What causes Goiter?
November 24, 2009
Brief insight into the function of Thyroid gland:
In common man’s language Goiter is a disease affecting the Thyroid Gland which is situated near the Adam’s apple. Hormones produced in the human body play a vital role in the proper performance of various functions of the body.
This is true of the two types of hormones Triiodothyronine (T3) and Throxine (T4) produced by Thyroid Gland. These two hormones travel throughout the body to properly regulate the body metabolism, to use the lipids (i.e. fats), Carbohydrates, etc. Calcitonin, which is another hormone produced by Thyroid gland regulates the calcium levels in the blood.
Function of Thyroid Gland does not stop at this. It acts in close coordination with the pituitary gland. Pituitary gland produces a hormone called TSH. The production of TSH by the pituitary gland is based on the simulation it receives from Hypothalamus which is situated just at the base of the brain.
Production of T3 and T4 by the thyroid gland depends on how much TSH the pituitary gland has produced.
What causes Goiter?
Generally speaking, malfunctioning of thyroid gland results in overproduction or under production of hormones and this causes Goiter. This results in enlargement of thyroid gland. The reasons for Goiter can be analyzed as follows:
Deficiency of Iodine causes variation in the production of Thyroid Hormones. Sea water is rich in Iodine. Researchers have found that those living at higher than the sea level have insufficient iodine in their blood.
The deficiency is much more in the case of those who frequently use Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli because these vegetables when taken frequently reduce the iodine levels. To overcome the deficiency of Iodine, many countries have made it mandatory to add Iodine in the preparation of common salt. So the deficiency of Iodine as a cause for Goiter is slowly losing ground.
Graves’ disease:
The antibodies produced in the body, instead of attacking the diseases, attack the thyroid gland. The result is that the gland produces more hormones and it also enlarges causing Goiter.
When the antibodies attack the thyroid gland, it may result in underproduction of hormones by the thyroid gland. This affects the TSH produced by pituitary gland. Thyroid gland gets damaged and it enlarges causing Goiter.
Multi nodular disease:
This is another form of Goiter caused by several lumps formed inside the Thyroid Gland. When only one lump is formed, it is called single nodular goiter. In both the cases, the thyroid gland enlarges.
Other causes:
Pregnancy, Thyroiditis or inflammation of thyroid gland and Cancer of Thyroid gland also cause the gland to expand resulting in Goiter.
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