home Audience 3 Effect of iodine on the thyroid gland. Complications of the use of radioactive iodine. Treatment of the thyroid gland in children

Effect of iodine on the thyroid gland. Complications of the use of radioactive iodine. Treatment of the thyroid gland in children

In every home, in the medicine cabinet, there is a small bottle of iodine. It is very useful for cuts, abrasions. But not everyone knows that iodine is a very rare halogen. But despite this, iodine is found in many crystals, plants, and animals. By the way, sometimes it is extracted from the ashes of seaweed.

How did they learn about iodine in medicine?

Iodine was discovered by Bernard Courtois. He made the discovery with the help of his cat. Once a cat knocked over two different vessels with sulfuric acid and alcohol solution seaweed. After mixing them, purple smoke appeared, and as a result of the reaction, iodine. And this name was given because in Greek "iodes" is purple.

Around the same time, people began to notice that in settlements with very low level iodine, many people lived with various deformities, deafness, dementia. Cases of goiter were much more common than in other geographic areas.

How does iodine affect the thyroid gland?

Already in the 19th century, iodine began to serve antiseptic. The results were amazing. The number of deaths after operations decreased by 20%. For those times, this result was considered just a huge leap in medicine. Parallel to this, scientists began to notice that if a person's thyroid gland is removed, then cretinism will begin to develop in him. But how could scientists then assume that iodine could somehow be associated with the thyroid gland?

Only a little later, iodine was found in the thyroid gland. Then they realized that without it the thyroid gland cannot fully function. After all, the hormones synthesized in it, more than half, consist of iodine. The work of the brain, and the metabolism and growth of the organism as a whole depend on them. Therefore, if there is a shortage of this element, then big problems can arise.

Signs of violation thyroid gland:

irritability;
memory loss;
fatigue;
hair loss;
violation of the menstrual cycle.

Very often, against the background of this, diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems appear. A person begins to drink medicines, but, unfortunately, they will not be able to help, because the reason is iodine deficiency in the body. In such cases, you should contact an endocrinologist.

The main source of iodine for humans is food, it is from it that you can get up to 90% necessary norm. Next come water and air. Only 1 teaspoon of this element is enough for a lifetime for each person!

After all, thanks to it, the growth and development of the body occurs. Lack of iodine in the body can be detrimental, affect all work internal organs. Of course, now there are many drugs that can raise the level of iodine in the body. The main thing is to always consult a doctor on time so that the treatment is effective.

How to cure the thyroid gland, what methods, drugs or folk recipes prefer - such questions are asked by people who first encounter a thyroid disorder. Thyroid diseases are various degrees development and many causes that cause these diseases.

Some forms of waivers do not require emergency treatment, but only periodic monitoring, prevention and dieting. Other disorders are prescribed to be treated with complex methods of drug therapy. At these stages, after consultation with a specialist, it is allowed to combine therapy and treatment of the thyroid gland. folk remedies.

And only the most severe forms diseases - malignant formations, adenoma, major change hormonal background, are forced to resort to radical methods of treatment - irradiation with radioactive iodine or by surgical intervention. There are no longer any reasonable grounds for the treatment of folk remedies, except that after a thorough consultation with a specialist, you will carefully plan home therapy and diet in the postoperative period.

Before resorting to the treatment of thyroid gland with folk remedies, it is imperative to consult with your doctor about this and agree on certain methods of treatment. The thyroid gland is a multifunctional and complex organ, it is responsible for the secretion of hormones that affect the course of hundreds of various biological and chemical processes in our body, so attempts at unskilled self-treatment can bring much more harm than benefit.

Another very important point lies in the fact that the gland, as such, does not get sick in itself, and its pathologies are only a reflection of the fact that there are serious disorders in the body. These can be metabolic disorders, micronutrient imbalance, iodine deficiency, kidney failure, adenoma, overproduction or insufficient secretion of certain hormones.

And each of these cases should be treated differently, which is why consultation with a specialist is so important before you still decide to treat the thyroid gland with folk remedies.

Moreover, one must always remember that various drugs both official and folk recipes, and drugs have a number of contraindications. There are almost always a number of diseases for which a particular substance is categorically contraindicated.

For example, when trying to self-treat with iodine of the thyroid gland (adenoma, goiter, node), you need to be at least sure that you are missing:

hypersensitivity to iodine, otherwise itching and allergies are the least you will encounter;
kidney disease;
tuberculosis;
hives;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
acne and boils, for which iodine serves as a nutrient medium.

An overdose of iodine can be dangerous even for healthy person, this is well known to people working in hazardous industries and living in areas with an excess content of this element in the environment.

Misconceptions about iodine

Known popular belief that all diseases of the thyroid gland are due to a lack of iodine. Of course, there is some truth in this, the thyroid gland really needs a strictly defined amount of iodine, as well as some other elements. But not always thyroid disease is caused by iodine deficiency!

You don't have to look far for examples: adenoma, endemic goiter, really progress against the background of iodine deficiency, but toxic goiter is caused by its overabundance, therefore, do not listen to those who say that goiter should be treated with iodine, since goiter is different. When you have been diagnosed with thyroid adenoma, it is not easy to put proper treatment even a specialist, not to mention how to do it at home.

