An enlarged thyroid, or goiter, is a condition in which the butterfly-shaped gland in the base of your neck grows larger. Goiter is usually not painful but can be very uncomfortable. It is caused by various diseases, illnesses and conditions of the thyroid. Heavy weightlifting does not cause goiter, but could aggravate certain symptoms that come along with the condition. Talk to your doctor about doing heavy weightlifting with goiter.
Causes
Goiter has many causes, but this does not include heavy weightlifting. In the developing world, iodine deficiency is a common cause of goiter but is rare in America as iodine is added to table salt and other foods. Graves' disease, which is a common form of hyperthyroidism, may also cause the thyroid gland to enlarge. Other causes include certain forms of hypothyroidism, single or multiple thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, some hormones produced during pregnancy and inflammation of the thyroid known as thyroiditis.
Symptoms
Goiter may not cause any symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include swelling at the base of your neck, a tight feeling in your throat, coughing, hoarseness, problems swallowing and difficulty breathing. You may have other symptoms depending on what is causing goiter. For example, goiter that is caused by a type of hyperthyroidism can cause weight loss, heart rate and blood pressure changes. If you experience any symptoms that are bothersome or that cause abnormal breathing or an irregular heart rate, seek medical attention.
Risks
One of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism is high blood pressure. Exercise, including weightlifting, is a good way to reduce high blood pressure, but there can be temporary problems with this physical activity. Bodybuildingforyou.com indicates that weightlifting, particularly heavy weightlifting, causes a temporary but dramatic increase in blood pressure. This increase in blood pressure occurs even in lifters who don't have high blood pressure. So the dramatic rise in blood pressure that occurs while lifting heavy weights may create a health hazard, especially when you already have high blood pressure related to a thyroid condition. Talk to your doctor for safety tips regarding lifting. Your doctor may put you on various treatments that control your blood pressure if there is an issue.
Recommendations
When you have hyperthyroidism that is causing your thyroid to enlarge, exercise might be beneficial for the condition because it improves the way you feel and helps with muscle tone and cardiovascular health. According to MayoClinic.com, weight-bearing exercise is good for people with Graves' disease because it helps maintain bone density. Talk to your doctor about your specific weightlifting regimen if you have thyroid issues, especially if you intend to lift heavy weights.
