Goiter (GOI-tur) is an abnormal enlargement of ones thyroid gland around the pharynx. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck just below the oesophagus.
Although goiters are usually painless, a large goiter can cause a cough and make it difficult for you to swallow or breathe.
Dr Stephen Kusi, a Medical Director at St Martin de Pores Hospital has told the public to include food substances containing iodine in their meals to help prevent goiter.
Speaking to Naa Atwe on Rite FM’s Health Matters on Tuesday, Dr. Stephen Kusi explained how people contract the food deficiency disease.
“Some people experience a small amount of swelling. Others can have considerable swelling that constricts the trachea and causes breathing problems.”
In his statement, the degree of swelling and the severity of symptoms produce by the goiter depends on the individual.
“Most goiters produce no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, the following are most common: throat symptoms of tightness, cough, and hoarseness .Trouble swallowing in severe cases, difficulty breathing, possibly with a high-pitch sound, other symptoms may be present because of the underlying cause of the goiter, but they are not because of the goiter itself.”
Mr Kusi said, aside the swelling itself, many people with goiter present no symptoms or signs at all. Goiter can be caused by a number of different conditions
Iodine deficiency is the major cause of goiter worldwide, but this is rarely a cause in more economically developed countries where iodine is routinely added to salt. As iodine is less commonly found in plants, vegan diets may lack sufficient iodine.
Dietary iodine is found in seafood, plant food grown in iodine-rich soil cow’s milk.
Source: ritefmonline.org/Christiana Ntaimaoh
