What diseases will people get if they lack iodine? Do you need to add iodine when buying salt?

The salt we eat now is basically iodized salt. This is because some areas do not have many sources of iodine. Long-term iodine deficiency is not good for the human body, children, and even fetuses, and will cause illness. However, not all places need to eat iodized salt. Let's learn more about it.

What diseases will people suffer from iodine deficiency?

Iodine deficiency in adults: Typical symptoms are thyroid enlargement and thyroid dysfunction.

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy: can easily lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and congenital malformations.

Cretinism: It is the most serious disease caused by iodine deficiency. It is irreversible nerve damage caused by hypothyroidism due to iodine deficiency in the fetal period, which manifests as severe intellectual disability.

Iodine deficiency in the neonatal period: the main manifestations are hypothyroidism and neonatal goiter.

Iodine deficiency occurs in children during childhood and adolescence: in addition to goiter and hypothyroidism, symptoms such as intellectual or physical developmental disorders and simple deaf-muteness may also occur.

Should I buy iodized salt?

Although iodized salt is good, it is not suitable for everyone.

First of all, people in coastal areas have food rich in iodine. Most of the food they eat daily is seafood, which is rich in iodine. There is no lack of iodine in food, so they do not need to consume iodized salt.

Residents living near the sea do not eat iodized salt, so do people in other places have to eat iodized salt? The iodine content in the water in some areas is also very high. In areas with high iodine content in the water, it is not necessary to eat iodized salt.

Some other patients with thyroid diseases are not suitable for using iodized salt, such as those with thyroid diseases such as thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, thyroid adenoma, etc.

How do I know if I need iodine supplements?

There is a saying that iodine deficiency is a big neck. Some people would say that you can tell by looking at your neck to see if it is thicker than before. This is a misunderstanding. Generally speaking, if you see a thick neck, the thyroid gland has been significantly enlarged, and the iodine deficiency in the body has often lasted for 3 or 4 months.

Iodine deficiency in the human body can cause goiter. Symptoms of iodine deficiency include palpitations, chest tightness, heat intolerance, sweating, hand tremors, insomnia, anemia, loss of appetite, weakness, fatigue, decreased physical fitness, weight loss, fatigue, diarrhea, goiter, and protruding eyes. If you have these symptoms, go to the hospital for a urine iodine test as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis.