Iodine is closely related to thyroid diseases. Clinically, patients often ask, "Since I have thyroid disease, should I eat more iodine?" In fact, most patients with thyroid diseases do not need to take a lot of iodine tablets, nor do they need to deliberately take iodine-rich foods such as kelp and laver. Thyroid gland is an important endocrine organ in human neck, which mainly secretes thyroid hormone and calcitonin. Iodine is an important raw material for synthesizing thyroid hormone. Iodine deficiency will cause some thyroid diseases, on the contrary, if iodine intake is excessive, it will also induce thyroid diseases. There may be many diseases in the thyroid itself, and diseases in other systems of the body sometimes affect thyroid function, so it is generally said that it is not strict for patients with thyroid diseases to supplement iodine. Because some thyroid diseases need a lot of iodine supplementation, some only need to take iodine in the ordinary diet, and some thyroid diseases need to strictly limit iodine intake, which is conducive to disease rehabilitation. The first type of thyroid diseases that need iodine supplementation can be collectively referred to as iodine deficiency disorders. Only iodine supplementation can completely prevent this disease. Some areas in China, especially the mountainous areas in the central and western regions, are iodine-deficient areas because they are far away from the ocean and have low iodine content in air and water. In the past, before the implementation of iodized salt in China, the residents there generally lacked iodine in their diet, so a disease called "endemic goiter" often occurred, which is also commonly known as "big neck disease". The symptoms are obvious enlargement of the neck and hypothyroidism. If pregnant women suffer from this disease, it will cause neurological and physical development disorders of infants, leading to short stature and mental stupidity, which is also commonly known as "dementia" and "cretinism". Once many people get thyroid disease, they mistakenly think it is this kind of "big neck disease", but it is not. After the national salt iodization, iodine deficiency disorders have been basically eliminated in China. Especially residents living in cities, don't take iodine supplements as soon as they find cervical enlargement, and go to the hospital in time. Because you are probably not suffering from this thyroid disease that needs iodine supplementation, if you supplement iodine in large quantities, it may also affect some recent examination results and delay diagnosis and treatment. The second type of thyroid disease that does not need iodine supplementation does not need a lot of iodine supplementation, and generally only needs a normal diet. This situation is the most common in thyroid diseases. Such as goiter (nodule), various thyroiditis and primary hypothyroidism. After illness, the patient's thyroid morphology or function may be abnormal, which may lead to corresponding symptoms and signs. The patient's neck is swollen and painful or has a lump, which is a local manifestation. The patient may also have systemic manifestations, such as edema, fear of cold, fatigue and bradycardia. The third kind of thyroid diseases that need iodine prohibition, one of which is called hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism for short. Among them, hyperthyroidism caused by Graves disease is the most common. In addition, there is hyperthyroidism (or other iodine excess diseases) caused by excessive iodine intake. Be careful not to eat iodine tablets or foods rich in iodine for this disease. Here, hyperthyroidism must not be confused with the "big neck disease" that we are usually familiar with. They are not a disease at all. In addition to goiter, "hyperthyroidism" is accompanied by exophthalmos, shaking hands, sweating, palpitation and increased stool frequency. Most hyperthyroidism can not be supplemented with iodine, so it is necessary to fast iodine, so as not to affect the treatment of the disease. By banning iodine, we mainly mean not eating iodine-containing drugs or foods rich in iodine. Such as kelp and laver, western medicines such as amiodarone and iodine buccal tablets, or Chinese medicines such as seaweed, kelp and oysters. Secondly, fish, shrimp, crabs and other marine animals with moderate iodine content should also be eaten as little as possible. Hyperthyroidism patients are most concerned about whether iodized salt should be eaten. Actually don't need too many taboos. Because iodine in iodized salt is easy to sublimate and volatilize, it usually needs to be stored in a cool place to avoid light. If we take it to a ventilated place to dry, it will accelerate the sublimation of iodine.