3, T4 and thyroglobulin. The diagnosis is determined on the basis that those who have encountered the presented type of illness usually have an imbalance of thyroid hormones and an increased ratio of thyroglobulin. At the same time, data on the excretion of iodine in the urine remain reduced.
An instrumental way to diagnose the resulting goiter should be considered ultrasound. Thanks to him, it is possible to accurately establish the form of development of the disease, for example, is it diffuse or nodular goiter. With the help of radioisotope scanning, the functional state of the endocrine gland is determined and assessed.
With a nodular type of endemic goiter, specialists resort to a biopsy of the gland as an additional examination measure. This makes it possible to determine the nature of the disease. So, it can be benign or malignant.
If, as a result of palpation, there is a suspicion of thyroid goiter, in order to make a definite diagnosis, identify the etiology and stage of development of the disease, such mandatory examinations should be sequentially carried out, such as:
Take a blood test for the ratio and level of hormones (it is recommended to take the test several times within two to three months from the start of treatment);
Electrocardiogram;
Examinations of tendon reflexes for time;
Ultrasound of the thyroid gland.
Test to determine the level of iodine in the body
There are three most accurate and easily implemented tests for determining the ratio of iodine in the body:
Test 1. The first of them is as follows: you need to take a standard (3 or 5% iodine). With it, you need to draw a grid on your own body – preferably in the evening, when physical activity is over. Particular attention should be paid to the lower abdomen, as well as the hips. After the absolute drying of iodine, you need to go to bed. So, if in the morning it turned out that the grid “left” at least half, then obviously insufficient iodine content in the body. If the shade of the grid lasted more than 12 and even more than 24 hours, then this indicates that there is some excess of iodine, which should also be dealt with.
Test 2. The second test is as follows – you need to dip a cotton swab in an alcohol-type iodine solution. After that, apply an iodine-containing mesh to any area of the body, in addition to the endocrine gland itself. The next day, you need to carefully consider this place. If there are no traces of iodine left, then the body needs it, but if, on the contrary, the pattern remains, then there is no deficiency.
Test 3. And finally, the third, much more accurate testing. For its implementation, before going to bed, apply three strips of iodine solution to the skin in the area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe forearm. This must be done sequentially: first a thin line, then a little thicker and then the thickest. If in the morning it turned out that the first line had disappeared, this means that everything is normal with the iodine ratio.
If the first two are not visible, then you should pay close attention to the state of health. In the same case, if there is not a single strip left, it is possible to talk about an obvious lack of iodine. What are the treatments for endocrine goiter?
Therapies
Timely recognition of symptoms will be the key to successful treatment, which will help to cope with the disease as quickly as possible. So, with the appearance of signs of an increase in goiter, it is necessary to contact an endocrinologist. Turning to him is very important, because any other specialists can simply refer to overwork.
Hormone replacement therapy should be considered the main method of goiter treatment. For this, a variety of active tyrosine derivatives are used. This is due to the fact that they are characterized by the physiological parameters of those hormones that are produced by the endocrine gland. It is extremely important to choose not just a sufficient dosage of the drug, but also one that will not lead to negative results. Treatment, periodic use of drugs, very often must continue until the end of life. In this case, it is recommended not to forget about controlling the ratio of hormones.
Hypothyroidism can also be corrected with hormone therapy. Much more complicated is the situation with hyperfunction. So, if there is a real danger of the formation of a tumor of any genesis or complications of a cardiovascular type, then it makes sense to resort to surgical intervention (it will be discussed later). This will change the situation to hypofunction of the thyroid gland. In turn, this will enable easier and more affordable adjustments due to hormone therapy.
In a more severe form of hypofunction of the endocrine gland, a person may fall into a coma. Hyperfunction is characterized by the fact that a toxic crisis can be fatal. In this regard, it is necessary to adhere to a strict diet and the intake of the required ratio of iodine in the body. At the same time, the need to consult a specialist and take tests for the amount of iodine in the body is unconditional. After all, as you know, a large amount of iodine also negatively affects the thyroid gland.
[Video] Dr. Evdokimenko – Diseases of the thyroid gland: HYPERTHYROISIS, hypothyroidism, AIT, etc.: