Worldwide, the most common cause of Goitre is Iodine Deficiency. Iodine is a mineral found in milk, fish and some plant foods, and is also an additive in table salt.

Goitres can happen to anyone at any given point in their life. A person may be at a higher risk of developing a goitre with the following conditions:

• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
• Radiation exposure (therapy inclusive) could be in a nuclear facility or test.
• Thyroid cancer.
• Family history of autoimmune disease.
• Women are more likely to develop goitres, especially during pregnancy or menopause.
• Swelling of the whole of the thyroid gland, called a diffuse goitre, or from individual lumps, called a nodular goitre.

 Most common symptoms

• Throat symptoms of tightness, cough and hoarshness.
• Trouble swallowing (dysphagia).
• In severe cases, difficulty breathing.

Assessing the situation

• An ultrasound scan of the thyroid. This involves using sound waves to create images of organs and structures inside your body. It can tell if a nodule is a cyst or a solid lump.
• Also, Blood tests, CT Scan and an MRI Scan are carried out to assess the situation.

Treatment: This depends on the underlying cause.

• Goitre caused by hyperthyroidism is treated with drugs that slow down the activity of the thyroid gland. Treatment with radioactive iodine destroys some or all of the thyroid’s hormone-producing cells.
• Goitre caused by hypothyroidism is treated with lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
• Goitre caused by iodine deficiency is treated with iodine-rich foods, such as seafood and iodized salt.
• Benign thyroid nodules are reduced in size with the help of medications, or removed using surgical methods.

Here are some Tips to Prevent Goitre

• Add only iodized salt to food.
• Avoid over exposure to radiation, anywhere you go, technological devices or during a kind of radiation treatment.
• Simple exercises, such as neck stretches should be done on a daily basis.
• Foods to eat rich in iodine: Oats, Seafood, Cod Fish, Yoghurt, Turkey, Tomatoes, Carrots, Lettuce, Garlic, Strawberries, Eggs (Plus Yolk), Onions, Citric Fruits, Pineapples, Bananas, Vitamin A Rich Foods, Meat, Dairy Products, Pulses, Watermelons, Grapes and Dates.

Hope you enjoyed reading this!