Why does it feel like there is a lump in my throat? Lump in the throat: reasons for the feeling of a lump, unpleasant odor, mucus, belching

However, it is impossible to say unequivocally what exactly needs to be done, since the sensation of a lump in the throat can occur with various diseases, and their list is quite extensive. The first step is to establish what caused the discomfort.

How patients feel

Typically, patients describe this condition differently. Some people compare the sensation to the presence of a foreign body in the throat, preventing him from swallowing and making it difficult to breathe, others explain it as an incomprehensible formation that he constantly wants to swallow, but he can’t, and often causes pain.

But each of the patients notes quite serious discomfort that occurs in a certain body position, for example, when tilting the head, lying on the back. Also, unpleasant sensations can manifest themselves when eating, talking, or be present constantly.

The feeling of a lump in the throat frightens patients; each of them talks about their fear of suffocation, for example, in sleep or during physical exertion. Many people are afraid to even eat food for fear of suffocation and often associate the appearance of this condition with the fact that they choked on something the day before. Almost all patients note a constant desire to cough and eliminate the existing inconvenience.

Possible reasons

The sensation of a lump in the throat can have two main types of causes:

functional (psychogenic);
organic (somatic).

As a rule, organic causes can only be identified through examination using various methods.

For example, when examining the thyroid gland using ultrasound, it is possible to detect large nodes in the patient that can compress the esophagus and trachea. When the inflammatory process begins in the thyroid gland, it thickens and begins to interfere with the person, causing a feeling of being inside a coma.

In most cases, when the cause of the problem is an enlarged thyroid gland, patients do not complain of problems swallowing. Often in this case, breathing problems are observed, especially when the enlargement of the thyroid gland is asymmetrical. In this condition, compression of the trachea occurs, as well as a decrease in its lumen.

Difficulties with swallowing are usually associated with the presence of tumors of the esophagus, therefore, to clarify the diagnosis, all patients with such complaints are referred for fibrogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), which allows an accurate assessment of not only the condition of the esophagus, but also the stomach.

An important feature of the sensation of a lump in the throat caused by organic causes is the pronounced persistence of certain symptoms. But in some cases, ultrasound and FGDS do not determine the disease, since the neoplasm may be located in places that are difficult to examine using these diagnostic procedures.

In this case, a computed tomography scan of the neck area is used to make a diagnosis, which allows identifying even those tumors that are located behind the esophagus and trachea.

But as medical practice shows, the problem of a lump in the throat, caused precisely by organic reasons, occurs only in one case out of ten.

In other cases, the cause is a functional disorder, which is most often associated with neurological abnormalities or a state of neurasthenia.

A characteristic feature in this case is usually the inconstancy of symptoms, some of which may intensify in the evening, while doing any work or in stressful situations, as well as with severe nervous tension. Moreover, during vacation or relaxation, when a person is in peace and quiet, all the symptoms of a lump in the throat disappear, but then, in a stressful or tense situation, they can reappear.

The most common reasons are:

various diseases of the nervous system that arise after suffering stress or prolonged depression;
diseases of the thyroid gland that occur due to disruption of the endocrine system;
diseases of the ENT organs, for example, untreated or frequently occurring laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, as well as the respiratory tract;
diseases of the digestive system, for example, increased sensitivity of the esophagus, decreased activity, which causes problems with swallowing.

There is also the concept of a “hysterical coma”, while the patient’s physical condition is absolutely normal, and the examination does not reveal any diseases.

But patients complain of a lump in the throat, a constant desire to swallow, a feeling of scratching and soreness in the throat, as well as anxiety for their lives, fear of suffocating in their sleep or choking while eating. There is also a frequent feeling of tightness in the neck, where something is constantly getting in the way and causing discomfort.

Diagnosis of the problem

The following can be used to make a diagnosis:

Complete examination of the patient's blood and urine tests.
Blood chemistry.
Ultrasound of the neck and thyroid gland, and hormone analysis is often performed.
MRI and CT scan of the neck and cervical spine.
Visual examination of the larynx, root of the tongue, epiglottis, vocal cords and the oral cavity as a whole.
Complete examination of the neck and cervical lymph nodes.
X-ray of the cervical spine.

To conduct an examination if there is a lump in the throat that causes difficulty swallowing or breathing, most patients turn to an ENT specialist, but if there are no otolaryngological abnormalities, the person may be sent for a consultation with an endocrinologist or neurologist.

