In recent years, thyroid nodules have become a new term that appears with great frequency in medical examinations, with ultrasound detection rates of up to 20% or more. Many people who are otherwise in good health are found to be suffering from this disease without realizing it. Why exactly are thyroid nodules becoming more common? A thyroid nodule is a single or multiple masses in the thyroid gland that are not the same as normal tissue. Frequent consumption of iodine-containing foods may be a new cause; environmental pollution and even hazards such as nuclear radiation, and adverse emotions such as excessive life and work stress, tension and anxiety, can also trigger thyroid nodules. At the same time, with the progress of science and technology, small thyroid nodules can be detected early by routine ultrasound examination, and the detection rate increases accordingly. When thyroid nodules are found, people are most worried about whether they will become cancerous or not. In fact, the majority of thyroid nodules are benign, and malignant nodules only account for about 5%, so don’t worry too much. After physical examination, thyroid nodules should be detected and further examination should be done in a hospital to rule out the possibility of cancer. There are 3 main steps: firstly, soft nodules are mostly benign, while hard nodules should be highly alert even if they are small; secondly, ultrasound should be used to detect a single thyroid nodule with unclear border or invasion to the surrounding area, many small calcifications, abnormal blood flow, etc., suggesting malignant possibility; thirdly, thyroid aspiration cytology is the most accurate test. At the same time, if nodules are found to increase rapidly in size within a short period of time, be highly alert to the possibility of cancerous changes. Hoarseness, breathlessness and breath-holding are also signs of cancer. People who have thyroid nodules should pay attention to regulating their emotions in daily life and be less angry and nervous. It is not advisable to eat more seafood. Cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage and white radish, can stimulate goiter and should not be eaten more.