Is there a relationship between having a thyroid nodule and eating too much salt in one of the five individuals

Many netizens found nodules in their thyroid gland during physical examinations. It is said that they ate too much iodized salt, but is this actually the case? Experts point out, can iodine cause nodules to increase? The medical community has long been studying this factor. In fact, there is currently no consensus. Some studies have found that iodine deficient people in Türkiye are more likely to suffer from thyroid nodules. However, some studies have found that the incidence of thyroid nodules seems to be higher in areas with particularly abundant iodine in China, especially in coastal areas. Therefore, the current epidemiological research results are actually contradictory.

What is the cause of thyroid nodules?

In addition, there are many reasons for the occurrence of thyroid nodules. For example, gender related, women's incidence rate is three times higher than men's family history, people with thyroid nodules in the family are also very likely to get sick, have bad habits, smoking and drinking may also be affected, and radiation therapy in adolescence may also be affected, such as x-rays, CT and other radiation on the neck, in which case the probability of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer will be doubled. This is because the sensitivity of the body is very high before we are 12 years old, so if the neck receives this radiation, it will cause an increase in the incidence of nodules incidence rate. However, most thyroid nodules are benign. It is recommended that patients undergo further thyroid function laboratory indicator tests. If there are no abnormalities, medication and surgical treatment are usually not required, but it is recommended that patients follow up regularly for observation.

How to know if a nodule is benign or malignant?

Experts say that benign thyroid nodules account for the vast majority, while malignant nodules account for less than 5%. If a nodule is found during a physical examination, how can one make a preliminary self judgment? You can see some indicators, such as whether it is more common, whether the diameter is less than 1cm, and whether there are words such as coarse calcification, high echo, and rich blood flow signals around the nodules on the inspection report. If these words are present, the thyroid function is normal, and there are no discomfort or symptoms, and these nodules are mostly benign

The ultrasound results of malignant nodules may have proprietary features, such as low echo, abundant blood supply to the nodules, unclear surrounding boundaries, high hardness, and scattered calcification points. If the ultrasound results show the above conditions, it is recommended to seek medical attention from a thyroid specialist to rule out the possibility of malignancy as soon as possible.