Iodine deficiency has re-emerged in
Australia over recent decades.4 Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) is an excellent proxy marker for current iodine intake and is a useful screening tool for iodine deficiency at a population level.5,6 However, day-to-day variations in UIC preclude the use of UIC as a diagnostic tool to assess the iodine nutritional status of an individual, unless multiple samples are collected over a period of weeks to derive an average level.7 As this is neither practical nor a prudent use of resources, the public health response has instead focused on supplementation. Since October 2009, all bread produced in Australia and New Zealand (with the exception of organic bread) must contain added iodine from iodised salt.
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Hyper-thyroidism
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Hyper-thyroidism
Regardless of the cause, hyperthyroidism produces the same symptoms, including weight loss with increased appetite,
shortness of breath and
fatigue, intolerance to heat, heart
palpitations, increased frequency of bowel movements, weak muscles,
tremors, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. Women may also notice decreased menstrual flow and irregular menstrual cycles.
Patients with Graves' disease often have a goiter (visible enlargement of the thyroid gland), although as many as 10% do not. These patients may also have bulging eyes. Thyroid storm, a serious form of hyperthyroidism, may show up as sudden and acute symptoms, some of which mimic typical hyperthyroidism, as well as the addition of fever, substantial weakness,
extreme restlessness, confusion, emotional swings or
psychosis, and perhaps even
coma.