Located near the center of your throat, your thyroid is responsible for regulating a number of essential functions inside your body. If something goes wrong inside your thyroid, not only can these functions be disrupted, but the gland itself can swell, making breathing or swallowing more difficult. Today, we take a look at five common reasons why you may be experiencing swelling in your thyroid gland.
Thyroiditis
Thyroiditis is a condition where inflammation of the thyroid gland can lead to either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. It can cause pain and swelling in the neck, and can usually be treated with appropriate medications.
Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
An autoimmune disease like Graves’ disease can attack the immune system and cause an overproduction of certain hormones. This overproduction leads to increased thyroid gland stimulation, which causes the gland to swell. A different condition called Hashimoto’s disease causes underproduction of certain hormones, and when the pituitary gland tries to pick up the slack, goiter formation and swelling is more likely.
Thyroid Nodules
Thyroid nodules are benign or potentially malignant growths that form on the thyroid gland. The are typically benign and asymptomatic, but if a number of them form on the gland, it can cause your thyroid to swell. They can typically be surgically removed with a minimally invasive operation if they are causing problems.
Thyroid Cancer
As we alluded to in the above point, thyroid nodules can be cancerous. These cancerous cells can certainly cause the gland to swell, so if you notice swelling in your neck, head into an endocrine specialist’s office. Surgery is almost always the preferred route for thyroid cancer.
Iodine Issues
Your thyroid needs iodine in order to produce the necessary hormones, so if it doesn’t get enough iodine, problems can occur. Iodine deficiency isn’t usually a problem in developed nations because we often get more than enough iodine from our diet. If this happens to be your problem, it can usually be fixed by changing your diet or taking iodine pills.
So if you are experiencing swelling in your neck or throat region, make it a point to visit Dr. Koeplin’s office. All of these issues are treatable, but they have better outcomes when caught at an earlier stage. If you have any questions or if you would like to contact Dr. Koeplin, you can connect with him by clicking here.
