Iodine Deficiency

Iodine deficiency

The soil of New Zealand is deficient in iodine, and as a consequence our diet is deficient in this important element, as most of what we eat is grown in New Zealand.

A lack of iodine in the diet can affect us at any stage of our lives, as it is vital for normal growth and development. A good intake of iodine is particularly important during pregnancy as a lack of iodine may result in brain damage and an increased potential for still birth and poor pregnancy outcomes.

Once born, if the diet remains low in iodine then babies and children may develop goitre, which is a swelling of the thyroid gland in the neck, as the body attempts to lessen the effects of the lack of iodine in the diet.

Adults at any stage of their life may also develop goitre, which may result in tiredness, inability to function normally, and impaired brain activity.

Natural sources of iodine are commonly found in eggs and fish, particularly shellfish, and also found in seaweed and other foods sourced from the sea.

In New Zealand, salt has been supplemented with a small amount of iodine since 1924. The concentration was increased in 1938, which resulted in a dramatic lowering of the number of children with goitre and poor mental development as a result.

Recent surveys in New Zealand have demonstrated that once again our iodine level is not at the ideal level. As a consequence of this it is now recommended that all women who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy address this by taking an iodine supplement and continuing this supplementation whilst breastfeeding to ensure that their baby receives an adequate level during this period of growth and development.

For all other people living in New Zealand, it is important to ensure that their diet contains iodine, and the availability and affordability of sushi is helpful. Iodised salt should be used in moderation, as the preferred salt for table and cooking use. This is available as rock salt as well as fine salt. Although moderate salt intake is good dietary advice, a small amount of iodised salt seasoning your food may be helpful. As with all foods, too much of anything doesn’t necessarily mean better health, so avoid use of supplements containing large amounts of salt or iodine.

See your community pharmacist for advice about your diet, and the need for supplementation, particularly if you believe the diet of you or your family may be deficient in this vital element. Your pharmacist will be able to determine if your diet is adequate in iodine, what supplements are safe and appropriate for you to use, or if you need referral to a doctor or dietician.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

Bureta Pharmacy Shop

We're 'the little pharmacy with the big heart' - our slogan explains our attitude - small in size but big in attitude, we like to go the extra mile for our customers!