The thyroid gland is known as the “engine” of the body and is responsible for the secretion of thyroid hormones, which promote the oxidative breakdown of sugar and fat, growth and development, and the excitability of the central nervous system. In the absence of this hormone or in excess of it, the body may experience problems with metabolism, body temperature, heart and other organs. Common thyroid disorders include hypothyroidism (a disorder caused by insufficient production of thyroid hormones, hypothyroidism), hyperthyroidism (a disorder caused by excessive production of thyroid hormones, hyperthyroidism), and thyroid nodules (one or more abnormal tissue masses in the thyroid gland). The symptoms of hyperthyroidism are more obvious and better known; hypothyroidism, however, causes more damage to patients’ health unknowingly because of the hidden nature of the symptoms. “In recent years, the incidence of thyroid disease in China has been increasing year by year, and the prevalence is higher in women than in men. In the case of hyperthyroidism, for example, the incidence rate for women in China is 2 percent, which is four to six times higher than that of men.” According to statistics, the incidence of thyroid cancer in China has grown very alarmingly in the past 20 years, and is the fastest growing tumor disease in terms of incidence rate continuously, with the incidence rate reaching 1.5 per 10,000 by 2005. There are many factors in life that trigger hyperthyroidism and other thyroid disorders, which should be avoided and vigilant as much as possible, such as: infection, mental stimulation, radiation injury, overwork, pregnancy in women and excessive use of iodine. Shanghai is not iodine deficient If the intake of iodine is insufficient, it is the most important cause of intellectual disability and a person may suffer from iodine deficiency diseases, including goiter and cretinism. Therefore, in 1991, China mandated the iodization of all edible salt (including salt for livestock) nationwide, and in 2010, 95 percent of the country’s regions had achieved the goal of eliminating iodine deficiency diseases. The amount of iodine intake should also be moderate, too much or too little is not good for health, and the state has also adjusted the iodine concentration in iodized salt at one time. According to the survey, in recent years, excess iodine has occurred, and the resulting incidence of hypothyroidism, autoimmune thyroid disease, and papillary thyroid cancer has increased significantly. “Many places do need iodine supplementation, but epidemiological surveys in ten cities, including Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, showed that the incidence of thyroid nodules was 5 percent when no iodine was added, but rose to 18.6 percent after iodine was added, a threefold increase.” In fact, an adult only needs 120 to 150 micrograms of iodine per day, with a larger requirement of 200 to 250 micrograms for pregnant women or lactating mothers. Every day, part of the iodine will stay in the body, and 100 micrograms will be excreted in the urine, so that iodine will be recycled in the human body and reach a dynamic balance. As Shanghai is a coastal area, residents include a lot of seafood in their diet and consume an average of 120 to 150 micrograms of iodine per day, which can easily lead to high iodine levels if they consume iodized salt. Most thyroid disorders can be cured With the development of modern medicine, the treatment of thyroid disorders is not that tricky. There are three types of treatment for thyroid disease: medication, surgery and radioactive iodine 131. Among them, iodine 131 treatment has been internationally recognized as the more effective treatment. In the United States, 70% of hyperthyroid patients are treated with radioactive iodine 131. Although thyroid disease is on the rise year by year, people do not have to panic too much. “With timely detection and treatment before it is too late, almost all hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and the vast majority of thyroid cancers can be cured.”