Thyroid goiter - what is it? This is such a pathological increase in the thyroid gland due to the growth of its tissues. This condition is not considered a separate disease, it refers to the symptoms of various ailments. What unites all these symptoms is that they are associated with the thyroid gland. With further growth, the thyroid gland becomes large, which provokes squeezing of neighboring organs, as well as tissues. Against the background of this condition, the hormonal function of the thyroid gland is disturbed. In order to prevent such a development of complications, it is necessary to understand in more detail the causes of goiter, the methods of its treatment.
Thyroid goiter - what is it?
Diffuse toxic goiter (autoimmune hyperthyroidism) is a disease caused by excessive secretion of the so-called thyroid hormones by an enlarged thyroid gland, causing metabolic disorders anddevelopment of pathological changes in different organs, systems. Speaking about the fact that this is a goiter of the thyroid gland, it should be noted that this is a frequent condition, manifested by thyrotoxicosis syndrome. It accounts for about 80% of all cases.
Diffuse thyroid goiter - what is it?
Diffuse toxic goiter (Graves' disease, Graves' disease, Parry's disease, diffuse thyrotoxic goiter, Flayani's disease) is an autoimmune disease, and it is based on a defect in the immune system, due to which cells begin to produce antibodies that can stimulate effect on the thyroid gland.
We continue to consider what it is - diffuse goiter of the thyroid gland. It is found everywhere. Often the disease occurs in patients aged 20 to 50 years, while women suffer from it five to ten times more often than men.
Causes of disease
So now you know that it is a thyroid goiter. Toxic goiter is an autoimmune disease that develops in patients with a hereditary predisposition.
Diffuse toxic goiter is a genetically determined autoimmune disease that can be provoked by various mental traumas, acute, chronic infections, severe insolation, taking a large dosage of iodine preparations.
Goiter can occur with both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. It should be noted that the reasons in these cases will beabsolutely different. Hypothyroidism develops due to a weakened production of hormones. And this is facilitated by the following factors:
- Ethical violations of the processing of hormones by the endocrine gland.
- Use goitrogenic products like cassava.
- Taking certain medications.
Hypothyroidism is characterized by hair loss, pale dry skin, decreased appetite, brittle nails. The opposite disease is hyperthyroidism. In this case, thyroid hormones begin to be produced in too large quantities. Goiter in such situations is caused by the following reasons:
- Thyroid cancer.
- Thyroiditis (inflammatory lesion of the gland).
- Graves' disease.
The pathogenesis of benign and malignant tumors of the thyroid gland is still not fully understood. In the field of medicine, experts determine that as a result of exposure to adverse factors, the cells of this organ begin to divide uncontrollably. Because of this, their number increases, and a tumor also forms. This process involves thyroid-stimulating hormone, as well as substances that can lead to gene mutation.
The reasons for the development of goiter should also include:
- Bad environment.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Chronic diseases.
- Deterioration of some internal organs after the age of 50.
- Pituitary adenoma.
- Puberty patients.
- Tuberculosis of the thyroid.
- Hormonaldeviations during pregnancy and menopause.
- Bad habits.
- Stagnation of blood or lymph.
- Psycho-emotional overload.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of thyroid goiter in women and men? The peculiarity of the pathology lies in the fact that at an early stage of development it is absolutely asymptomatic. But then the anterior region of the neck begins to bulge strongly, and also swells in the Adam's apple zone. This is observed when the node has reached a diameter of 1-2 cm. During palpation of the thyroid gland, areas of compaction are felt on the surface of the neck. Normally, the body should be elastic and homogeneous. As the tumor progresses, it begins to put pressure on nearby organs. You can see all this in the photo of a thyroid goiter.
Patients with diffuse goiter complain to the doctor about weakness, severe irritability, nervousness, mild excitability, sleep disturbances, less often insomnia, sweating, intolerance to elevated air temperature, palpitations, pain in the heart area of a stabbing or squeezing nature, strong appetite, but despite this, weight loss, diarrhea.
