What in the World is a Goiter?

What in the World is a Goiter?

Systems of the Body Research

The ProblemI’m telling my neighbor that I feel tired all the time and can’t loose weight. She says, “What about your thyroid?”

• What is the thyroid? • Why should I worry?

What is that baseball on Great Granny’s neck?

My Great Grandma Mary had a big lump on her neck. My mom said, “Oh, it’s a goiter.”Take a look at what I’m talking about…..

An example of grade III (large and deficiency. Unable to meet the body's hormonal needs, the thyroid becomes enlarged to compensate. [c Lester V. Bergman/Corbis. Reproduced by permission.] Most cases of goiter in the developing world are due to a lack of iodine Taken from Healthline.com

www.lexic.us

My Research Question

What exactly is a goiter and why does the body

create it?

Plan your research stepsChoose your research resourcesCompare and contrast EVERYTHING you

read

The Endocrine SystemTeen Health and Wellness tells me that goiter is caused by a lack of iodine in the diet.In the 1930’s there were so many people with goiter who lived in the Great Lakes region [where my family is from], that the US government mandated that iodine be added to table salt.Today goiter is very rare in the United States.Thyroid problems may lead to Hyperthyroidism or Hypothyroidism – Fatigue & weight are symptomsLooks like I need to get a thyroid checkup!