Goiter is a thyroid disease that is typically painless and is an abnormal enlargement of your thyroid gland. You may experience side effects such as coughing and difficulty swallowing and breathing with a large goiter. A lack of iodine is one of the most common worldwide causes of goiter. In the United States iodized salt is a common ingredient found in many foods and recipes. Therefore in the United States goiter is often caused by over or underproduction of thyroid hormones. Treatment is available for goiter. Your symptoms, underlying cause, and size of the goiter can determine what treatment is best for you.

Your thyroid gland can be enlarged due to a number of factors including…

• Iodine deficiency
• Graves’ disease
• Hashimoto’s disease
• Multinodular goiter
• Solitary thyroid nodules
• Thyroid cancer
• Pregnancy
• Inflammation

Anyone can be affected by goiter. In some cases an individual is born with it while in other cases it can develop or occur at any time throughout life. There are some common risk factors associated with goiter including…

• Being female
• Age
• Medical history
• Lack of dietary iodine
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Certain medications
• Radiation exposure

Common signs and symptoms of goiter include…

• Visible swelling at base of neck
• Coughing
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty swallowing and breathing
• Tight feeling in your throat

Experiencing symptoms of goiter? Contact Doctor Roya and receive treatment that can transform your life. Doctor Roya is an award-winning, top-rated, and national and internationally recognized physician. Doctor Roya is committed to transforming the lives of others while delivering personalized treatment to every patient.