Determining whether an enlarged thyroid is serious requires a combination of specific causes, and some goiters do not require treatment. Patients with goiter have many different problems, such as simple goiter, where only the thyroid gland is enlarged but thyroid function is normal; patients with diffuse goiter will have discomfort such as fear of heat and excessive sweating and elevated thyroid hormones; patients with Hashimoto’s disease will have fear of heat or cold and have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism; iodine deficiency in food will result in compensatory goiter, which is usually not accompanied by abnormal thyroid function; and thyroid A benign or malignant tumor of the thyroid gland can also cause an enlarged thyroid. If you feel that your thyroid gland is enlarged, you should go to the hospital. Your doctor will usually examine your thyroid function, thyroid antibodies and ultrasound to determine the cause. Some patients do not need further treatment, while others need medication or even surgery.