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The hormones that come from your thyroid help your body use the energy needed to stay warm and keep your organs working correctly. During pregnancy, the fetus will also need thyroid hormones for proper bone and brain development.
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that can be found in the front of your neck and is part of your endocrine system. Your thyroid releases hormones into your bloodstream and then your blood carries them to the tissues in your body.
Iodine deficiency used to be common in certain areas of the US and Canada so it started being added to table salt. Following this, rates of iodine deficiency fell.
Iodine deficiency is when your thyroid gland doesn't have the amount of iodine it needs to function properly.
Iodine is a mineral that your body doesn't produce naturally. You must get iodine through your diet.
One way you can increase your iodine intake is to consume dietary supplements or daily multivitamins.
Iodine occurs naturally in seawater, so foods that are high in iodine include seaweed, fish, and seafood.
People who don't eat fish or dairy can suffer from iodine deficiency as they are two of the best iodine sources.
In some rare cases, iodine deficiency can lead to a severe form of brain damage known as cretinism or congenital iodine deficiency syndrome.
Many complications can occur because of iodine deficiency including miscarriage, stillbirth, and birth defects.
Other possible issues that can arise from iodine deficiency during pregnancy include stunted growth, intellectual disabilities, and developmental delays.
If a person (or a community) doesn't use iodized salt then they're more likely to be impacted. More than 10% of the world's population doesn't have access to iodized salt.
Babies who are born with cretinism can have severe complications including physical and mental delays, severe muscle tightness, short stature, deafness, or an inability to speak.
People who are pregnant need 50% more iodine than non-pregnant people. This is because the fetus also needs it for its development.
One of the preliminary signs of an iodine deficiency is the enlargement of your thyroid, a condition known as goiter. Your thyroid will grow bigger as it attempts to keep up with your body's demand for more hormones from the thyroid.
With hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid, your metabolism can slow down and ultimately lead to fatigue, weight gain, and an inability to tolerate cold.
With a goiter, you might experience serious symptoms such as choking, difficulty swallowing, or trouble breathing.
Other iodine deficiency symptoms can include infertility, puffy skin, hoarseness, confusion, dry skin, and coarse, thinning hair.
The main symptom of an iodine deficiency is hypothyroidism, which can occur when your body's iodine levels decrease and the thyroid gland can't produce more hormones.
Iodine deficiency may be visually diagnosed by a doctor if there is an enlarged thyroid gland or goiter. Your doctor might still order imaging tests like an ultrasound to measure your thyroid and search for abnormalities.
If you have iodine deficiency, your healthcare provider will likely treat it with iodine supplements or thyroid hormone supplements.
Your age dictates how much iodine you need. For most adults, 150 micrograms of iodine daily is enough. However, if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you should be taking prenatal vitamins with 250 micrograms of iodine per day.
Your healthcare provider may also want you to complete a thyroid blood test. Iodine deficiency can be indicated by low levels of thyroid hormone or high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH).
An important warning is that not all prenatal vitamins contain iodine. Ensure you ask your healthcare provider to confirm if you're getting enough iodine.
Sources: (Cleveland Clinic) (AP)
See also: How vitamin deficiencies impact sleep
Using iodized salt can be an excellent way to prevent iodine deficiency. Add it while cooking or to your finished plate.
In order to help prevent iodine deficiency, eat a diet that includes food with iodine in it. Foods like cod, tuna, shrimp, and other seafood, as well as dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese, can help.
If your child was born with an iodine deficiency, they can be treated with thyroid hormone supplements. How long they'll need to take the supplement will depend on the severity of the condition.
While the modern diet is lower in iodine due to changes in diet and food manufacturing, until recently, most people were still consuming a sufficient amount. However, researchers are now reporting low levels of iodine in pregnant women and a small but growing number of iodine deficiencies in children.
Iodine deficiency is no joke and should be taken very seriously. In this gallery, you’ll find out all you need to know about iodine deficiency and its impact, as well as how to prevent it.
Curious if you might have an iodine deficiency? Click through to find out more information now.
Iodine deficiency: what you need to know
Doctors worry that iodine deficiency is coming back
HEALTH Awareness
While the modern diet is lower in iodine due to changes in diet and food manufacturing, until recently, most people were still consuming a sufficient amount. However, researchers are now reporting low levels of iodine in pregnant women and a small but growing number of iodine deficiencies in children.
Iodine deficiency is no joke and should be taken very seriously. In this gallery, you’ll find out all you need to know about iodine deficiency and its impact, as well as how to prevent it.
Curious if you might have an iodine deficiency? Click through to find out more information now.