Melghat tribals free from thyroid Goitre

• For long, the massive enlarged thyroid glands among the Korku tribals living in Amravati’s Melghat region have puzzled doctors. Doctors would see Korkus, mainly women, with these abnormal growths, known as goiter, weighing over one to two kilograms. An annual surgery camp held at a remote hospital in Chikhaldara has however changed that. 
• While goiter remains prevalent, doctors now see smaller growths in the tribe. At the 19th annual camp held early this month, 16 people from the tribe — 13 women and three men — underwent goiter surgeries
• Lack of adequate medical attention is the main problem. They would seek medical help only when it became difficult to function with the growth on the neck
• Iodine deficiency is known as the common cause of goiter. But the staple diet of Korkus is fish, a rich source of iodine, and there is the availability of iodized salt too. Doctors believe there are genetic factors at play

What is Goitre?


• A goiter (GOI-tur) is an abnormal enlargement of your thyroid gland. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck just below your Adam's apple. Although goiters are usually painless, a large goiter can cause a cough and make it difficult for you to swallow or breathe
• Iodine deficiency. Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones and is found primarily in seawater and in the soil in coastal areas. In the developing world, people who live inland or at high elevations are often iodine deficient and can develop goiters when the thyroid enlarges to obtain more iodine. Iodine deficiency may be made worse by a diet high in hormone-inhibiting foods, such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower.

About Thyroid Gland

• Your thyroid gland produces two main hormones — thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3). These hormones circulate in your bloodstream and help regulate your metabolism. They maintain the rate at which your body uses fats and carbohydrates, help control your body temperature, influence your heart rate, and help regulate the production of proteins.
• Your thyroid gland also produces calcitonin — a hormone that helps regulate the amount of calcium in your blood.