What is a goiter? Goiter is a health condition that involves the enlargement of the thyroid gland which causes the formation of a lump in the front of the neck.
In a media forum of the Philippine College of Physicians, Dr. Analyza Galia-Gabuay of the University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery said that when a person’s thyroid gland is enlarged, it can produce either too much, too little, or just enough thyroid hormones.
Citing the Hormone Health Network, Dr. Gabuay said that thyroid hormones are important because they control how your body uses food for energy, help all your organs work well and affects the metabolism rate.
Other than swelling at the lower part of the neck, there are persons who have a goiter but have no symptoms at all.
However, this swelling may cause the person to feel:
- Tightness in the throat;
- Coughing;
- Hoarseness;
- Trouble swallowing; and
- Trouble breathing
She also added that if your goiter is making your thyroid underactive or overactive, you may also have a wide range of symptoms—from fatigue and weight gain to involuntary weight loss, irritability, and sleep disorders.
Goiter awareness
According to the 2012 Philippine Thyroid Diseases Study (PhilTiDes-1), the prevalence of thyroid function abnormalities in the Philippines is 8.53 percent among the adult population, and among the thyroid disorders, goiter is most common with a prevalence rate of 10.12 percent.
Meanwhile, the 2013 National Nutrition Survey revealed that about 5.8 million Filipinos were afflicted with thyroid disorders in different clinical presentations.
These manifest as goiter, thyroid malignancy, mental deficiency, physical deformities, congenital hypothyroidism, cretinism, and reproductive failure.
If untreated, these disorders could lead to the detrimental reduction of intellectual and physical capacity and even death among susceptible individuals.
By virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1188 on December 11, 2016, Goiter Awareness Week is observed every fourth week of January.
The Department of Health (DOH) said that the nation, in observing the Goiter Awareness Week, underscored the vital role of iodized salt in preventing thyroid disorders such as goiter.
Since iodine deficiency is the most common cause of goiter in the Philippines, people are advised to use iodized salt in their meals and to eat food rich in iodine such as dairy products, seafood (shellfish and seaweeds), meats, bread and eggs.
Special attention should be extended to pregnant women because iodine deficiency during this critical period can cause premature birth, miscarriage or delivery of a baby with low intellect.
To address this health concern, the DOH tapped the Philippine Thyroid Association, Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Iodine Global Network, National Nutrition Council and the Department of Science and Technology to disseminate information and educate the public on the effects of iodine deficiency.
Risk factors
Dr. Gabuay said that everyone, even children, can get a goiter at any time in their lives.
A goiter is often found during a physical exam when your doctor finds that there is swelling in your neck. Your doctor also may use other tests to find the cause of the goiter and to see how troublesome it is, such as:
Hormone tests to show whether your thyroid gland is underactive (too little hormones) or overactive (too much hormones);
Antibody tests for Hashimoto disease and Graves’ disease (conditions where your immune system attacks your thyroid);
Ultrasound to see the size of your thyroid and whether there are nodules;
A thyroid scan with a radioactive substance to take a picture of your thyroid, especially if your thyroid is overactive (this is not safe if you are pregnant or breastfeeding);
Other scans (CT or MRI) of the neck to check your windpipe; and
A biopsy (using an ultrasound and a needle to get a sample of your thyroid for testing)
Health risk factors of goiter include:
- Being a woman (four times more often in women than in men);
- Being over 40 years old;
- Being pregnant or in menopause;
- Having a family history of autoimmune disease or goiter;
- Having been exposed to radiation as a child or having had radiation treatment to your neck or chest;
- Having a diet low in iodine; and
- Some medicines also increase the risk of goiter. [e.g. amiodarone (heart drug) and lithium (psychiatric drug)].