The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe (trachea). One of its main functions is to produce hormones that help regulate the body's metabolism (the process that turns food into energy). These hormones are called triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Many of the body's functions slow down when the thyroid doesn't produce enough of these hormones.
Esophageal spasm is a disorder of the rhythmic waves of muscular contractions (peristalsis) of the esophagus. The cause of this disorder is not known. Symptoms include chest pain and difficulty swallowing.
One of the most common symptoms of esophageal cancer is difficulty swallowing, also known as dysphagia. Other common esophageal cancer symptoms may include: 1  Reflux symptoms. 2  Abdominal pain. 3  Pain or burning in the throat or chest. 4  Unexplained weight loss. 5  Heartburn or indigestion. 6  Vomiting. 7  Chronic hiccups.