What else can be said about the symptoms of nodular thyroid goiter? The gland is diffusely enlarged, but the degree of enlargement often does not correspond to the severity of the disease. As a rule, in the male part of patients with a pronounced clinical type of diffuse toxic goiter, the thyroid gland is slightly enlarged, it is difficult to palpate, because the increase occurs due to the lateral lobes of the organ, which are closely adjacent totrachea. Often the gland is diffusely enlarged to II-III degree, it is dense on palpation, and this can give the impression of a nodular goiter, in particular, with an asymmetric increase.
Clinical signs of diffuse toxic goiter are associated with excessive secretion of hormones, as well as their effect on various organs, tissues, in particular, with an increase in heat generation, an increase in human oxygen consumption, which is to some extent associated with the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation.
Disturbances regarding the cardiovascular system manifest themselves in the form of tachycardia, attacks of atrial fibrillation, the formation of its permanent form, while with the development of insufficiency.
In older people, thyrotoxicosis can manifest itself only with attacks of atrial fibrillation, and this presents a certain problem for diagnosing the disease.
Strong appetite (but may also be reduced in the elderly), thirst, gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, mild liver enlargement, sometimes mild jaundice.
Disturbances in the function of the central nervous system are manifested by severe irritability, anxiety, irritability, mood changes, loss of the ability to concentrate, sleep disorders, less often depression, mental reactions. True psychosis is rare.
With diffuse toxic goiter, there are often characteristic external changes in the eyes. The palpebral fissure is dilated, which gives the patient the impression of an angry, surprised, or frightened look. Dilated palpebral fissures give the impression of exophthalmos. However, it is characteristic of ophthalmopathy, which is often combined with diffuse goiter. Rare blinking is also characteristic, pigmentation of the eyelids, as a rule, with a long and severe course of the disease.
Complaints:
- fatigue;
- irritability, tearfulness, irritability, distraction;
- sleep disorder;
- sweating, poor heat tolerance;
- trembling fingers;
- muscle weakness;
- subfebrile body temperature;
- protrusion of the eyeballs (exophthalmos);
- heartbeat, less organ failure;
- dyspepsia, rapid weight loss, increased appetite;
- an attack of acute pain in the abdomen;
- menstrual irregularities (in women) and impotence (in men).
Course of illness
For a mild form of diffuse toxic goiter, the following symptoms are characteristic:
- decrease in body weight in a patient by 10-15% of the original;
- tachycardia 90-100 bpm.
With moderate thyrotoxicosis, the following symptoms will be observed:
- body weight decreases by 20%;
- tachycardia about 120 bpm.
In a severe form of the disease - the following signs:
- working capacity is completely lost;
- tachycardia over 120 bpm;
- the course of the disease is complicated: atrial fibrillation, heart failure, defeatliver.
Complications of diffuse toxic goiter
If the treatment of multinodular goiter of the thyroid gland or its other form is not started in time, complications may occur, in particular, a thyrotoxic crisis. It is characterized by the following symptoms: severe agitation with delusions and hallucinations, indomitable vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle hypotension, tachycardia up to 150-200 per minute, atrial fibrillation.
A blood test reveals a decrease in the concentration of the following elements: potassium, sodium, chloride in plasma. Metabolic alkalosis appears.
The last degree of the crisis is the development of coma, which leads to the death of the patient.
That is why you should not ignore the disease if you have any suspicions of its development. At the first symptom, be sure to consult a doctor who will prescribe an examination and treatment if the diagnosis is confirmed.
Treatment of diffuse toxic goiter
How to treat thyroid goiter? Treatment of diffuse toxic goiter can be operative and conservative.
Speaking about how to treat goiter of the thyroid gland, it should be noted that the therapy is complex. The patient should receive, first of all, good nutrition, in the diet of which there will be a sufficient amount of vitamins, microelements. Normal sleep patterns should be restored, and various sedatives should be used for this purpose.
