What causes an enlarged thyroid and how to avoid it?

Question

What are the symptoms?

Answer 1

The thyroid gland can be enlarged for the following reasons:
1) Enlargement due to iodine deficiency. Rare in developed nations. The gland gets bigger to try and compensate for decreased thyroid hormone production due to nutritional deficiency of iodine.
2) Enlarged because it is inflamed. Can happen with both underactive and overactive thyroid, so the symptoms would vary. With overactive thyroid such as in Graves Disease, there would be fast heart rate, weight loss, feeling hot all the time. With underactive thyroid, there would be fatigue, feeling cold, gaining weight.
3) Enlarged due to benign nodules. Called a multinodular goitre, this is usually without symptoms. Ultrasound can confirm the diagnosis and also ensure that none of the nodules look like they need biopsy.
4) Enlargement due to a cyst or multiple cysts. Can be drained by the physician, but would be prudent to look with ultrasound and perhaps biopsy.
5) Enlarged due to cancerous growth. Rather rare, but your physician can decide whether the thyroid needs a biopsy.

Answer 2

Hello. I have a very enlarged thyroid because I have hypothyroidism. My thyroid is still growing but it cannot produce the right amount of hormones. I was diagnosed just after high school when I had started gaining lots of weight, I slept all the time, was hungry alot and just a general feeling of ..... blah. It's not really something you can control, you have it or you don't.
Cheers!

Answer 3

Disease and Infection cause an enlarged thyroid...No way to avoid it, it either happens to you or it doesn't.....Symptoms are that you feel a knot in throat right where the indentation is at the bottom of your neck.....symptoms of disease or infection are rapid or slow heart rate, weight loss or weight gain, weak muscles, slow mentation, depression, dry skin and hair, abnormal thyroid tests, and many more, just google hypothyroid, and hyperthyroid....You get all the answers...