In order to make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor will offer to undergo a complete examination. Almost always, with retrosternal goiter, specialists prescribe surgical treatment. However, patients can avoid it and cope with the disease with the help of non-traditional methods of therapy. This option is the most gentle for the body. Indeed, after surgery, it is necessary to use thyroid-stimulating hormones throughout life, we can say that a person becomes completely dependent on them. Therefore, surgical intervention should be left as a last resort, and it is desirable to restore the body with more gentle methods. This article will answer the question of what to do when such a disease appears.
What is retrosternal goiter
With the named disease, there is an overly large thyroid gland, localized too low. Such a phenomenon can be caused by diffuse toxic goiter, sporadic non-toxic or endemic goiter, autoimmune thyroiditis, or thyroid ectopia obtained at birth. As soon as the goiter increases inin size, it begins to put pressure on the respiratory organs and blood vessels, and this is fraught with the fact that a person may feel suffocation, dizziness, he has a change in complexion and other side effects. Also, because of this disease, the development of various problems with the functioning of the thyroid gland is possible.
According to localization, the goiter is divided into retrosternal, diving and intrathoracic. There are many ways to treat this disease. In the early stages, it is treated with the help of medications and folk remedies. But later they resort to the removal of the retrosternal goiter of the thyroid gland. The treatment is long, but such a problem will not bother the patient anymore.
Why does this disease occur?
The main cause of this disease, doctors call the anatomically lowered location of the thyroid gland, which is treated surgically.
If changes occur in the endocrine organ, resulting in the formation of nodes, then over time, in the process of pathological growth, they will pull the thyroid gland down, and then lower it into the sternoclavicular region.
As a result of the process mentioned above, the nodular formations of the thyroid gland, obeying their own gravity, will grow in the direction of least resistance, that is, into the mediastinal zone, where the tissues are very pliable.
This means that most of the growing goiter can move behind the sternum.
In such a situation, only the upper pole of the thyroid gland remains in the cervical region.
The doctor will definitely conduct an examination. On palpation, they can be determinedan increase in the organ near the jugular notch (upper edge of the chest).
Symptomatics
The whole set of manifestations of this disease depends on what pathological changes are observed in the thyroid gland. For example, is there a change in its level, is there compression pressure on nearby organs.
Often, all patients experience the following symptoms:
- feeling short of breath;
- discomfort in the neck, distortion of its shape;
- the appearance of a hoarse and low voice or its complete loss;
- the onset of a severe cough;
- performance problems, fatigue;
- there is excessive emotionality, irritability.
Knot Threat
Large nodes in the thyroid gland are quite dangerous for both he alth and human life. They put pressure on the respiratory organs and blood vessels, in addition, at any time, the nodes can become benign neoplasms or malignant. For this reason, patients with this pathology need to visit the endocrinologist regularly. He alth needs to be monitored, so a visit to the doctor should not be ignored.
Diagnosis and therapy
Retrosternal goiter is more difficult to cure than the one located above. After all, for quite a long time its development can proceed unnoticed, a person may not even be aware of this problem, and only certain symptoms of disorders in the thyroid glandable to push the patient to visit a medical facility to receive qualified care.
When a doctor suspects the existence of a retrosternal goiter, he recommends a CT, MRI and thyroid scintigraphy. A full examination will help determine the origin of the changes, the level of oppression of neighboring organs, and establish the existence and nature of the nodes. An isotope study with radioactive iodine will be required to determine the functionality of the organ. In addition, the patient will need to be tested for hormones.
Almost always, experts recommend surgery, which completely removes the thyroid gland. But this is fraught with the appearance of side effects, not to mention various risks. After surgery on a retrosternal thyroid goiter, a person will need to use hormone replacement therapy for the rest of his life. Therefore, it is better to try to cure this ailment with the help of traditional medicine.
The human body contains hidden reserves to independently improve its functioning and cope with any disease. It is only necessary to help him a little, using various methods of alternative treatment. Learn more about the treatment of symptoms of retrosternal goiter of the thyroid gland with non-traditional methods.
Celandine tincture
It will be especially useful for large nodes or for toxic goiter. You need to cut the celandine grass (fresh or dry), place it in a jar, fill itvodka, close and let it brew for about 14 days. Later you will need to strain the infusion.
Start treatment starting with small doses (4 drops daily), because celandine is poisonous, so the body will gradually need to get used to it. After you need to increase the dosage to 14 drops several times a day. After a certain time, the goiter will become much smaller.
Tea from woodlice
The woodlouse is a simple weed that can be found anywhere. However, not everyone knows that this is a very useful plant for the thyroid gland. It is necessary to cut the leaves of woodlice and dry them in the fresh air. In the morning, you need to brew 2 tablespoons of the plant in 250 ml of boiling water. This tea should be consumed several times a day. It takes about four months to be treated with this method, only then there will be a result.
Royal Jelly
Such a substance is a natural immunostimulant, the results from its use will be in any case, no matter if the goiter is due to autoimmune thyroiditis or for another reason. Mix milk with natural honey and drink twice a day, you need to drink one teaspoon. To make the effect more noticeable, you need to use mummy tablets in parallel (one per day).
Rye hay
This is the most common, but very effective method of treatment that will give results in any case. You will need stems of fresh "milk" oats. In the morning, a little hay should be boiled for half an hour in a liter of water, drink at lunch instead of plain water. After a month, you will be able to see the effect of the treatmentthis method.
Green walnut syrup
There is another optimal treatment for retrosternal goiter - walnut syrup. To prepare it, green fruits must be rubbed in a grater. Place them in an empty jar, alternating a centimeter layer of nuts with a centimeter layer of sugar. Then pour sugar on top, close the jar and place it in a dark place where no light enters for 30 days. Then you need to strain the contents, drink syrup 23 drops twice a day.
Herbal collection
Effective will be the treatment of retrosternal goiter of the thyroid gland with the help of various herbs. Of course, there are many recipes, but you should choose the most optimal one that will give a good result.
There is an excellent recipe for such a disease:
- pine needles;
- meadowsweet flowers;
- kelp thallus;
- fume grass;
- walnut leaves.
In the morning you need to boil 950 g of water. As soon as it boils, put one and a half tablespoons of herbal collection into the pan, close the lid on top and hold on the stove for five minutes, then turn off the fire. Such an infusion should be consumed in the afternoon in small portions before meals. The treatment will only last a few months. After the end of the course, the thyroid gland will greatly decrease in size. For a full recovery, such a course will need to be repeated after six months.
Exercise for the gland
Slow head rotation is considered a simple and effective procedure. Makethis exercise only takes a couple of minutes in different directions. Rotations can only be performed if there is no dizziness or nausea. A special complex will help in the development of neck muscles and will have a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland.
Sports that can help to cope with such a disease include aerobics, easy running. Take a cold shower a couple of times a day, this will help activate the functions of the immune system. Before applying traditional medicine methods and exercises, a full examination and consultation with a doctor is necessary.
Complications and statistics
With poor-quality therapy, the following complications may occur:
- Due to the mechanical effect of goiter on blood vessels, circulatory disorders and a noticeable change in the patient's condition for the worse are possible.
- When a person is diagnosed with retrosternal goiter, then with its pressure on certain internal organs, malfunctions occur in their work. And because of this, symptoms of other diseases can be observed.
- If the laryngeal nerve is affected during the growth of nodes, a person may face complete aphonia, which develops as a result of nerve atrophy.
From 42 to 51% of the world's inhabitants are faced with this disease. 36-51% of older people are diagnosed with chest goiter.