If, with toxic goiter, you begin to consume all iodine-containing foods in unreasonable quantities, bathe in sea salt, salt your food with handfuls of iodized salt, and so on, then adenoma or endemic goiter will begin to develop at such a rate that after a short time only surgery will help you.

Another common stupidity when trying to cure a thyroid gland (goiter or adenoma) on your own is the use of pharmacy iodine tincture inside, despite the flashy inscriptions “for external use only”. Home would-be healers are advised to treat the thyroid gland by taking a drop of tincture of iodine diluted in milk, water or a spoonful of sugar.

Know that one drop of iodine is the body's two-week requirement for iodine. And having received such a horse dose of iodine once, you can simply block the thyroid gland, disable it and provoke a whole bunch of severe consequences, among which an inflamed adenoma will not be the worst.

Diet

If, after consultation with a specialist, it really turns out that the thyroid disorder is caused by iodine deficiency, it is best to make up for it with special diet. The peculiarity of the diet is that it recommends not only those foods that are saturated with iodine and stimulate its absorption, but also prohibits those nutrients that inhibit the absorption of iodine, potassium, selenium and their accumulation in the body.

All methods of treatment of the thyroid gland, regardless of whether it is drugs or surgery, always provide for certain requirements for the patient's diet.

preservatives. Canned food is forbidden not only by this diet, but by all the basic principles of a healthy and rational nutrition. At the time of the diet, whether it is related to prevention, treatment, postoperative recovery, eliminate anything that is sealed in glass, iron, plastic cans, bottles, or long-term storage bags.

Let's take, for example, ordinary juice in a package, even with the postscript "100% natural." Its shelf life is on average 1-3 months without a refrigerator. And take a glass of freshly squeezed juice, which without a refrigerator will turn sour and ferment on the 2nd day. Guess what the difference is? Now imagine what additives can be in canned meat with a shelf life of up to 5 years. All this is not suitable for food during a diet.

Iodine. If they talk about the treatment of the thyroid gland with folk remedies, then in the first place, of course, we are talking about iodine and products containing it. All marine products will help to saturate the body with iodine, the leader among which, of course, will be sea kale.

IN folk medicine there is such a simple recipe: powder from crushed dried leaves of sea kale is taken three teaspoons 2 times a day, drinking plenty of warm boiled water. Significantly enhances the stimulation of iodine absorption processes cholesterol, contained in all varieties of meat, in the yolk of eggs. There is a lot of iodine and potassium in nuts, especially walnuts.

Zinc. This is the antipode of iodine - the more zinc enters the body, the less iodine and potassium are absorbed by the thyroid gland. If we talk about food, then most of all zinc in white cabbage, in broccoli, potatoes. For the duration of the diet, these popular ingredients of side dishes and salads will have to be excluded.

Dairy products. To help the thyroid gland in the absorption and accumulation of iodine, selenium, potassium, absolutely all dairy and sour-milk products are suitable. Eat more cottage cheese and cheese, replace daily tea and coffee with kefir and milk, try incredible healthy drink acidophilus.

Dishes, of course, should be salted with iodized salt, which can be found in any store. But when using salt, you need to take into account one nuance - you need to salt ready-made dishes, that is, directly on the plate, since the long heat treatment salt in a saucepan or in a frying pan completely destroys all the healing properties of iodized salt.

Iodine is one of the main trace elements from which the thyroid gland synthesizes thyroid hormones. healthy body 0.3 mg of iodine per day is needed daily.

What role does iodine and foods play in the human body?

The fundamental regulators of metabolism are hormones synthesized by the thyroid gland. Maintaining a normal basal body temperature, changing moods, getting energy, growing and dividing cells are due to hormones.

They are responsible for:

metabolism;
reproductive function;
stimulation of the immune system;
feeling of hunger, satiety, sexual desire.

With an insufficient amount of hormones in a woman in position, this can provoke an underdevelopment of the neural tube of the fetus, and further dementia of the child. Vegetovascular and nervous system also dependent on hormones. Constant depression, stress, fatigue and nervousness are the consequences of a lack of iodine in the body. containing iodine for the thyroid gland are necessary to maintain general condition health is normal. This body is responsible for the following functions:

restoration of bone tissue processes;
normalization of hormonal levels;
control of metabolism and chemical reactions;
regulation of the level of calcium, as the main biomaterial for the bone marrow;
control of cell division in the body.

Foods containing iodine

Today there are many foods that contain iodine. Adults need 150 micrograms of iodine per day, while children need less than 90 micrograms. An increase in the need for iodine occurs in women in position and is about 250 mcg. Some foods are a storehouse of iodine, while others have very little of it. To prevent iodine deficiency, the diet should include foods:

seafood: fish fat, seaweed(kelp), fatty sea fish (salmon, mackerel);
cereals: buckwheat, oatmeal, wheat;
fruits: grapes, peaches, apricots, plums, all varieties of apples;
dairy products: cottage cheese, cheese products, milk.

Not all of these products contain iodine in large quantities. This directly depends on the place where livestock and plants are grown.

There are foods that do not contain iodine at all:

vegetable oils;
seasonings;
oranges;
bananas.

The richest in iodine are products from the sea. They contain 30 times more of this trace element. Iodized water is a substitute for many products, it is necessary for iodine deficiency.

