Goitre

Goitre generally refers to the enlargement of the thyroid gland.



It is usually marked by uniform swelling in the neck in front of windpipe. It can, however, also occur without any swelling of the neck. Women are more prone to this disease.

The thyroid gland is the best known as ductless glands. It is situated in the neck just below !The larynx or 'Adam's Apple'. It has two lobes, one on each side of the windpipe.



It regulates the metabolism of the body - the physical and chemical processes essential to life and activity. This gland also maintains omeostatis through the periods of stress and strain and provides fine balance to the regulatory systems of the body.

Symptoms of Goitre:

The first symptoms of Goitre usually appear as emotional upsets, which are almost unnoticed. The spells of these upsets gradually increase in duration,. Subsequently, other symptoms also appear. These include loss of power of concentration, depression and weeping. The patient appears to be very easily irritated. The approach of a nervous breakdown is often suspected.

The thyroid gland may swell but this has no relation to the severity of the disease.



There is a rapid, though regular, heartbeat. In most cases, there may be a tremor of the hands and a feeling of extreme tiredness, together with a lack of power to make any real muscular effort. The eyes may incline to protrude. A most alarming symptom of Goitre is the loss of weight, which no treatment seems to check it.

Causes of Goitre:

Deficiency of iodine in the diet is the most common cause of goitre. The thyroid gland makes use of organic iodine in its secretion, and a diet deficient in organic iodine is a predisposing factor towards the appearance of this disease in certain cases, especially if other physical and notional disturbances are present.