Iodine Deficiency: Symptoms in Children and Adults

If a person develops iodine deficiency, the symptoms can be varied. The normal functioning of all body systems depends on the important microelement. With its lack of internal organs, pathological conditions begin to develop. Follow the content of iodine in the food you need during pregnancy.

Importance of body saturation with microelements

A feature of the human body is the dependence of endocrine regulation on the two hormones of the endocrine system: thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These components affect all the processes of regulation in internal organs. Disorders begin when iodine deficiency is formed. Symptoms of micronutrient deficiency are observed in a period of decreased overall well-being.

Iodine affects health as follows:

• Is responsible for normal blood pressure;
• Regulates the level of sugar in the blood;
• Affects the rhythm of the heartbeat;
• Helps the cleavage of fat cells, their withdrawal from the body;
• Increases the intensity of tissue regeneration;
• Helps cell division.

From poor ecology, inadequate nutrition and stressful loads in a megalopolis, a person acquires iodine deficiency. Symptoms of disease states are often not associated with a lack of trace elements, and are engaged in the treatment of exacerbations in a single organ, which does not eliminate the cause of malaise.

Thus, only for a while, the inflammation is removed, and the body continues to experience iodine deficiency, the symptoms of which appear during the next decline in strength. Moreover, it is impossible to establish the regularities of the appearance of specific manifestations of a shortage of an important trace element in the body. All signs resemble common diseases.

Health abnormalities in the presence of micronutrient deficiencies

Symptoms of iodine deficiency in women often appear during pregnancy. Already women in the "interesting" position is often very exhausted, and the future baby requires a huge amount of vitamins and minerals.

With insufficient saturation of the body with iodine, there is a set of certain signs in women, which can be recognized by any person independently:

• Change in the type of skin. There is increased dryness of the hands, face.
• Hair becomes dull and brittle, intensive loss occurs.
• Women discover that they quickly get tired and irritated over trifles.
• Nails lose healthy shine, become fragile.
• The general tone of the organism decreases, immunity suffers. Often there are colds.
• Mental activity becomes difficult.
• Women can notice that they gained weight despite physical training.

Without a sufficient amount of iodine, the female body reacts sharply to this. The menstrual cycle is broken, there may be difficulties in trying to become pregnant. In severe cases, a malfunction occurs in the reproductive system, the risk of acquiring a state of infertility increases.

Danger to the fetus

Symptoms of iodine deficiency in pregnant women are referred to critical conditions. For the health of the unborn child, a significant threat arises. A microelement is required for the formation of internal organs, the brain, the nervous system. Babies can be born with pathologies of body structure with low weight.

It is recommended to eliminate with the doctor the symptoms of iodine deficiency in women. The photo shows what can be with acute iodine deficiency in the body. The appearance of a person is changing before our eyes. With prolonged absence of support of the body, a moment of rapid deterioration of the state of health occurs. This condition is especially dangerous, up to the formation of miscarriage.

Pregnant women experience uncomfortable conditions: periodically they swell around their legs, swollen eyelids in the morning. The water retention in the body is due to the violation of metabolic processes in the body.

Microelement affects the health of a strong half of humanity

Symptoms of iodine deficiency in men are manifested in the loss of former mobility. There is a malaise without visible deviations in health. There is a weakening of sexual activity, in severe cases, a shortage of iodine in general can cause impotence. Many people have extra pounds with a balanced diet.

Frequent colds and anemia are the result of a lack of iodine. Excessive weight gain leads to the formation of stones in the urinary or gall bladder. Male organism requires an increased content of a useful element in food. Endocrine system in adulthood fails with a deficit, the protective barrier weakens before infections. Chronic diseases worsen, they managed to accumulate during life.

How is the lack of an element in children?

The most dangerous iodine deficiency in children, its symptoms can be detected already in the early stages of development of complications. The mental activity and activity of the child is significantly reduced. The process of knowing the world around us is difficult. A serious consequence of the shortage of iodine is cretinism, which is a rather lengthy and expensive exercise.

Iodine deficiency can become hereditary when a pregnant woman has neglected the advice of an observant physician. Smoking makes a significant contribution to reducing the concentration of an important element in the body. The child has deviations in the following areas:

• Physical lag in development.
• Psychological imbalance.
• Difficulties of mental work.
• Deviations of the speech function.

Possible complications

Symptoms of iodine deficiency in adolescents are expressed in the form of mental retardation in comparison with peers. The fast-growing organism drains the reserves of useful minerals. Therefore, balanced nutrition and nutritional supplements are necessary in the spring and autumn periods. Some children may even lose consciousness from lack of iodine, so the state of the body should be observed and do periodic tests.

Iodine deficiency leads to changes in the structure of the thyroid gland, often there is a so-called endemic goiter. This condition, when the neck is markedly bulging seal, looks like a tumor. Reduction of the functions of the body is called hypothyroidism, and in case of a deviation in its work, a diagnosis of euthyroidism is made.

How to establish the shortage of an important trace element?

To self-test for the content of iodine in the body will need a bottle with a remedy and a cotton swab. A simple experiment allows you to establish a stage when complications are possible. With positive results it is recommended to visit the clinic and begin to restore lost health under the guidance of a specialist.

A cotton swab is performed by drawing on the forearm or behind the auricle in the form of three strips. The first try to make it thick and saturated. The length can be about 5 cm. The second is carried out in one touch without pressure, it should turn out to be a translucent color. The third is displayed in the tone between the two previous ones. Further it is recommended to go to bed, the procedure is carried out in the evening before going to bed.

The next day the state of the picture is evaluated. The translucent strip should disappear completely. If this did not happen, then draw conclusions about the high content of iodine in the body. It is recommended even to lower its consumption. The complete absence of the marked markings indicates a critical condition of the body, an urgent replenishment of the microelement is required with the help of drug therapy.

In the case when there were two bands of greater saturation, they speak of the normal content of iodine in the body. If there is a single thick mark, then prophylaxis is done by a balanced diet. Tablets and vitamins can not be taken, it is sufficient to choose rational products. This will help make a nutritionist.

How to fill the gaps in nutrition?

If there are symptoms of iodine deficiency in the body, you need to turn first to the endocrinologist for diagnosis of the thyroid gland. The work of this body directly depends on the saturation of the body with iodine, which affects all internal processes. To fill the lost elements, choose the methods of food prevention.

Iodine is rich in products :

• Beets, potatoes.
• Sea kale, parsley.
• Iodized salt and bread are sold in regular stores.
• Sea fish, mussels, shrimps.
• Dairy products, eggs, cottage cheese.
• Red meat.
• Peas, spinach, bananas, black currants.

All plants can not contain iodine due to massive soil saturation with fertilizers. It is recommended to resort to medical methods of treatment only after examination by an endocrinologist. If you already have problems with thyroid, many drugs may not be suitable and even become dangerous to health.

What causes a shortage of trace elements?

Iodine is consumed by the body in times of stressful situations, when attacking infections. The active life position of a person leads to an increased expenditure of an important element in the body. Dysfunction of the digestive system, painful conditions after injuries also affect the mineral content.

Iodine decreases during periods of fasting, from overeating and the formation of blood clots. Minerals are washed out with excessive fluid intake. Alcohol leads to dehydration of the body, smoking provokes a disruption of the thyroid gland. Doctors often prescribe drugs to fill the element: iodine-asset, structum, iodonorm. In this case, patients are required to follow a diet, give up bad habits and follow a healthy lifestyle.