Are you experiencing a feeling like something is stuck in your throat? Well, this is a common issue that people face sometimes. In many cases, even though there is no food or foreign thing stuck in the food pipe, it feels like there is something. The Globus sensation is actually what makes you feel like a lump in the throat. Several factors can contribute to this discomfort, such as irritated throat, increased muscle tension, etc. This uncomfortable annoyance can last for minutes or several days and can even cause pain. Hence, it is essential to understand the reasons behind such irritating sensations. This article will help you get the answer to your concern: “Why do I feel like something is stuck in my throat”? by letting you know the potential symptoms, causes, and treatment to prevent a Globus sensation. Read on to get the information!
What Is Globus Sensation And Its Symptoms
Globus sensation is a feeling like something is stuck in your throat. In this condition, your throat feels weird but not sore. Though it does not cause pain, it can be bothersome or irritating. Different people who experience it describe this uncomfortable feeling differently. The symptoms of this sensation are as follows:
- Constriction or pressure in your throat.
- Itching or swelling in your throat.
- Mucus build-up in the throat that makes you constantly try to clear it.
- It feels like a lump in the throat when swallowing
- Hoarseness, that is a change in the quality of your voice
- Persistent chronic cough that can last several days.
- Discomfort in your throat.
As you can drink and swallow your food without discomfort or pain, there is no need to worry if you are ever concerned about why you feel like something is stuck in your mouth. But you need to understand what causes globus sensation to occur.
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What Causes Feeling Of Something Stuck In Throat?
If you have been questioning for many days why you woke up feeling like something is stuck in your throat, this could be a sign of a problem in your food pipe (esophagus). It is essential to understand the causes for which you need to consult the doctors as soon as possible. Here, we have also listed some culprits that can be the root causes:
1. Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a term that defines the feeling of difficulty in swallowing anything. There can be many factors contributing to this discomfort. If the reason is food being stuck in the throat, this condition is called food obstruction. When dysphagia happens due to food obstruction, though people can still breathe, it becomes uncomfortable, painful, and potentially risky sometimes.
Different people express this condition differently. For instance, some identify what recently they ate that got stuck in a food pipe. Few individuals might feel an irritating lump in the chest or throat.
Some even describe challenges in swallowing their saliva. There might be the chance that food gets out of the esophagus and moves to the windpipe, leading to “choking,” which can be dangerous. It might need medical care to get rid of it safely.
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2. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
If there is a feeling like something stuck in your throat and it’s not choking, the signs can be Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Research says 23% and 68% of the people struggling with Globus sensation is due to the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). It is generally a severe type of acid reflux, where all stomach content travels back to the food pipe(esophagus) and causes irritation.
It can lead to extreme cough or distress feeling that something is stuck in your throat. Sometimes, the symptoms include heartburn(burning sensation in the chest) or indigestion issues due to the stomach acids that upset the esophagus.
You can also feel lumps in your throat and trouble swallowing food. So, avoiding acidic or fatty foods or eating small meals is better, but if the symptoms last for days, seek professional help.
3. Globus Pharyngeus
Sometimes, you might wonder what causes a feeling of something stuck in your throat for days. Well, the Globus Pharyngeus is the condition in which a person might continuously feel like something is stuck in the chest or throat, but there is no idea how it happens. Some people feel like they swallowed a pill and it stuck halfway down the food pipe, which is not painful but can be annoying and uncomfortable. It can make people keep trying to cough to clear their throat to ease the discomfort, which, as a result, can lead to irritation.
Sometimes, this condition lasts long, and you might need medical help to figure out what is wrong with your food pipe(esophagus). Using an endoscopic method, doctors insert a camera-attached flexible tube through your mouth to look inside your throat. This will help you know any of the potential reasons. Sometimes, even a tiny piece of food can make you feel like something huge is caught in your food pipe.
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4. Tonsillitis
Sometimes, if you are still struggling with tonsils, the chances of tonsillitis are higher, which happens when tonsils get inflamed due to a bacterial or viral infection. Tonsillitis leads to hurting and swelling of the tonsils, and your throat may feel extremely sore. Sometimes, your throat and neck lymph nodes also swell up.
It can make you have difficulty swallowing anything, causing your throat to feel stuck. As a result, tonsillitis contributes to several health issues, such as fever, hoarse voice, red throat, headache, bad breath, and yellowish or white spots on throat. You can treat tonsillitis with salt water gargles, warm liquids, and throat lozenges if the cause is viral throat infection.
