Overview The thyroid gland is a 20-60 gram light organ, which lies around the esophagus at the neck, below the larynx. Its task is to produce the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which are essential for survival. These two hormones are needed to regulate the body’s metabolism. The thyroid gland reacts very sensitively to external … Thyroid enlargement
Symptoms An enlargement of the thyroid gland can initially occur completely without physical symptoms, or it can affect the metabolic state. The size of the thyroid gland therefore does not allow immediate conclusions to be drawn about its function. For this reason, hyperthyroidism (overproduction of thyroid hormones) and hypothyroidism (underproduction) can occur in cases of … Symptoms | Thyroid enlargement
Therapy An enlargement of the thyroid gland should always be clarified by a doctor. A mere enlargement does not cause any symptoms at first. However, if the thyroid gland reaches a volume of around 2 liters (standard value 20-60 milliliters), postural deformity and impairment of head and neck movements are to be expected due to … Therapy | Thyroid enlargement
Pregnancy During pregnancy a slight enlargement of the thyroid gland may occur, since during this time increased thyroid hormones must be produced. The increased production rate is reflected in a proliferation of the thyroid gland tissue. The pregnant woman also needs more iodine than usual during this time, instead of 200 micrograms per day, about … Pregnancy | Thyroid enlargement