Every seafood contains iodine, but tuna, cod and shrimp have much more. One hundred grams of cod liver is equal to 350 micrograms. Seaweed and kelp are the most iodine-containing foods. There are 200 micrograms per hundred grams. Available to all people is iodized salt, only two grams diluted in water covers the deficit of the daily norm. Storage in open form undesirable, because it loses its properties.

Depending on the type and method of growing meat, the amount of iodine changes. Pork is richest in trace elements - 17 mcg and beef - 12 mcg. Egg, regardless of the method of preparation, has 12 micrograms of the element.

Compared to sea views fish, freshwater species characterized by a lower amount of iodine. In its raw form, this is about 240 micrograms, and in processed form, up to 70 micrograms. Heat reduces the content of iodine in prepared food. In this regard, frying is undesirable, it is ideal to cook or stew foods.

Table of iodine-rich foods for the thyroid gland:

Product name	Iodine content, mcg%	Product name	Iodine content, mcg%
sea fish	400	greenery	15
fresh fish	243	dairy	11
shrimps	190	beef	12
fresh herring	60	cheese	4
mackerel	100	Black tea	8
oysters	60	rice	2,2
spinach	20	radish	8
chicken eggs	12	potato	3,8
bread	9	vegetables	1 – 10

What are the symptoms of iodine deficiency?

No less dangerous is an excess of a trace element, and not just a deficiency. There is no need for diligent use of iodine without a doctor's prescription, otherwise it will lead to adverse effects. If a person's relatives have encountered thyroid problems, then it is worth considering prevention. Do not forget that iodine-containing products for the thyroid gland are substances necessary for the health of hair, skin, and nails. Iodine deficiency manifests itself as follows:

lowered immune system;
apathy;
decrease in mental activity;
tendency to infections;
irritability, nervousness;
deterioration of memory and vision;
cycle failure in women;
the appearance of acne on the face and body;
hair loss and deterioration;
the appearance of edema;
chronic fatigue in rare cases tearfulness.

Normalize the activity of the thyroid gland and balance hormones will allow good nutrition And healthy foods. Such people need an increased concentration of a microelement:

pregnant women and nursing mothers;
patients suffering from hypothyroidism;
people living in poor regions with poor ecology;
athletes and people with hard work.

The use of additional drugs is recommended, for example, Iodine active and. Doctors have proven that iodine is absorbed faster and better together with E, D and A. Therefore, it is important to make such a diet so that the body is enriched with all useful trace elements.

Nutrition tips for hyperthyroidism

An increase in hormone production is also not a good indicator. This process leads to an acceleration of metabolism, which causes an increase in the need for additional calories and minerals. You need to follow these rules:

food should be in small portions - 6 times a day;
include in the diet protein products, priority is dietary meat and low-fat dairy products;
vegetable fats in the form of oils: sesame, olive and linseed. The latter must be consumed on an empty stomach;
increase the number of calories per day to 3500.

What not to do with thyroid diseases:

use carcinogens that appear as a result of roasting dishes (switch to boiled and stewed dishes);
consume fast food and carbonated drinks;
consume food in large quantities, causing problems with flatulence and intestinal tract;
often and in large quantities drink coffee and strong tea. You can replace these products with infusion and decoction of wild rose and currant.

There are several herbs and supplements that help increase or decrease the amount of iodide in the body. Common are:

goji berries, which have the most important trace elements;
chlorophyll drink (juice from squeezed green herbs);
decoction of ginseng, elderberry and white cinquefoil.

Do not forget that it is impossible to abuse iodine, as this can lead to back effect the development of hyperthyroidism.

As a preventive measure, it is necessary to periodically donate blood for tests, visit a doctor who will make a competent diet for the period of treatment.

If thyroid problems are not corrected with nutrition or only get worse, then in such cases, medication or surgery will be required.

Hypothyroidism, or decreased thyroid function due to iodine deficiency, is a common disease of modern people. Endocrinologists prescribe thyroid treatment with iodine in combination with drug therapy. The initial form of goiter can be successfully cured by correcting the diet and eating iodine-containing foods, among which the main role is played by seafood and algae.

Methods of iodine treatment at home

The health of the thyroid gland is completely determined by the sufficient amount of iodine in the body. Easily digestible iodine is found in plant products, the intake of which in the body helps the thyroid gland to function smoothly.

The disease can be treated with herbal infusions, freshly squeezed juices, bee products. Treatment methods involve the use of infusions / decoctions inside, lotions and rubbing. Choice required method should be discussed in advance with the endocrinologist on the basis of the laboratory research patient analyses. Self-treatment unacceptable.

Treatment with herbal remedies

Consider a few effective recipes goiter treatment at home:

bearberry ointment; decoction with celandine; chokeberry; tincture of cherry bark; walnuts; iodine with milk; mint iodine.

Bearberry flowers are applied as an ointment. Two tablespoons of dried flowers are poured with medical alcohol and left for 4 hours. Natural cow butter (at least ten tablespoons) is put into the filtered infusion and the mixture is steamed in a water bath. The alcohol needs to evaporate completely. Next, the mixture is poured into jars and used during an exacerbation of the disease: they smear the subclavian region of the neck. You can not wrap your neck, the course is designed for eight weeks.

