A sensation of pressure and a foreign body in the throat is characteristic of most thyroid lesions. The patient experiences discomfort, difficulty breathing and lack of air. Such symptoms cannot be ignored, because the organ is constantly increasing in size. If the thyroid gland strangles, what should I do? You need to see a doctor to undergo an examination and get recommendations about treatment.
"Throttles" the thyroid gland: causes
What if there is a lack of air? You should consult your doctor to determine the exact causes of this condition and begin appropriate treatment. The sensation of the presence of a foreign object in the throat, as a rule, appears during the inflammatory process or too active synthesis of hormones. In this case, the brain begins to transmit nerve impulses that provoke protective reflexes - a person begins to cough, his voice hoarsens, a burning sensation appears. The thyroid gland is disturbed by the progression of diseases:
- hyperactivity (hyperthyroidism);
- inflammatory process in the lobes of the thyroid gland (thyroiditis);
- malignant or benign neoplasms.
The clinical picture of pathology
The presence of the inflammatory process is confirmed by frequent headaches, a prolonged increase in temperature to subfebrile indicators (more than 37 degrees), a swelling on the neck, a sensation of suffocation, which intensifies at night, of varying intensity of sore throat, giving off to the area behind the ears and head. With pathologies of the thyroid gland, memory problems appear, weight fluctuates, hair and nails become brittle, mood often changes. In women, the menstrual cycle is disrupted.
Pressive pain in the thyroid gland may be paroxysmal, aching, or acute. Often the symptom is accompanied by breathing problems, which can cause the patient to panic, excessive sweating, rapid or slow heart rate, shortness of breath. In violation of the mechanisms of cell division, that is, malignant neoplasms, the neck swells and the lymph nodes enlarge, which can cause lymphadenitis.
First aid
If the thyroid gland strangles, what to do, how to alleviate the condition? First aid should be provided in a timely manner. Specific measures will be prompted by the attending physician depending on the disease, the degree of progression of the pathology, and the individual characteristics of the patient's body. At the first manifestations of hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, or the occurrence of neoplasms, you need to undergo a comprehensive diagnostic examination to identify the exact causes of the symptom.
If the thyroid “strangles” what to do at home? It is necessary to ensure the flow of fresh air and reassure the patient. It is advisable to open the window and relieve pressure in the neck, that is, to unfasten the shirt, remove jewelry and tie. You can help with special medicines as quickly and efficiently as possible. Usually, hormone-producing drugs are prescribed. With adequate treatment, seizures will occur less frequently and without pain. This will significantly reduce the danger to the patient’s life.
Self-medication with a sudden sensation of suffocation and pressure in the thyroid gland is unacceptable. If such a symptom occurs, you must first remove the risk of suffocation, and in case of a severe attack, call an ambulance. If the thyroid gland “strangles”, what should be done at home before the doctors arrive? First aid, as mentioned above, includes breathing relief and providing fresh air if the patient is not taking specific medications. With hyperthyroidism, for example, it is necessary to reduce the synthesis of hormones with the help of thyreostatic drugs, but any medication is allowed to be taken only as directed by a doctor.
Inflammatory processes in the gland
Inflammatory diseases of the thyroid gland are combined in medical practice under the general name "thyroiditis." The onset of the disease is characterized by pathological changes in the thyroid gland: when pressed, pain occurs, discomfort in the neck, general malaise, difficulty swallowing. As the pathology develops, hormone production is disrupted, hypothyroidism sets in, the main manifestations of which are: edema, memory impairment, chronic fatigue and drowsiness, decreased heart rate and body temperature, dry skin.
In the acute condition of the patient is in fever, sharp pains are felt in the neck, chills, palpitations. The disease often begins with symptoms of an excess of thyroid hormones: frequent stools, sweating, palpitations, irritability and irritability, trembling limbs, weight loss. Among the local manifestations, one can list the redness of the skin on the neck and soreness during palpation (palpation) of the gland.
