Introduction: Iodine deficiency can cause "goiter," also known as thyroid enlargement. Yu Jianjun, Director of the Second Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Hunan Cancer Hospital, explains that excessive iodine intake can also lead to thyroid diseases. People from Hunan, who tend to prefer salty food, should be particularly vigilant.
Thyroid tumors rank first among head and neck cancers, accounting for 10%-15% of hospitalized patients. It is the fastest-growing solid cancer, with an incidence rate increasing by 6.2% annually. However, due to low public awareness of thyroid diseases, the standardized treatment rate for thyroid disease patients is less than 5%.
Yu Jianjun stated that Hunan is a region with a severely iodine-deficient natural environment. However, due to the local preference for strong flavors and the widespread use of iodized salt, iodine intake is not low. In reality, both high and low iodine levels can harm human health, causing adverse reactions such as hyperthyroidism and thyroid tumors.