Goiters
The thyroid gland
Goiters: Blocking your airway since 1811
Symptoms include: a tight feeling in your throat, coughing, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and difficulty breathing.
The pituitary gland controls the thyroid gland, which produces the two hormones, thryoxine and triiodothyronie. These hormones help regulate metabolism, which controls temperature, heart rate, and the production of proteins. A goiter is caused because the thyroid gland is producing either too much or too little hormones. Then a huge lump is produced around the thyroid gland, which is right in your throat.
Comparing the normal and enlarged thyroid gland
An example of what a goiter looks like on a person
Another example of a normal and enlarged thyroid gland
Interesting quote
"Another type of thyroid growth, called a sporadic goiter, can form if your diet includes too many goiter-promoting foods, such as soybeans, rutabagas, cabbage, peaches, peanuts, and spinach." http://www.webmd.com/women/understanding-goiter-basics
Treatments
If the goiter is not too noticeable or if it's not bothering you, simply watch it and make sure it doesn't get worse. If it is large, the doctor will either give you medicine like aspirin or have to remove it by surgery. An another way to treat it is by radioactive iodine.
By Olivia Kirsch