The thyroid, a large endocrine gland, is located at the anterior base of the neck. It produces hormones, especially thyroxin and triiodothyronine, to help control metabolism and growth. Thyroid hormone appears to influence many bodily organs directly. A thyroid disorder such as an enlarged thyroid gland, also known as a goiter, can negatively affect many physiological processes, causing difficulty breathing, trouble sleeping, weight gain and coughing.
Weight Gain
Some people with enlarged thyroid glands may also be diagnosed with hypothyroidism, a deficient activity of the thyroid gland, according to Cleveland Clinic. In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland becomes overstimulated and increases in size in an effort to add to its output. Unwanted weight gain or difficulty losing weight are the side effects for many people with enlarged thyroid glands. This is because the body is underactive in producing hormones that help promote healthy metabolism. Slow metabolism burns calories at a lower rate, causing obesity.
Breathing Difficulty
Shortness of breath is a potentially serious complication of goiters that causes a feeling of not getting enough air. If the goiter is large, then the thyroid nodules can cause obstruction to the air passages in the mouth, nose or throat. Furthermore, this condition can arise quite suddenly and you may not be aware that this breathing difficulty is associated with thyroidal dysfunction.
Coughing
Some goiters are painless or "silent"; however, these large, unsightly enlarged glands can cause hoarseness or coughing, and difficulty breathing, says the MayoClinic.com. In rare instances, goiters may extend downward to the level of the chest cavity; these are called substernal goiters. Large substernal goiters may manifest with symptoms of chest discomfort, such as coughing and a sensation that something is trapped in the throat.