Celandine can treat goiter in the warm season. To do this, the plant is plucked, rubbed with a pestle or a wooden spoon and mixed with half a liter of whole milk. The mixture is boiled, cooled and filtered. Ready broth in a warm form rinse the larynx. This method helps to heal goiter of the third degree.

Chokeberry will help get rid of goiter: it is used in any form. It is good to eat fresh berries before meals (at least one hundred grams), drink freshly prepared juice without sugar. A decoction is also prepared from chokeberry. To do this, 20 grams of berries are poured with boiling water, wrapped and defended for a couple of hours. The filtered decoction is taken orally in the amount of half a cup before meals. They drink chokeberry for ten days. However, the recipe is not suitable for people with low blood pressure.

Compress on the neck

A compress on the goiter is made from several fruits. Take:

raspberry leaves - 2 parts; rose hips - 2 parts; coniferous needles - 4 parts; onion peel - 4 parts.

Place the dry mixture in a thermos and steam with boiling water overnight. Napar can be taken orally and applied to the neck as compresses. The course is carried out in a cascade: a week after a week. That is, they take a week, and rest the next week.

Cherry bark contains many healing components, as well as iodine. To prepare the tincture, it is necessary to fill a liter container with pieces of bark to the top and pour diluted medical alcohol or vodka. The tincture is placed in a cool, sun-protected room for three weeks, the bottle must be shaken in the morning / evening. Tincture drink a tablespoon three times a day before meals. The medicine is contraindicated in pregnant women.

Walnuts

In walnuts, iodine is found everywhere - in leaves, partitions and fruits. Distribution received a recipe for tincture of partitions on alcohol / vodka. Fill a one-liter glass container with partitions from nuts (a glass of partitions is enough) and fill with diluted alcohol or vodka. The infusion is taken in a teaspoon after the main meal (dinner / lunch / breakfast). The course is carried out in a cascade: they drink for 10 days, rest for a week. The course is designed for three months.

May tincture from green shells and leaves walnut used for compresses and wraps. To do this, pour the crushed leaves and shells with a glass of boiling water, wrap and infuse for 60 minutes. For a compress, the fabric is soaked in an infusion and applied to the neck before going to bed.

How to take a pharmaceutical preparation of iodine

How to treat thyroid with iodine? An alcoholic solution of iodine can be taken as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent only after a conversation with an endocrinologist. Iodine is mixed with milk or herbal infusion in a strictly defined dosage.

A course with iodine drops in milk (a tablespoon) is carried out according to the following scheme:

1st day: a drop on a spoonful of milk; 2nd day: 2 drops per spoonful of milk; 3rd and subsequent days: added drop by drop to a spoonful of milk.

Thus, on the tenth day, 10 drops of iodine are added to a spoonful of milk. After that, you should rest for 10 days. Then the order of taking the drops changes in descending order: from ten to one.

An iodine preparation can be taken in combination with peppermint tincture. To do this, mix 25 drops of mint tincture with 15 drops of iodine. The finished mixture is taken according to the following scheme:

children under six years of age - 4 drops per day; children under twelve years old - 5 drops per day; adults - 6 drops per day.

Proper Diet

You can avoid the lack of iodine compounds in the body by using the right products. For example, you can cook the usual buckwheat porridge on water with the addition of turmeric and seaweed: just add turmeric on the tip of a knife and 50 g of kelp at the end of cooking.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of kelp (seaweed) for the body: it accumulates a huge amount of iodine from sea water. For preventive purposes, it is necessary to constantly add kelp to food (40g). Laminaria powder is also common, the course of treatment of which consists of thirty days. Powder in the volume of a coffee / teaspoon is eaten before meals and washed down with water.

However, with an excess of iodine in the body, it is impossible to take kelp. Therefore, before deciding to “treat” for goiter, contact an endocrinologist on your own, otherwise you can harm yourself.

Outcome

Regular consumption of seafood completely compensates for the deficiency of iodine in the body. Iodine salts are found in the tissues of any marine fish, squid, shrimp and mussels. Eat fish dishes needed twice a week.

Treatment with radioactive iodine is sometimes the only chance of saving a person suffering from one of the forms (papillary or follicular) of differentiated thyroid cancer.

main goal radioiodine therapy is the destruction of thyroid follicular cells. However, not every patient can get a referral for this type of treatment, which has a number of indications and contraindications.

What is radioiodine therapy, in what cases is it used, how to prepare for it, and in which clinics can one receive treatment? All these questions can be answered in our article.

The concept of the method

Radioiodine therapy uses radioactive iodine medical literature it can be called iodine-131, radioiodine, I-131) - one of the thirty-seven isotopes of the well-known iodine-126 to all of us, which is available in almost every first-aid kit.

With a half-life of eight days, radioiodine breaks down spontaneously in the patient's body. In this case, the formation of xenon and two types of radioactive radiation: beta and gamma radiation.

The therapeutic effect of radioiodine therapy is provided by the flow of beta particles (fast electrons), which have an increased penetrating ability into biological tissues located around the iodine-131 accumulation zone due to high speed departure. The penetration depth of beta particles is 0.5-2 mm. Since their range is limited to these values only, radioactive iodine works exclusively within the thyroid gland.

The equally high penetrating power of gamma particles allows them to easily pass through any tissue of the patient's body. For their registration, high-tech equipment is used - gamma cameras. producing no therapeutic effect, gamma radiation helps to detect the localization of radioiodine accumulations.

