FUN WORLD

Swollen thyroid, in developed countries, has primarily been attributed to autoimmune disorders like Hashmito's disease and Graves' disease. In both of these thyroid problems, the immune system initiates actions that eventually cause harm to the thyroid tissues. However, a thyroid cancer too can make this glandular organ abnormally large and cause throat pain.

Enlarged Thyroid Symptoms

As aforementioned, causes of swollen thyroid are different and so symptoms will vary depending upon what condition seems to be affecting the it. Here are some enlarged thyroid syptoms that signal the occurrence of specific thyroid condition.

Swollen Thyroid Symptoms - Hashimoto's Disease
In Hashimoto's disease, the immune response against the thyroid gland leaves it impaired. In simple terms, the immune system attack damages the thyroid gland to an extent that hormone production goes on the back burner. The disabled thyroid gland finds it extremely difficult to manufacture thyroid hormones. So, one can say that the consequence of Hashimoto's disease is hypothyroidism (low thyroid production). Hence symptoms of Hashimoto's disease mimic those linked with hypothyroidism. These are mentioned below:

• Excessive tiredness
• Sensitivity to cold
• Infrequent bowel movement (constipation)
• Muscle weakness and cramps
• Increase in weight
• Leg, foot and ankle swelling
• High Cholesterol Levels
• Hypersomnia (feeling excessively sleepy)
• Stiff and swollen joints, especially in the hands and knees
• Migraine
• Abnormally high menstrual bleeding

With no treatment, hypothyroidism symptoms associated with Hashmito's disease tend to aggravate. Thus severe hypothyroidism causes reduced heart rate, puffy eyes and even decreases the ability of the heart to pump sufficient blood. This condition is referred as heart failure and may be followed by fall in body temperature. Left untreated chronic hypothyroidism can impair brain function, a condition commonly referred as myxedema coma. In addition, low thyroid levels for long periods of time can adversely affect the heart. It may aggravate heart failure problems, cause enlargement of the heart and even fluid retention in the lungs, thereby triggering breathing problems.

Swollen Thyroid Symptoms - Graves' Disease
Graves' disease is yet another from the category of autoimmune disorder, but, in this case the impact of immune system attack is exactly the opposite to that of Hashimoto's disease. This is because, the thyroid gland struck by the immune system becomes overactive, leading to hyperthyroidism. The overactive thyroid gland produces surplus amount of hormone and the symptoms associated with it are as follows:

• Fatigue
• Diarrhea
• Intolerance to heat
• Unexplained weight loss
• Brittle hair
• Racy heart or abnormal heartbeats
• Sleeping problems
• Excessive sweating
• Irregular menstruation
• Reddened skin

Swollen Thyroid Symptoms - Thyroid Cancer
In its early stages of development, thyroid cancer may not produce any symptoms. However, as the it spreads symptoms may soon start appearing. The cancerous growth in the thyroid gland may trouble the patient in the following way:

• Trouble in breathing or swallowing food
• Swelling of lymph nodes in the neck area
• Throat pain
• Hoarseness of voice
• Localized enlargement in the frontal part of the neck