Hi shackles,
The following is the result of my research of goiter and its
association with iodine. The excerpts below explain this, however, I
suggest you read the articles and documents in their entirety for a
better understanding.
A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland that is NOT associated
with inflammation or cancer.
-Causes, incidence, and risk factors-
"There are different kinds of goiters. A simple goiter usually occurs
when the thyroid gland is not able to produce enough thyroid hormone
to meet the body's requirements. The thyroid gland compensates by
enlarging, which usually overcomes mild deficiencies of thyroid
hormone.
A simple goiter may be classified as either an endemic (colloid)
goiter or a sporadic (nontoxic) goiter.
Endemic goiters occur within groups of people living in geographical
areas with iodine-depleted soil, usually regions away from the sea
coast. People in these communities might not get enough iodine in
their diet. (Iodine is vital to the formation of thyroid hormone.) The
modern use of iodized table salt in the U.S. prevents this deficiency;
however, it is still common in central Asia and central Africa.
In most cases of sporadic goiter the cause is unknown. Occasionally,
certain medications such as lithium or aminoglutethimide can cause a
nontoxic goiter.
Hereditary factors may cause goiters. Risk factors for the development
of a goiter include female sex, age over 40 years, inadequate dietary
intake of iodine, residence in an endemic area, and a family history
of goiter."
-Treatment-
"A goiter only needs to be treated if it is causing symptoms. The
enlarged thyroid can be treated with radioactive iodine to shrink the
gland or with surgical removal of part or all of the gland
(thyroidectomy). Small doses of iodine (Lugol's or potassium iodine
solution) may help when the goiter is due to iodine deficiency."
Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001178.htm
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What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
"Someone who has a goiter may not have any symptoms. If symptoms are
present, they may include the following: · difficulty swallowing ·
dizziness when the arms are raised above the head · shortness of
breath · swelling and distention of the neck · thyroid enlargement,
which can range from slightly bigger to massively enlarged."
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
"Goiter is seen most often in people who: · are female · eat large
amounts of certain foods such as cabbage, peanuts, peaches, and
spinach · have a family history of goiter · have too little iodine in
their diet · take certain medicines, such as lithium, iodides, and
cobalt."
What can be done to prevent the condition?
"Getting enough iodine in the diet can prevent an individual from
getting one form of goiter. Avoiding foods and medicines that can
cause a goiter may also help prevent the condition. Some cases cannot
be prevented."
Source: Discovery - HealthAnswers
http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/661.html
==================================
Some interesting reading:
Truestar Health
http://www.truestarhealth.com/Notes/3566006.html
E-Cure Me
http://www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/Goiter.asp
MayoClinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00217
(Click on the Article sections for further information)
Search criteria:
"goiter is"
"goiter is" iodine
I hope this is helpful. If you have any questions regarding my answer
please don't hesitate to ask before rating it.
Best regards,
Rainbow |
