health Matters

Thyroid nodules

Natural Ways to Manage the Symptoms

Thyroid nodules are the most common disorder involving the endocrine system.

Most thyroid nodules, about 90–95 percent, are non-cancerous growths that develop in an otherwise normal thyroid gland. In some cases, these nodules may cause thyroid problems and compressive symptoms that affect the way you eat and speak. About 5-10 percent of thyroid nodules turn out to be malignant.

What Are Thyroid Nodules?

Thyroid nodules are growths that develop within the thyroid gland. When thyroid tissue grows abnormally, it creates a nodule, or lump. Thyroid nodules can occur as a single lump or as multiple nodules, and they can be solid or fluid-filled.

Thyroid nodules are quite common, affecting up to 65 percent of the general population.

According to research published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), most thyroid nodules are benign and clinically insignificant, but about 10 percent of nodules harbor a clinically significant cancer, 5 percent cause compressive symptoms, and 5 percent progress to a functional disease.

Signs and Symptoms of Thyroid Nodules

The development of thyroid nodules symptoms is not common; in fact, nodules are usually found incidentally when other imaging studies are performed and not because a patient had any signs. But some people with thyroid nodules, around 11-22 percent, experience what’s called compressive symptoms, which can include the following:

Neck fullness: Sometimes thyroid nodules can be felt when examining the neck and throat, and even seen, which is from swelling at the base of the neck.

Dysphagia: Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, may be a symptom associated with thyroid nodules because the lump is causing a sense of mass in the esophagus or it is impeding the normal passage of food. This can cause pain while swallowing, being unable to swallow, or having a sensation of food being stuck in the throat.

Odynophagia: This is a medical term used when swallowing causes pain in your mouth, throat, or esophagus. Because larger thyroid nodules create pressure in the throat and neck, it can be painful in these areas.

Choking: Because large or swollen thyroid nodules make it difficult to swallow, they can lead to choking.

Dyspnea: Dyspnea, or difficulty breathing and shortness of breath, may occur with larger thyroid nodules.

Sometimes, thyroid nodules can cause the body to produce additional thyroxine, which is a hormone that’s secreted by the thyroid gland. This may lead to symptoms of hyperthyroidism, including nervousness, anxiety, sleep troubles, racing heart, unexplained weight loss, excessive sweating, and muscle weakness. These symptoms can occur in both benign and malignant thyroid nodules, so they do not indicate an increased risk of thyroid cancer.

Thyroid Nodules Causes and Risk Factors

Thyroid nodules are very common and there are several conditions that can cause them to develop in your thyroid gland, including the following:

Iodine Deficiency

Low iodine levels are associated with an increased risk of developing goiters or an enlarged thyroid gland.

Hashimoto’s Disease

Hashimoto’s disease causes inflammation of the thyroid gland and can cause the thyroid gland to become enlarged. This disorder results from the underproduction of the thyroid hormone and can lead to the gradual destruction of the thyroid gland itself.

Overgrowth of Thyroid Tissue

Sometimes, there’s an overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue, which is called a thyroid adenoma. It’s unclear why this happens, but it can lead to lumps in the thyroid gland and an overproduction of thyroid hormones.

Thyroid Cyst

A fluid-filled cyst can develop in the thyroid, which may be the result of abnormal thyroid tissue growth. These cysts are often a mix of solid and fluid components and are usually benign. Sometimes, however, solid components in a cyst can be malignant.

Thyroid Goiter

An abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland that causes a bulge in the neck. This can occur when there’s an overproduction or underproduction of thyroid hormones.

Thyroid Cancer

Most thyroid nodules are benign and are caused by other factors, but sometimes a nodule is caused by cancerous cells in the thyroid. If a nodule is hard, large and painful, there is a greater risk of malignancy.

Facts Associated with Thyroid Nodules

They are four times more common in women than men.

Increasing nodule size and new development are related to hormonal changes of both estrogen and progesterone, which is why nodules are often found in pregnant women.

Their frequency increases with age.

They are linked to low iodine intake.

Exposure to ionizing radiation (which can happen in childhood or due to occupational exposure) is associated with an increased risk of developing thyroid cancer.

Natural Remedies for Symptoms of Thyroid Disease

Avoid Iodine Deficiency

It’s well known that iodine status is a key determinant of thyroid disorders. Iodine deficiency can cause hypothyroidism and goiters because iodine helps to convert and release thyroid hormones. Thyroid disorders that are caused by low iodine levels can cause heart complications, sluggish metabolism, weight fluctuations and mood changes.

Eating iodine-rich foods like seaweed, wild-caught cod, organic yogurt, raw milk and eggs is a great way to add iodine to your diet.

Eat Foods High in Selenium, Zinc, and B Vitamins

To improve symptoms of thyroid disease, make sure you are getting enough selenium, zinc and B vitamins in your diet. These nutrients are needed for proper thyroid function and will help to balance your thyroid hormone levels.

The thyroid is the organ with the largest content of selenium. The mineral is needed for the conversion of hormones T4 and T3. Some of the best selenium foods include Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, pinto beans, halibut, grass-fed beef, wild-caught salmon and organic oats.

Foods high in zinc and B vitamins (especially vitamin B12) are also important for thyroid health. This includes lamb, grass-fed beef, cashews, spinach, chicken, eggs, mushrooms, chickpeas, and asparagus.

Avoid Inflammatory Foods

One possible cause of thyroid nodules and other problems related to the thyroid gland is inflammation. Inflammation can slow down the conversion and production of your thyroid hormones. For this reason, it’s important to avoid inflammatory foods that will only make these issues worse. That means staying away from processed foods, foods with added sugars, and other possible trigger foods like those containing gluten. In fact, research shows that the prevalence of thyroid disease is higher in patients with celiac disease; so for these people, avoiding gluten is mandatory.

Reduce Stress Levels

Research shows that both physical and mental stress can cause changes to your thyroid hormone levels. To keep the endocrine glands from becoming overloaded, which can cause damage to the body by suppressing immune function and altering the function of your adrenal and thyroid glands, it’s important to manage stress levels and get enough rest.

You can do this by exercising, getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night, putting time aside in your day to do something fun and relaxing, and joining a community or supportive group.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, an adaptogen herb is used for thyroid dysfunctions. A double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine evaluated the efficacy of ashwagandha root extract in hypothyroid patients. When patients took 600 milligrams of ashwagandha extract daily for eight weeks, their T4 levels improved significantly compared to placebo.

Other adaptogen herbs that can be used to improve symptoms of thyroid disease, especially hypothyroidism, include holy basil, ginseng, and licorice root.

Take Probiotics

New research has linked hypothyroidism to disorders of the small intestine, like SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Researchers found that overgrowth of certain bacteria can increase the risk of thyroid dysfunction. In fact, it was reported that SIBO may be present in more than half of patients with hypothyroidism.

Taking probiotic supplements and adding probiotic foods to your diet can help to balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut, potentially improving your thyroid function.

Reducing Toxic Exposures

Exposure to chemical toxins can cause inflammatory reactions that hinder proper thyroid function. Certain medications, hormonal birth control pills and commercial beauty or cleaning products should be avoided when possible. Heavy metals like mercury can also disrupt hormone balance.

If you are struggling with health issues, call the Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center at 240-651-1650 for a free consultation. Dr. Lo uses Nutritional Response Testing® to analyze the body to determine the underlying causes of ill or non-optimum health. The office is located at 7310 Grove Road #107, Frederick, MD. Check out the website at www.doctorlo.com.

by Dr. Thomas K. Lo, Advanced Chiropractic & Nutritional Healing Center