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.
Signs and symptoms of esophageal spasms include: 1  Squeezing pain in your chest. 2  Difficulty swallowing, sometimes related to swallowing specific substances, such as red wine or extremely hot or cold liquids. 3  The feeling that an object is stuck in your throat.  The return of food and liquids back up your esophagus (regurgitation).