Having scanned the patient's body in a gamma camera, the specialist can easily identify the foci of accumulation of a radioactive isotope.

This information has great importance for the treatment of patients suffering from thyroid cancer, since the luminous foci that appear in their bodies after a course of radioiodine therapy make it possible to draw a conclusion about the presence and location of metastases of a malignant neoplasm.

The main goal of radioactive iodine treatment is the complete destruction of the tissues of the affected thyroid gland.

The therapeutic effect, which occurs two to three months after the start of therapy, is akin to the result obtained during the surgical removal of this organ. Some patients with a recurrence of pathology may be assigned a second course of radioiodine therapy.

Indications and contraindications

Radioiodine therapy is prescribed for the treatment of patients suffering from:

Hyperthyroidism is a disease caused by increased activity functioning of the thyroid gland, accompanied by the appearance of small benign nodular neoplasms. Thyrotoxicosis - a condition caused by an excess of thyroid hormones, which is a complication of the aforementioned disease. All types of thyroid cancer characterized by the occurrence malignant neoplasms in the tissues of the affected organ and accompanied by the addition of the inflammatory process. Treatment with radioactive iodine is especially necessary for patients in whose bodies distant metastases have been found that have the ability to selectively accumulate this isotope. The course of radioiodine therapy in relation to such patients is carried out only after surgical operation to remove the affected gland. With the timely use of radioiodine therapy, most patients suffering from thyroid cancer can be completely cured.

Radioiodine therapy has proven effective in the treatment of Graves' disease, as well as nodular toxic goiter (otherwise referred to as functional autonomy of the thyroid gland). In these cases, radioactive iodine treatment is used instead of surgery.

The use of radioiodine therapy is especially justified in case of recurrence of the pathology of the already operated thyroid gland. Most often, such relapses occur after operations to remove diffuse toxic goiter.

Given the high likelihood of developing postoperative complications, experts prefer to use radioiodine treatment tactics.

An absolute contraindication to the appointment of radioid therapy is:

Pregnancy: impact radioactive iodine on the fetus can provoke malformations of its further development. Infant breastfeeding period. Breastfeeding mothers taking radioactive iodine treatment need to wean the baby for quite a long time.

Pros and cons of the procedure

The use of iodine-131 (compared to surgical removal of the affected thyroid gland) has a number of advantages:

It is not associated with the need to introduce the patient into a state of anesthesia. Radiotherapy does not require rehabilitation period. After treatment with an isotope, the patient's body remains unchanged: no scars and scars (inevitable after surgery) that disfigure the neck remain on it. Laryngeal edema and unpleasant sore throat that develop in a patient after taking a capsule with radioactive iodine are easily stopped with the help of drugs local action. Radioactive radiation associated with the intake of the isotope is localized mainly in the tissues of the thyroid gland - it almost does not spread to other organs. Because the reoperation malignant tumor thyroid gland can pose a threat to the life of the patient, radioiodine therapy, which can completely stop the consequences of a relapse, is completely safe alternative surgical intervention.

At the same time, radioiodine therapy has an impressive list of negative aspects:

It should not be used on pregnant women. Breastfeeding mothers are forced to stop breast-feeding their children. Given the ability of the ovaries to accumulate a radioactive isotope, it will be necessary to protect against pregnancy for six months after completion of therapy. Due to the high probability of disorders associated with the normal production of hormones necessary for proper development fetus, offspring should be planned only two years after the use of iodine-131. Hypothyroidism, which inevitably develops in patients undergoing radioiodine therapy, will require long-term treatment with hormonal drugs. After the use of radioiodine, there is a high probability of developing autoimmune ophthalmopathy, leading to changes in all soft tissues of the eye (including nerves, adipose tissue, muscles, synovial membranes, fat and connective tissues). A small amount of radioactive iodine accumulates in the tissues of the mammary glands, ovaries and prostate. Exposure to iodine-131 can cause constriction of the lacrimal and salivary glands with a subsequent change in their functioning. Radioiodine therapy can lead to significant weight gain, fibromyalgia (severe muscle pain) and causeless fatigue. Against the background of radioactive iodine treatment, an exacerbation of chronic diseases can occur: gastritis, cystitis and pyelonephritis, patients often complain of changes in taste, nausea and vomiting. All of these conditions are short-lived and respond well to symptomatic treatment. The use of radioactive iodine increases the likelihood of developing a malignant tumor small intestine and thyroid gland. One of the main arguments of opponents of radioidtherapy is the fact that the thyroid gland, destroyed as a result of exposure to the isotope, will be lost forever. As a counterargument, one can argue that after the surgical removal of this organ, its tissues cannot be restored either. Another negative factor of radioiodine therapy is associated with the need for a three-day strict isolation of patients who have taken a capsule with iodine-131. Since their body then begins to emit two types (beta and gamma) of radioactive radiation, during this period, patients become dangerous to others. All clothing and items used by a patient undergoing radioiodine treatment are subject to either special treatment or disposal in compliance with radioactive protection measures.

Which is better, surgery or radioactive iodine?

Opinions on this subject are contradictory even among specialists involved in the treatment of thyroid diseases.

