The thyroid gland is a small gland in your neck that fits around
the esophagus (EE-SOFF-AH-GUS) and windpipe. It produces several
hormones that are essential for controlling your body's
metabolism. If the thyroid is too active, an abundance of these
hormones can produce sweating, palpitations, insomnia,
hyperactivity, tremors, and anxiety. Underactivity is an equally
severe problem, resulting in a variety of symptoms including
dry, scaly skin, forgetfulness, a lower pulse rate and slower
reflexes. Your primary care physician can refer you to an ear,
nose and throat specialist, who can perform certain tests to
measure the amount of hormones in the blood which may indicate a
malfunctioning thyroid. Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor
can prescribe medications which will correct the conditions.
Only in rare cases will surgery be necessary. For more
information on the thyroid gland and its function, consult your
doctor.