Q. I would like to know what the symptoms for goitre are. I suspect that I may have the condition. What food should I avoid and what should I eat more of to prevent the condition from getting worse? I haven't seen a doctor yet.

A. Goitre is defined as the enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is located in the lower part of the neck.

The gland has a left and right lobe connected by a bridge, called the isthmus.

The condition may appear in the form of a diffuse enlargement where the whole gland, including both lobes, is enlarged.

Occasionally, however, only a single nodule is affected.

Diffuse enlargement may be due to many reasons, one being puberty.

For some patients, it can be due to certain factors stimulating the whole gland to be more active and enlarged.

The result is an over-production of the thyroid hormone, causing symptoms such as palpitations, anxiety, loss of weight and increased appetite.

A lack of iodine in the patient's diet may be a factor too but this is extremely uncommon nowadays because the amount of iodine required daily by each person is very small and can be obtained from the salt used for cooking.

If the goitre is due to a single nodule, there may be a small possibility of cancer.

The chances of cancer are higher if the nodule is large and increasing in size or is associated with symptoms such as a change in one's voice or difficulty in swallowing.

You should visit a specialist to ascertain if you have goitre so that treatment can be given accordingly.

Dr Loh Woei Shyang is a consultant at the Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, National University Hospital.

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times on July 23, 2008.