Thyroid nodules are abnormal growths or lumps in the thyroid gland. Most nodules are not cancerous (benign) and do not cause problems. Many do not even need treatment. In rare cases, thyroid nodules cause thyroid problems. Hyperthyroidism can develop when a nodule makes too much thyroid hormone and causes the thyroid gland to be overactive, or work too hard.

Experts do not know the exact cause of thyroid nodules. But, they do know that people who have been exposed to radiation have a greater chance of developing thyroid nodules. They also know that thyroid nodules tend to run in families.

Thyroid nodules are diagnosed through a medical history and physical exam. They are often found when you are having a CT scan or ultrasound for another reason. Most people do not find thyroid nodules on their own because they are not easy to feel and they usually do not cause symptoms. If your doctor finds a thyroid nodule, he or she will order a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test to see how well your thyroid gland is working.

If you have a noncancerous (benign) nodule that is not causing problems, your doctor may just watch your nodule closely. If your thyroid nodule is causing thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism), your doctor will probably recommend a dose of radioactive iodine, which destroys any thyroid tissue that is preventing your thyroid from doing its job. Before you are treated with radioactive iodine, you may take antithyroid pills for a few weeks to bring your thyroid hormone levels down to normal.

Most thyroid nodules (90-95%) are not cancerous. They are sometimes found as lumps on the neck. People can get thyroid nodules at any age, but older adults get them more often. A person may have a multinodular goiter, which means that the thyroid has several nodules. These nodules are sometimes cysts with fluid in them. There can also be extra lumps filled with thyroid hormone, which are called colloid nodules. These are not cancer.

Nodules are large, hard bumps deep below the skin surface. They are long-lasting (a single nodule can stay for over a month) and can be quite painful. The danger of scarring is real, especially if they are not treated or if they are popped. Remember that trying to pop the nodule is not only dangerous (it may cause severe trauma to the skin), but also completely useless ? there is no way in which they might be effectively popped.

The best methods to avoid nodules are nothing new: prepare the surface properly to insure a good bond, use the correct amount of each component of the plaster, mix and apply it correctly, and allow it to hydrate and cure normally.

The thyroid gland is located in the front part of the neck, in front of the trachea (wind-pipe) and esophagus (food-pipe). Normally, it cannot be seen and usually cannot be felt. It has two lobes, the left and the right lobe. These lobes are connected by a bridge of tissue, called the isthmus, to form a dumbbell-shape organ. The thyroid gland takes up iodine from the food we eat. It also makes a couple of important hormones, called thyroid hormones.

Yes. But understand that thyroid medication is very sensitive and should usually be taken alone, at least 2–3 hours apart from any food, supplements, vitamins, or other medication. Now that most of these medications (Synthroid, Levothroid) are T4 products, they will not have a stimulating effect and can be taken at bedtime.

Thyroid problems, like hypothyroidism, often run in families. We don’t know whether genetics or emotional patterning is the bigger factor. Often a daughter will “inherit” her mother’s patterns of passivity or assertion, among other behaviors that affect thyroid function. There are also autoimmune irregularities that tend to show up with certain genetic strains. Knowing your family predilection for thyroid imbalance is a good thing.

You have probably already participated in a thyroid exam without even knowing it. A manual gland exam is part of every annual check-up, and often a part of your bi-annual dental hygiene appointments (that’s why they feel your neck). If you have a family history of thyroid conditions you should start getting thyroid blood tests at age 20, or earlier if you have symptoms — we see women in their late-teens and early 20’s with thyroid conditions.

The best way to support your thyroid function (and your general health) is through quality nutrition that includes a daily medical–grade multivitamin. Regular testing and annual well-woman exams are also a great preventative. Many holistic practitioners refer to the thyroid area as the home of your voice, represented in Eastern medicine by the second chakra.

I sometimes advise my patients to limit soy products if they’re experiencing thyroid symptoms or conditions. There has been a lot of controversy about soy and the thyroid due to soy’s estrogen-like effects. We know that too much estrogen, or estrogen dominance, can have an upsetting effect on the thyroid. (This is one reason progesterone may be a good, subtle preventative of thyroid problems — because it helps balance estrogen levels.