So who is prone to get hypothyroidism?
An estimated 29% of the world's population, from over 130 countries live in Iodine deficient areas. This is primarily in mountainous regions such as the Himalayas, the European Alps, and the Andes for people in these areas consume foods naturally low in Iodine e.g. seafood.
Iodine deficiency is also seen in lowland regions which are located far from the oceans, such as central Africa and Eastern Europe.
Populations which consume only locally produced foods in these areas are at risk for IDD.
So to summarize it, anybody can get hypothyroidism but statistically it is seen more in:
- People who consume low levels of iodine in the diet. —Most common in mountainous belts, low land iodine deficient areas and many developing countries like India.
- Women 60 years and older.
- People with a strong family history
- Pregnant women.
- People with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland) This condition causes the body to destroy the cells responsible for producing thyroxin and other hormones secreted by the thyroid gland - Most common cause in The US.
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