Removal of thyroid goiter is indicated for severe thyrotoxicosis,a large increase in the thyroid gland, in the presence of allergic and other reactions to antithyroid drugs, in the absence of effect after conservative therapy.
Severe forms of diffuse toxic goiter and thyrotoxic crisis are treated in a hospital where the patient is provided with mental and physical rest. The diet depends on the severity of metabolic disorders, should be high in calories and easily digestible.
Medication treatment
Depending on the main cause, as well as the nature of the pathology, drugs from various groups are prescribed. During their intake, the thyroid gland should constantly be observed in dynamics. With hypofunction, drugs are used to increase the production of hormones. These include "Tireotom", "Levothyroxine". In the case of hyperthyroidism, on the contrary, drugs are used that block the excess release of the hormone. These include Mercazolil, Propylthiouracil.
As a supplement, funds are prescribed that contain iodine in their composition. Before using certain drugs, be sure to read the instructions for use. Remember that in no case should you take medicines without a doctor's prescription.
If therapy is ineffective, an operation is prescribed. The thyroid goiter in this case is removed surgically.
Features of food
A prerequisite for therapy will be to follow a special diet. In the case of thyrotoxicosis, the diet is directed to recoveryimpaired metabolism and covering energy costs. If a person has a diffuse goiter, then he needs an increased calorie content due to an increase in the amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Particular attention should be paid to the use of he althy foods, as well as the exclusion of harmful ones. First of all, spices, s alt, alcoholic beverages, simple carbohydrates, including honey, pasta, sweets, jam, white flour pastries, and confectionery should be excluded from your diet. Experts also advise removing animal fats from their menu, such as semi-finished meats, dairy products, pates, and sausages. In parallel with this, it will be necessary to give up coffee.
If the thyroid function is reduced, then the diet should consist of fewer fats and calories. This is necessary in order to reduce weight, since in people with hypothyroidism it increases.
As for hyperthyroidism, in this case, patients are prescribed a diet with an increased number of calories, but it is not recommended to eat fatty meals at lunchtime. In general, the diet involves eating more fruits and vegetables, it is imperative to include figs in your diet. It is best to switch to seafood, the menu includes salmon, sea bass, tuna, saury, shrimp and mussels. Seaweed must be present in the diet, as it is rich in iodine. You should often eat lean beef and eggs, increase the number of dairy products in your menu. Also note that expertsrecommend eating fatty fish more often.
Traditional medicine
When the first symptoms of nodular goiter of the thyroid gland appear, you can also resort to traditional medicine, but only with the permission of a doctor. In addition, such therapy is used in combination with the main one. Treatment of thyroid goiter with folk remedies involves the use of the following remedies:
- 30 g of dead bees should be crushed into gruel. Pour 500 ml of water, bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for half an hour. Cool, strain and store in the refrigerator. For reception, take a tablespoon of funds daily. Take before bed. The course of treatment is 21 days.
- 30g valerian, 50g hawthorn fruit, 20g mint, 25g motherwort. Grind all vegetable raw materials, grind to a homogeneous gruel. Mix, put in a container. Pour boiling water over 25 g of raw materials, leave for half an hour, wrap with a towel. Strain means. Divide the finished infusion into two servings, consume throughout the day.
- Fill a sterilized liter jar halfway with crushed celandine grass. Fill to the top with vodka. Infuse for two weeks, periodically shake the container. Take the first day, two drops, diluted in 50 ml of plain water. Then add four drops. Increase the amount by two drops daily until you reach 16. Take the final dosage for a month. Then take a 10 day break. Repeat the course of treatment, starting immediately with 16 drops.
Treatment of goiter folk remediesthyroid gland must be agreed with the doctor. Otherwise, you can only hurt yourself. Reviews of the treatment of nodular goiter of the thyroid gland suggest that therapy should be carried out in a complex manner. Then it is more efficient.
So, we looked at the symptoms and treatment of internal thyroid goiter. When suspected, do not ignore the disease. Otherwise, there will be complications.
