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Join Date: 06 May 2010
Location:  United StatesPosts: 53 |
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Is There A Way To Reduce My Goitres? |
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Is There A Way To Reduce My Goitres?
Question: I have recently been diagnosed with two multi-nodule goitres in my neck. Scans have shown that they are not cancerous. Please could you explain what causes these, and is there anything I can do to reduce them or prevent them getting bigger? Answer: A goitre may be an enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is located in the neck. Sometimes the lump is so large that it looks unsightly; it can affect swallowing and talking, and may also cause coughing as it presses on the windpipe. A goitre signifies a disturbance in the very important functions of the thyroid. The thyroid produces two hormones, T3 and T4. These act on the metabolism (the chemical processes that make your bo4r function, including producing energy). The thyroid is controlled by the pituitary gland, the master gland in the lower front part of the brain. The pituitary produces thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which causes the thyroid cells to synthesise T 3 and T4, using iodine as the active ingredient. If there's a low level of iodine in the blood, fewer hormones are produced and signals go to the pituitary to produce more TSH to stimulate the growth of thyroid cells and thus more hormones. If there is overproduction of thyroid hormones, the metabolic rate increases and can lead to hyperthyroidism, a state in which the body becomes what I call 'over burnt'. The heart rate goes up, triggering palpitations. There can be excessive sweating, anxiety, diarrhoea, muscle stiffness and the eyes may bulge. Over time, you may lose weight. If the opposite happens - hypothyroidism - the body slows down and you feel cold, lethargic and often depressed. You gain weight because your body can't use food energy efficiently and menstrual disturbances are common: Both conditions may cause the thyroid gland to swell into a goitre. A multi-nodule goitre is like having several goitres or lumps of thyroid tissue. These growths can appear anywhere in the body and are usually referred to its tumours, but, as you say, yours are non-cancerous. They can also occur without the production of extra thyroid hormones. It seems this may be happening in your case '“I assume there is no change in hormone production, otherwise your specialist would have diagnosed an imbalance through blood tests and prescribed medication to stimulate or suppress thyroid activity. However, you should be monitored regularly to make sure your enlarged thyroid doesn't suddenly become active and start to produce more hormones. To stabilise your condition, and for anyone with hyper- or hypothyroidism, I suggest the following * Control stress, which increases the demand for thyroid hormones. Practise yoga and meditation, and make sure you sleep well. Before bed, do the corpse pose, which is detailed in Therapeutic Yoga, the book I co-wrote with Jiwan Brar. The Ayurvedic supplements Biorelax : one at bedtime for two months, or Brento tablets; one at bedtime for two m |
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