Some of them believe that after a thyroidectomy (surgical operation to remove the thyroid gland), a patient taking estrogen-containing drugs can lead completely normal image life, since the regular intake of thyroxine is able to replenish the function of the missing gland without causing side effects. Supporters of radioiodine therapy make the main emphasis on the fact that this type of treatment completely eliminates side effects(the need for anesthesia, removal parathyroid glands, damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve), inevitable when performing a surgical operation. Some of them are even cunning, claiming that radioiodine therapy will lead to euthyroidism ( normal operation thyroid gland). This is an extremely erroneous assertion. In fact, radioiodine therapy (as well as thyroidectomy surgery) is aimed at achieving hypothyroidism - a condition characterized by complete suppression of the thyroid gland. In this sense, both methods of treatment pursue completely identical goals. The main advantages of radioiodine treatment are complete painlessness and non-invasiveness, as well as the absence of the risk of complications arising after surgery. Complications associated with exposure to radioactive iodine, in patients, as a rule, are not observed.

So what is the best technique? In each case, the last word remains with the attending physician. In the absence of contraindications to the appointment of radioiodine therapy in a patient (suffering, for example, Graves' disease), he will most likely advise to prefer it. If the doctor believes that it is more expedient to perform a thyroidectomy, you must listen to his opinion.

Preparation

It is necessary to start preparation for taking the isotope two weeks before the start of treatment.

It is advisable not to allow iodine to enter the surface skin: patients are forbidden to lubricate wounds with iodine and apply to the skin iodine grid. Patients should refuse to visit salt room, bathing in sea water and inhaling sea air saturated with iodine. Residents of the sea coasts need isolation from external environment at least four days before the start of therapy. Under strict ban vitamin complexes, nutritional supplements And medications containing iodine and hormones: they should be discontinued four weeks before radioiodine therapy. A week before taking radioactive iodine, all medications prescribed for the treatment of hyperthyroidism are canceled. Women of childbearing age are required to take a pregnancy test: this is necessary to eliminate the risk of pregnancy. Before the procedure for taking a capsule with radioactive iodine, a test is carried out for the absorption of radioactive iodine by the tissues of the thyroid gland. If the gland was removed surgically, an iodine sensitivity test of the lungs is performed and lymph nodes, since it is they who take on the function of accumulating iodine in such patients.

Diet before therapy

The first step in preparing a patient for radioiodine therapy is to follow a low-iodine diet aimed at reducing the iodine content in the patient's body in every possible way so that the effect of the radioactive drug will be more tangible.

Because the low-iodine diet is given two weeks prior to taking the radioactive iodine capsule, the patient is brought to a state of iodine starvation; as a result, tissues capable of absorbing iodine do so with maximum activity.

Prescribing a low iodine diet requires individual approach to each patient, therefore the recommendations of the attending physician in each case are of decisive importance.

A low-iodine diet does not mean that the patient should give up salt. You should only use a non-iodized product and limit its amount to eight grams per day. The diet is called low iodine because foods low in iodine (less than 5 micrograms per serving) are still allowed.

Patients undergoing radioiodine therapy should completely abstain from:

Seafood (shrimp, crab sticks, sea fish, mussels, crabs, algae, sea kale and dietary supplements created on their basis). All types of dairy products (sour cream, butter, cheeses, yoghurts, dry milk porridges). Ice cream and milk chocolate (a small amount of dark chocolate and cocoa powder is allowed to be included in the patient's diet). Salted nuts, instant coffee, chips, meat and fruit preserves, french fries, oriental dishes, ketchup, salami, pizza. Dried apricots, bananas, cherries, applesauce. Iodized eggs and dishes with big amount egg yolks. This does not apply to the use of egg whites that do not contain iodine: during the diet, you can eat them without any restrictions. Dishes and products colored in different shades of brown, red and orange, as well as medicines containing food dyes of similar colors, since iodine-containing dye E127 can be included in many of them. bakery products factory production containing iodine; corn flakes. Soy products (tofu cheese, sauces, soy milk) rich in iodine. Greens of parsley and dill, leaf and watercress. Cauliflower, zucchini, persimmons, green peppers, olives, potatoes, baked in a "uniform".

During the period of a low-one diet, the use of:

Peanut butter, unsalted peanuts, coconuts. Sugar, honey, fruit and berry jams, jellies and syrups. Fresh apples, grapefruits and other citrus fruits, pineapples, cantaloupe, raisins, peaches (and their juices). White and brown rice. Egg noodles. vegetable oils(excluding soy). Raw and freshly cooked vegetables (except for potatoes, beans, and soybeans). Frozen vegetables. Poultry meat (chicken, turkey). Beef, veal, lamb meat. Dried herbs, black pepper. cereal dishes, pasta(in limited quantities). Carbonated soft drinks (lemonade, erythrosin-free diet cola), tea, and well-filtered coffee.

Treatment with radioactive iodine of the thyroid gland

This type of treatment is one of the highly effective procedures, distinctive feature which is the use of a small amount of a radioactive substance that selectively accumulates precisely in those areas that require therapeutic exposure.

It has been proven that, compared with external beam irradiation (with a comparable dosage of exposure), radioiodine therapy is able to create a dose of radiation in the tissues of the tumor focus that is fifty times higher than radiation treatment, while the effect on bone marrow cells and the structures of bones and muscles turned out to be ten times less.

