Can someone please help me with this question 5 Describe goi

Can someone please help me with this question

5. Describe goiter, how the gland in question is affected, what hormone is decreased, and how someone can contract this disease. What simple prevention strategy can you suggestion to those who are at risk for developing this condition? (3 marks)

Solution

Goiter is the condition of enlargement of Thyroid gland that is present in the neck region. The gland increases in size and the condition is called hyperplasia.

Commonly (in over 90% of cases) goiter is caused due to the deficiency of Iodine. An iodine deficient diet causes a decreased production of thyroid precursor hormone thyroxine and thyroid hormone triiodothyronine. In order to make up for the lost efficacy the thyroid gland gets increased in size resulting in formation of a lump. It is also to be noted that goiter can also occur due to increased uptake of Iodine (Hyper thyroidism), Autoimmune destruction of thyroid gland (Hashimoto\'s disease), selenium deficiency,or cyanide poisoning

The disease is non-contractible and occurs due to unbalanced proportions of Iodine in diet or improper functioning of thyroid gland in an individual.

Simple prevention strategy for the disease includes taking iodised salt ( Table salt fortified with Iodine), inclusion of Iodine rich sources like sea weed, Cranberries, Yogurt in the diet. The affected individual may also take Iodine supplements as a part of therapy.