However, if a bacterial infection causes it, you might be recommended some medication by the doctors. If the condition worsens, tonsil removal treatment is the only option.
How To Relieve the Feeling Of Something Stuck In Throat At Home?
If you persistently feel like something is stuck in your throat, you can relieve the sensation and soothe your throat muscles by treating the globus symptoms at home. These are some practical ways to reduce the discomfort:
- Swallow your food with or without water when your throat feels irritated.
- Do yawn often by opening your mouth widely.
- Move your jaws up and down and open your mouth in a gap of at least 2 fingers.
- Move your shoulders up to your ears, hold in the same position, then release, and repeat the same process again.
- Gently and slowly turn your head to the left, bring your head back to the center, and then drop your chin to your chest. Repeat the same process for the right side at least 4 times.
- Lower your head to your chest and open your mouth. While keeping the mouth open, smoothly roll your head in a circular motion. Repeat the same process in another direction.
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How To Get Rid Of Globus Sensation?
There are several other ways doctors recommend to treat your Globus sensation effectively. Have a look below:
1. Considering the Right Eating and Drinking Habits
Eating and drinking appropriately is one of the best ways to treat your Globus sensation. Drinking at least 1.5 L of water daily can help ease this sensation. Remember, try to go for small sips as the slow swallowing motion relaxes the throat muscles.
Do not try fizzy drinks, tea, alcohol, or coffee in large amounts, as they can lead to throat dryness. In addition, avoid eating spicy or fatty foods. Furthermore, do not snack between dinner time and before going to sleep or give at least a break of 3 hours between the last meal of the day and bedtime.
Also Read: How To Get Rid of Throat Mucus?
2. Taking Acid Reflux Medications
If the cause of the Globus sensation is GERD, taking medications can be helpful. Doctors recommend acid-reflux medications that cure heartburn and acid-reflux issues. Those drugs are mainly proton-pump inhibitors(PPIs), helping reduce stomach acid and decreasing the irritation in your throat.
These over-the-counter medications also balance the acid produced in the stomach, easing the sensation. However, people with globus sensation may sometimes need more aggressive treatment for a long time, which can lead to some side effects. As per research, about 55.6% of the patients with Globus or GERD have resistant results when undergoing PPT therapy.
3. Trying Muscle Therapy
If muscle tension is why you feel stuck, like feeling in your throat or lumps in your throat, doctors may refer you to a physical therapist. The therapists use muscle or speech therapy, which efficiently eases the sensation. Research says 72% of people who undergo speech therapy have shown successful reports of Globus treatments.
These treatments help massage your throat muscles, which relaxes and stretches your tight muscles, thus managing your throat pain and muscle tension. Sometimes, people also undergo speech therapy, where the speech pathologist assists in learning the effective practices that soothe their throat muscles.
4. Undergoing Psychological Treatments
Stress can also contribute to global sensation. If it is the reason behind a lump-like feeling in your throat, your doctor might recommend cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This treatment helps find out the negative thought patterns and coping mechanisms a person might be going through and which are causing emotional distress.
Sometimes, healthcare providers help reduce anxiety and stress by suggesting relaxation techniques, including yoga, mindfulness meditation, or breathing exercises, which are highly beneficial. These techniques benefit in relaxing your muscle tension, thus, relieving the symptoms of Globus sensation.
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5. Avoiding Smoking and Secondhand Smoke
Tobacco or cigarettes are majorly unsafe for your throat, mouth, and sinus issues. These products may increase the chances of some risks, including chronic cough. This can disturb the muscles of your throat and make you feel like there is a lump in it.
No use of nicotine or tobacco products will lead to a healthy throat, preventing the lump-like feeling in your food pipe, thus improving your Globus symptoms. Besides avoiding smoking, keep yourself away from secondhand smoke by not visiting the spots where you can be directly exposed to smoke. If you have difficulty quitting smoking, get professional help.
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Summing Up
Specific symptoms of Globus sensation can lead to a little weird feeling in the throat when it occurs, but it’s harmless. There is an irritating lump-like feeling in your throat, which you do not need to worry about. However, if this annoying condition is accompanied by other signs like pain, fever, or difficulty swallowing, this shows it’s time to consult a doctor. Schedule an appointment with licensed healthcare providers immediately, and get yourself checked for the Globus sensation. They will help you with the best treatment and medications.
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