Selective accumulation of a radioactive isotope and shallow penetration of beta particles into the thickness biological structures provides the possibility of a point effect on the tissues of tumor foci with their subsequent destruction and complete safety in relation to adjacent organs and tissues.

How is radioiodine therapy performed? During the session, the patient receives a gelatin capsule of the usual size (devoid of smell and taste), inside which is radioactive iodine. The capsule should be swallowed quickly with a large (at least 400 ml) amount of water.

Sometimes the patient is offered radioactive iodine in liquid form (usually in a test tube). After taking such a drug, the patient will have to rinse his mouth thoroughly, then swallowing the water used for this. Patients with removable dentures will be asked to remove them before the procedure.

In order for radioiodine to be better absorbed, providing a high therapeutic effect, the patient should refrain from eating and drinking any drinks for an hour.

After taking the capsule, radioactive iodine begins to accumulate in the tissues of the thyroid gland. If she was removed surgically, the accumulation of the isotope occurs either in the tissues remaining from it, or in partially altered organs.

Radioiodine is excreted through stool, urine, secretion of sweat and salivary glands, patient's breath. That is why the radiation will settle on the objects of the environment surrounding the patient. All patients are warned in advance that a limited number of things should be taken to the clinic. Upon admission to the clinic, they are required to change into the hospital linen and clothes issued to them.

After receiving radioiodine, patients in an isolated box must strictly observe the following rules:

When brushing your teeth, avoid splashing water. toothbrush should be rinsed thoroughly with water. When visiting the toilet, use the toilet carefully, avoiding splashing of urine (for this reason, men should only urinate while sitting). It is necessary to flush urine and stool at least twice, waiting for the tank to fill. Any accidental spillage of fluid or secretions should be reported to the nurse or nurse. During vomiting, the patient should use a plastic bag or toilet bowl (flush the vomit twice), but in no case - not a sink. It is forbidden to use reusable handkerchiefs (there must be a supply of paper ones). Used toilet paper is flushed out with stools. front door should be kept closed. Leftover food is placed in a plastic bag. Feeding birds and small animals through the window is strictly prohibited. Showering should be daily. In the absence of a chair (it should be daily), you need to inform the nurse: the attending physician will definitely prescribe a laxative.

Visitors (especially small children and pregnant women) are not allowed near a patient in strict isolation. This is done in order to prevent their radiation contamination by the flow of beta and gamma particles.

Treatment after thyroidectomy

Radioiodine therapy is often given to cancer patients who have undergone thyroidectomy. The main goal of such treatment is the complete destruction of abnormal cells that could remain not only in the location of the removed organ, but also in the blood plasma.

The patient who has taken the drug is sent to an isolated ward, equipped with the specifics of treatment. All contacts of the patient with medical personnel dressed in a special protective suit are limited to the most necessary procedures.

Patients treated with radioactive iodine must:

Increase the amount of fluid you drink to speed up the elimination of iodine-131 decay products from the body. Shower as often as possible. Use personal hygiene items. Using the toilet, pull off the water twice. Change underwear and bedding daily. Since radiation is perfectly removed by washing, you can wash the patient's things together with the clothes of the rest of the family. Avoid close contact with small children: pick them up and kiss them. Stay close to babies as little as possible. Within three days after discharge (it is carried out on the fifth day after taking the isotope), sleep only alone, separately from healthy people. It is allowed to have sexual intercourse, as well as to be near a pregnant woman, only one week after discharge from the clinic. If the patient has recently treated radioactive iodine, urgently ended up in a hospital, he is obliged to report this medical staff, even if the irradiation was carried out in the same clinic. All patients who have undergone radioiodine therapy will take thyroxin for life and visit the endocrinologist's office twice a year. In all other respects, their quality of life will be the same as before treatment. The above restrictions are temporary.

Consequences

Radioiodine therapy can cause certain complications:

Sialadenita - inflammatory disease salivary glands, characterized by an increase in their volume, compaction and soreness. The impetus for the development of the disease is the introduction of a radioactive isotope against the background of the absence of a remote thyroid gland. In a healthy person, thyroid cells would fire up to eliminate the threat and absorb the radiation. In the body of the operated person, this function is taken over by salivary glands. The progression of sialadenitis occurs only when a high (above 80 millicurie - mCi) radiation dose is received. Various violations reproductive function , but such a reaction of the body occurs only as a result of repeated exposures with a total dosage exceeding 500 mCi.

Insufficient amount of iodine provokes an enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter), the person becomes quick-tempered, anxious, there are depressive states, frequent constipation, incomplete bowel cleansing, fatigue, lack of sexual attraction, insomnia, slow metabolism (because of which a person gains excess weight and cannot lose weight), memory impairment. Therefore, sometimes doctors recommend treatment with thyroid iodine.

It is especially important to control the intake of iodine in the body during pregnancy, since its deficiency can cause various pathologies at the fetus.

Iodine deficiency in the body is indicated by a matte shade of hair and thinning of the outer third of the eyebrows.

