Normal Thyroid Size And The Development Of Goiters
Your thyroid regulates body temperature, skin conditions
, blood pressure, and other autoimmune functions. When a thyroid is not producing the thyroid stimulating hormone properly your body can suffer from a number of symptoms including the development of a goiter. This article will examine the normal thyroid size, goiters, surgery, general thyroid symptoms, and nutritional information.
Thyroid Size:
Normal thyroid size is dependent on a few factors such as age, gender, habits, and where you live. In America studies show the normal thyroid size is 4 to 4.8 x1.0 to 1.8 by .6 to 1.6 centimeters. When a doctor suspects a thyroid disorder they may feel around the neck to discern if the thyroid has any cysts, lumps, or inflammation. If a thyroid is not of normal size it can form a goiter, which is an inflammation of the gland expanding the area below the chin, and right above the neckline. Often the skin will look swollen and a doctor can feel to see if the gland has actually increased in size. Doctors will not use a physical exam as their only means for diagnosing thyroid inflammation.
If they suspect cysts, lumps or an enlargement of the gland they will order tests to get an actual picture of the gland. An ultrasound is one way to get a picture of the thyroid gland. MRI and CT scan can also be used. The picture will then be used to calculate the size of the thyroid gland, with a comparison to a normal thyroid size. A nuclear scan is also necessary to see how active the thyroid is with images captured during the process.
Thyroid Goiters:
Goiters can be categorized in a few ways. A person suffering from Grave's Disease will have a toxic diffuse goiter. Basically this type of goiter develops from an overproduction of the thyroid hormones causing an inflammation. With treatment a person with Grave's Disease may see their goiter reduce. Toxic multinodular goiter is where nodules or cysts develop on the thyroid gland. These lumps can be cancerous, or not. A thyroid adenoma is a single lump in the thyroid gland. Thyroiditis is an inflammation of the gland without any cysts or nodules. It is still an overproduction of the hormone, though thyroiditis does not have some of the symptoms of Grave's Disease.
Symptoms of Overactive Thyroid:
Muscle weakness, memory loss, weight loss, increased appetite, anxiety, sensitivity to heat or cold, hair loss, fatigue, hyperactivity, mood swings, reduced libido, heart palpitations, tremors, inflammation of the shin tissue, dry skin, diarrhea, nausea, dizziness, and high blood pressure are common symptoms of overactive thyroid.
Erectile dysfunction in men, irregular menstrual cycle in women, and bulging eyes are other symptoms. Women can have trouble maintaining a pregnancy, suffer from high blood pressure during pregnancy, and have difficult births. Bulging eyes occur mostly with Grave's Disease where pressure builds behind the eye, as well as some fat tissue pushing the eye forward.
Treatments for Goiters:
Treatment will vary depending on the type of goiter you have, as well as the classification of overactive thyroid. Grave's Disease without a lump or nodule in the goiter can be treated with medications. Medications used are methimazole and propylthiouracil. These medications are meant to limit the production of TSH. A person with high levels of TSH will often have to undergo radioactive Iodine treatment in which the iodine kills the cells producing TSH and thyroid hormones.
Surgery:
Today surgery is often a last resort for doctors. With the available medications and radioactive iodine treatment doctors would rather use these treatments first before surgery. Surgery will begin by testing any lumps, nodules, or cysts to see if they are cancerous. Any cancerous cells found will have to be removed, which often means the entire thyroid gland will also be removed. Surgery is also meant for patients who cannot undergo medication or radioactive iodine treatment. Most surgeries attempt to leave a portion of the thyroid gland in order to give the body a chance at normal functioning, as long as cancer is not involved.
At Home Things to Do:
While medication or other treatment might be necessary there are some things relating to diet you can do. Some individuals find caffeine can increase their blood pressure and swelling in the neck, though studies state caffeine should not affect the thyroid production. It is best to drink teas, eat organic foods, and stay away from junk food. Nutritional meals high in calories and low in carbohydrates are best, especially if weight loss is a concern.
by: Andrew Long
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