The American Thyroid Association has reported that greater than 12% of the population in the country is subject to some kind of thyroid disease at least once in their lives. It has also presented an estimate that about 20 million Americans are currently living with a thyroid condition, while about 60% of them are unaware of it.

While thyroid diseases can be treated, resulting in a normal thyroid function, the individual still has to be extremely careful about their lifestyle and dietary habits. However, a lot of thyroid diseases have no cure and can only be managed. This makes the ideal situation one wherein thyroid disorders and diseases are prevented from the beginning. To do so, one has to understand the risk factors of the conditions and follow a proper course of action accordingly. Given below are risk factors of thyroid cancer and certain preventive measures one can follow.

Radiation exposure: If an individual is exposed to even moderate levels of radiation in the head and neck region, the risk of follicular thyroid cancer and papillary thyroid cancer can increase. These exposures can come from:

• Radiation therapy used for the treatment of several kinds of lymphoma in the head and the neck or Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Exposure to radioactive iodine, particularly in childhood
• Exposure to ionizing radiation or being a part of some nuclear fallout or event

Asking for a thyroid collar at the time of X-rays can protect one from radiation during the screening processes.

Breast cancer: One of the recent studies shows evidence that people who have been affected by breast cancer are at a higher risk of being affected by thyroid cancer. This is particularly true in the first five years after the diagnosis of breast cancer. This risk particularly increases if breast cancer was diagnosed in these patients at a younger age.

Low-iodine diet: Iodine is a very important element required for the proper maintenance of the thyroid gland. There are geographical areas that can have a significantly lower amount of iodine in their diet. This could increase the risk of being prone to thyroid cancer. Increasing iodine intake is essential for individuals living in this area. The problem of iodine deficiency has decreased since the introduction of iodized salt.

Celiac disease: This disease is an auto-immune condition which causes the intestines to react abnormally to gluten. It was found to be three times more common in people with autoimmune thyroid conditions, although the association doesn’t have a specific explanation. This disease also leads to poor absorption of vital elements such as selenium and iodine, which can increase the risk of thyroid cancer. Taking required supplements as per the doctor’s advice is usually recommended.

Preventive measures for thyroid cancer

• As changes in certain genes can lead to an increased risk of the condition, individuals can choose to have preventive surgery and remove the thyroid to remove the chances of cancer developing there.
• Eating a healthy diet that comprises fruits and vegetables, along with necessary supplements can also go a long way in helping one prevent higher chances of developing thyroid cancer.

In addition to keeping a check on the risk factors, it is important to schedule regular visits to the doctor. Thyroid conditions can be detected at early stages through simple examinations. This step is beneficial not just to identify thyroid diseases but can also keep a vigilant check on one’s complete health situation. Doing so will help the individual act upon any abnormality or illness immediately to prevent worse complications in the future.