Among the many health challenges associated with war, the risk of radioactive contamination is of great concern.
From the experience of the accident at the Chornobyl’ NPP, the thyroid gland (TG) is an organ, which is most susceptible to radioactive isotopes of iodine (if they get into the human organism). Radioactive iodine «seizes» the thyroid gland much more effectively if a person lives in an iodine deficient region and consumes products of own production. Individuals with thyroid pathology (especially with nodular goiter) belong to a higher risk group.
How effective and safe can the preventive use of extra-large doses of stable iodine be if there is a release of radioactive isotopes?
Unfortunately, there is no clear answer to this question. After all, experience and research in this area are significantly limited. And the medicines offered to block the thyroid gland contain an amount of iodine that exceeds the daily requirement by hundreds of times: one dose can "saturate" the body for 3 years ahead.
In the practice of an endocrinologist, iodine-induced diseases, such as thyrotoxicosis and autoimmune thyroiditis, are quite common. They are a consequence of the use of medicines that contain a large amount of iodine. These are separate antiarrhythmic drugs or radiopaque agents that are now widely used for computer tomography.
Taking into account the possibility of sudden radiation pollution, it is advisable for people with thyroid pathology to coordinate in advance individual tactics regarding the use of a blocking dose of iodine with an endocrinologist.
Preventive examination of the thyroid gland should be carried out if there is a suspicion of thyroid disease, preventively for adults – once every 5 years, as well as during and after pregnancy, after severe illnesses and injuries. Ultrasound is used to study the structure of the thyroid gland and identify nodules in it. Thyroid function is determined by hormonal blood analysis.
If such examination was not carried out – the initial state of the thyroid gland is unknown, so it is difficult to predict the consequences not only of radiation damage, but also of the use of iodine for preventive purposes.
An early specialized examination will help determine the condition maintenance of the thyroid gland and the whole body.