Explain the following:

People living in hilly regions usually suffer from simple goitre

Goiter

1. It is a swelling occuring in the front part of the throat due to underactivity of the thyroid gland.
2. Iodine deficiency is the major cause of goiter as Iodine is essential for the functioning of the thyroid gland.
3. Goitre is more common in the hills of Shivaliks, North-e,ast, and Garhwal.
4. Hills are far away from the sea coast and thus the soil does not contain iodine.
5. As a result food grown here is also iodine deficient.
6. Government has thus made it mandatory for salt manufacturers to supply only iodized salt.