If the thyroid gland strangles, what should I do? Symptoms of thyroiditis resemble the clinical picture of other disorders of the thyroid gland, therefore, before the appointment of a course of treatment, a comprehensive diagnosis is made. It includes an immunological blood test, determination of the level of thyroxine and triiodothyronine, ultrasound of the gland to assess the size and structure of the organ, the presence of nodes and tumors, a biopsy under the control of ultrasound to detect an increased number of leukocytes and other cells characteristic of the inflammatory process.
If the thyroid gland strangles the throat, what should I do? Therapy of thyroiditis is carried out with antibiotics. With the development of complications, as a rule, surgical treatment is indicated. Substitution therapy with synthetic hormonal drugs is possible. There is no specific treatment for some forms of the disease. Chronic thyroiditis, which causes compression of the neck, is treated operatively. With concomitant disorders of the cardiovascular system, beta-blockers are prescribed.
Excessive hormone synthesis
Hyperthyroidism develops with increased synthesis of thyroid hormones. The pathology is manifested by the following symptoms: sleep disturbances, weight loss due to increased appetite, difficulty swallowing, fever up to 37 degrees and above, increased irritability, muscle weakness, sweating, palpitations, sensation of pressure in the throat, abdominal pain, diarrhea, deterioration of the condition of hair and nails, visible or palpable formation on the neck, menstrual irregularities in women or decreased potency in men.
Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed based on the results of laboratory blood tests for the level of hormones T3, T4 and TSH. The diagnosis is made with a decrease in the level of TSH and an increase in T3, T4. Further procedures are carried out in order to clarify the causes and degree of pathological changes: ultrasound and CT of the thyroid gland, organ tissue biopsy, MRI of the brain, analysis of antibodies to TSH receptors.
The tactics of treatment are determined by the endocrinologist. If the thyroid gland strangles, what should I do? Conservative therapy involves the continued use of drugs that regulate the synthesis of hormones, their control in the blood for dose adjustment. Surgical treatment is indicated if conventional methods are ineffective or an organ is enlarged, which leads to compression of organs and tissues located nearby (trachea, esophagus). Radioiodine therapy is used - a single dose of radioactive iodine preparations, which leads to the death of hormone-producing cells. After this, hormone replacement therapy is required.
Malignant tumors
The main diagnostic methods are consultation of an oncologist and ultrasound of the thyroid gland, isotope scanning, biopsy of organ tissues with histological examination. It may be necessary to have a CT scan of the liver and other organs. When determining the principles of therapy, the type of tumor, the stage of pathology, and the general condition of the patient are taken into account. Treatment methods include hormone therapy, radioactive iodine therapy, external radiation, and chemotherapy. Complete or partial organ removal is performed.
Benign neoplasms
The main types of benign tumors are cysts, nodules or adenoma. Doctors believe that 40% of the population have one or more nodules in the body cavity. Such neoplasms do not cause discomfort due to their small size. The patient can detect some tumors on his own, others are visible only by ultrasound. The main symptoms are pain when swallowing, disturbances in the timbre of the voice, the appearance of enlarged areas in the thyroid gland, cough that does not go away during treatment.
If the thyroid gland strangles, what should I do? If unpleasant symptoms persist for several months, this is an occasion to visit an endocrinologist and get tested for hormones. One of the diagnostic methods is ultrasound. To determine the nature of the tumor, you need to undergo a cytological examination. The treatment of benign tumors depends on the cause of the tumor. The most effective treatment is surgery. But the method is used to remove large amounts of tissue or remove large cysts.
Alternative methods of treating pathologies
What to do if the thyroid gland "strangles"? Folk remedies are used different: decoctions of herbs are used inside (thyme) or for compresses and lotions (celandine). A remedy of 200 grams of tomato and 400 ml of vodka, infused for three weeks, take two teaspoons several times a day. It is effective in detecting goiter with hypofunction of the gland. You can lubricate the area of the body with sea buckthorn oil, on top of which iodine is applied and insulated. Compress is recommended for ten days before bedtime.
Radical Disease Therapy
What to do if the thyroid gland "strangles"? For various diseases, doctors choose one or another surgical tactic. In hyperthyroidism, organ removal is indicated for a large thyroid gland, poor susceptibility to iodine, severe illness, patient age less than 65 years, and ineffectiveness of other methods of therapy. Depending on the size and type of lesion, removal of the lymph nodes may be required.