Swelling in the neck

The most frequent sign of iodine deficiency is swelling in the front of the neck. A goiter develops when the thyroid gland becomes very large. The thyroid gland is a tiny butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck. When it receives a signal from thyroid-stimulating hormone, it produces thyroid hormones (TSH).

When TSH levels in the blood rise, the thyroid gland utilizes iodine to produce thyroid hormones. However, if your body is deficient in iodine, it cannot produce enough of them. To compensate, the thyroid gland works harder to produce more thyroid hormone. This causes the cells to replicate and develop, eventually resulting in a goiter. Most instances, fortunately, can be cured by increasing your iodine intake. However, if a goiter goes untreated for a long time, it can cause chronic thyroid damage.