Your Thyroid and Throat

The thyroid sits in your neck and can make a difference to how your throat functions. It is an important gland in the human body but it doesn’t always function exactly as it should and can cause some problems.

What Is The thyroid?

The thyroid is a gland that is very important in hormonal control in the body.

Its main secretions are thyroxine and triiodothyronine which help regulate the metabolic rate of the individual along with contributing with the growth rate among other things.

The level of secretions is controlled by other glands and areas in the brain. Occasionally the thyroid doesn’t work effectively; it can become overactive and produce too many hormones, underactive in which case it doesn’t produce enough hormones and occasionally it can develop tumours.

Where Is It?

The thyroid is located below the thyroid cartilage and in men can be found easily just below the Adam’s apple; in women it is in the same location but with no Adam’s apple is not so obviously found.

How Can It Make A Difference To Your Throat?

There are several conditions that affect the thyroid and consequently the throat.

One possibility is a complaint called thyroiditis, most commonly Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in which the actual thyroid gland becomes inflamed. This inflammation can cause the cells of the gland to destruct in which case, there are fewer thyroid cells producing hormones. When this happens the thyroid is said to be underactive.

As with many forms of inflammation, the area can become swollen and enlarged. This enlargement may not be noticeable at first, but if left undiagnosed, the swelling may infringe on the capability of the throat and make it more difficult to swallow. If the inflammation causes pain, this is likely to be felt in the jaws, ears and often in throat, not only when swallowing, but to the touch also.

Another common cause of discomfort in the neck and throat is because of an enlarged thyroid. This enlargement may be due to a tumour, because the gland is over active or because of a thyroid nodule. Not only can this cause the usual symptoms (noted below), but it may give you a feeling of something in your throat, difficultly swallowing or breathing and often a feeling as if there is something stuck in your throat. These conditions can be treated conservatively or more radically with surgery.

If for any reason you need to have your thyroid surgically removed, common indications for this include an enlarged thyroid, a hugely overactive thyroid or because of a thyroid tumour, your throat may be affected. Not only will the scar be visible at the front of your neck (though with modern suturing techniques this is now minimal) there is a risk of infection and discomfort that may make your neck and throat sore.

Symptoms Of A Thyroid Problem

Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include tiredness, weight gain and a feeling of being under the weather. These symptoms may mean you need to have your hormone levels checked; thyroxine in particular and if necessary a supplementary tablet form of the hormone may be offered.

Symptoms of an overactive thyroid include but are not limited to, increased sweating, agitation, difficultly concentrating, loose or more frequent bowel movements, tremors, fast heart rate and weight loss.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and have no explanation for them, please see your GP who will assess your health and may take a blood test including a check of your hormone levels.

The thyroid is a very important gland in the human body and one that is commonly overlooked by the general public. The symptoms of a thyroid problem can be very slight and develop slowly so it is important to make a mental note of any problems and report them to your doctor in due course in case your thyroid is causing the problem.