How to check for iodine deficiency

This can be checked in a simple way. The procedure is carried out in the evening before going to bed. Lower cotton swab V alcohol tincture iodine and apply on the thigh (his inner surface) mesh of iodine. If the next day the skin turns red in this place, iodine treatment is contraindicated for you because allergic reaction to the remedy. If the mesh disappears, this indicates a lack of iodine in the body. If the iodine mesh remains on the skin the next day and beyond, this is a clear sign that the body receives enough iodine along with food and water and does not need iodine treatment.

Ways to treat the thyroid gland with iodine

Regular intake of iodine is very important for the health of this organ. This element is found in plant products, seafood, bee products.

Plant products contain easily digestible iodine. Eating them regularly helps the body not experience iodine deficiency.

Treatment of the thyroid gland with iodine involves, including ingestion and as lotions and rubbing infusions and decoctions medicinal herbs. But, of course, you can use them in treatment only after consulting a doctor.

The herbs common cocklebur and white cinquefoil are considered very effective. These herbs are rich in iodine, which is so necessary for the health of the thyroid gland and for.

White bloodroot

It contains many trace elements, including iodine. The plant helps stabilize blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol, and helps cure goiter.

For medicinal purposes, the root of an annual plant is used, i.e. you can use white cinquefoil no earlier than a year after planting.

Grind 50 g of cinquefoil root, transfer to a glass bottle or jar, pour 500 g of high-quality vodka, cork, leave for a month, strain.

Take the remedy 30 drops 3 r. per day for 20 min. before meals. You need to drink the tincture for 30 days, then take a break for a week and a half and repeat the course of treatment. An improvement in the state of the thyroid gland occurs already in the first days of taking the tincture, but you cannot stop treatment, you must complete the course.

This plant is called iodine grass. Outwardly, it looks like a burdock or tartar, only a little smaller in length. An annual undersized plant has a rough stem, prickly leaves of a triangular shape of a gray-green color. Its flowers are covered with thorns, the fruits of the cocklebur are thorns oval shape easily clinging to clothes. Behind such an unpresentable appearance are high medicinal properties. The plant is effective in the treatment of goiter, dysentery, impotence, eczema, scabies, lichen, fungus.

Common cocklebur contains a lot of iodine, when using medicines based on it, a strict dosage must be observed.

1 st. l. fresh or dry crushed cocklebur herb pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, boil for 7 minutes on low heat, leave for 6 hours in a sealed container. Decoction to drink in small portions throughout the day.

You can grind the dried herb of cocklebur and add it to soups. This method is suitable if there is no time to prepare the broth. 0.5 tsp herbs add to a serving of soup 1 p. in a day.

chokeberry

Gives a good effect daily use 100g fresh berries before meals or infusion of berries.

20 g of berries pour 250 g of boiling water, wrap and leave for 2 hours. Take 100g before lunch for 10 days.

Important! For hypotensive patients (people with low blood pressure), this recipe is contraindicated, as it lowers blood pressure.

walnut

Leaves, shell partitions, pulp walnuts contain iodine.

The most popular is the recipe for tincture of shell partitions on vodka or alcohol.

Fold a glass of partitions into glass jar(volume 1 l), fill with good vodka or alcohol. Leave for 30 days to infuse. Take 1 hour. l. after meals in the morning and evening for 10 days. After a seven-day break, repeat the course. The full course of taking the funds is 3 months.

Grind green shells and walnut leaves. 1 tbsp mixture pour 200 g of boiling water, wrap, leave for 1 hour.

Soak a thin cotton cloth in the infusion, apply to the throat area before going to bed.

Taking pharmacy iodine for the treatment of the thyroid gland

Taking this remedy requires an accurate dosage and consultation with an endocrinologist!

Reception scheme:

Day 1: Dissolve 1 drop in 1 tbsp. milk;
Day 2: Dissolve 2 drops in 1 tbsp. l. milk;
3rd and other days: add 1 drop per 1 tbsp. a spoonful of milk.

On the tenth day in 1 tbsp. l. milk add respectively 10 drops of iodine. After taking this dose, be sure to take a 10-day break. Then the order of taking the drops is changed. Over the next 10 days, the drops of iodine are reduced by one every day: from ten to one drop.

Applying iodine to the heels

To make up for the lack of iodine, and therefore help the thyroid gland, you can apply an iodine grid to a small area of the body every day before going to bed. good action has a mesh application on the heels. The procedure can be repeated over several evenings. At the beginning of the procedures, by morning, iodine on the heels disappears, but after about a week in the morning, its remnants are visible on the skin of the heels. This indicates the saturation of the body with iodine and the termination of procedures.

In the pharmacy, you can buy preparations containing iodine for oral administration: algae tablets, biologically active supplement iodine-active, iodomarin, fish oil, Lugol's solution.

Taking Lugol's solution

1 tsp quality apple cider vinegar dilute in 200 g of water, add 1 drop of Lugol's solution to the mixture, mix, drink in small sips during breakfast.

Nutrition for hypothyroidism

To treat the thyroid gland with an iodine deficiency, it is necessary to adjust the daily diet. The menu should include products marine origin. The first place in this list is occupied by seaweed, seafood, sea fish, cod liver.

Baths with sea salt

At reduced content iodine in the body are useful baths with sea salt. Pamper yourself 2 p. a week with this procedure.

For reference - herbs containing iodine :

Important! These tips can not be applied to people with toxic goiter and hyperthyroidism (an excess of iodine).