Treatment of a lump in the throat

The choice of therapy will depend on the cause of the problem. If the condition arose due to somatic (organic) factors, then treatment will be aimed at eliminating them. In this case, patients undergo many types of operations, for example, removal of part of the thyroid gland to reduce its total volume, removal of large nodes in the thyroid gland, removal of a tumor in the esophagus, in addition, mandatory drug therapy is part of the treatment.

If a lump in the throat is caused by psychological reasons or neurology, the patient is usually referred for treatment to a psychotherapist. A good psychotherapist will prescribe the necessary treatment, for example, choosing the right antidepressants that have a mild effect, but will also help you understand the external factors that led to the problem.

When a lump appears in your throat, it is important not to panic, but to consult a specialist to accurately determine the causes of this condition and exclude possible pathologies of organs and body systems.

There is no need to set yourself up for something terrible and diagnose yourself. There is no need to be afraid of visiting a psychotherapist if no somatic causes have been found. Often it is the psychotherapist who can solve the problem in the simplest and safest ways, while providing the patient with the necessary moral support.

Useful video about the psychological causes of a lump in the throat

The feeling that a foreign body is stuck in the throat, which makes it difficult to swallow even saliva, and after swallowing returns to its place again, is called a “lump in the throat.” The causes of this symptom can be different: from Quincke's edema, which occurs when eating unusual foods (the introduction of a new drug, an insect bite) to diseases of the esophagus and thyroid gland, which actually block the lumen of the throat. In all cases, only medical diagnosis will help.

The main thing is, don’t worry that you won’t be able to breathe: dangerous diseases, in which the throat can actually be blocked, develop gradually, not in 1 day (except for Quincke’s edema, but you will see it in the mirror). In addition, by “turning on” panic, you can only harm yourself by increasing the feeling of lack of air. Therefore, if you have a feeling of a lump, carefully examine your neck, look into your throat. If there is no sharp increase in the volume of the neck, and the tonsils have not closed together, calmly contact a therapist. And below we will tell you what reasons could cause the feeling of a lump.

Causes

The causes of a lump in the throat are varied - from “nervous soil”, when no narrowing of the respiratory or digestive tract actually occurs, to throat abscesses, which can cause asphyxia. Most often, such a symptom occurs in pathological processes localized in the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and the initial parts of the esophagus.

The main pathologies that cause the feeling of a lump in the throat are as follows:

chronic inflammation of the tonsils, mucous membrane of the throat or vocal cords;
flow of mucus from the inflamed sinuses or nasal cavity into the throat;
inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat;
diseases of the pharyngeal muscles or disruption of the signal going to them along the nerves (with a stroke, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis);
esophageal tumors (benign or malignant);
diseases of the thyroid gland, accompanied by its enlargement;
reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and higher (gastro-esophageal reflux);
scleroderma with damage to the esophagus;
dermatomyositis with damage to the esophagus;
esophageal diverticulum;
throat abscesses: accumulation of pus above the epiglottis, in the tissue near the tonsils or in the tissue between the pharyngeal muscles;
esophageal spasm;
neuroses, panic attacks, hysteria;

Can a “lump” cause suffocation?

Sometimes it can, and it depends on the area in which the pathological process is located. To do this, let's look at how the human throat and underlying organs work - those structures whose disease can cause the feeling of a lump.

The oral and nasal cavities are “tubes” of not quite regular shape. They flow into one large “pipe” - the pharynx. The latter is quite long (11-12 cm) and ends in a kind of “fork”:

on one side it passes into the larynx - the initial section of the respiratory tract, the place where the vocal cords that form sounds are located;
on the other hand, behind the larynx, the pharynx ends in the esophagus - a muscular tube that leads directly to the stomach.

Before the nasal cavity passes into the pharynx, at the mouth of the auditory tube - the formation that communicates the ear and pharynx, in the area of the root of the tongue and on both sides of it there are tonsils - large accumulations of lymphoid tissue. The same tissue is scattered in the form of small “peas” in different places of the back wall of the pharynx.

The task of lymphoid tissue is to “inspect” the air flow and bolus of food for microbes and agents potentially dangerous to the body. If any are found, the tonsils and separate areas to fight germs increase in size. They may then feel like a lump in the throat.

If a person inhales air that contains a certain number of microorganisms, usually both the palatine tonsils (which are what we see in the mirror when we open our mouth) and the pharyngeal tonsil, which lies on the border of the nose and pharynx, immediately enlarge. If they increase significantly (due to the simultaneous exposure of a large number of microbes to the air or the constant inhalation of small volumes of dust or microorganisms), not only a lump in the throat will be felt. This can cause difficulty breathing, but rarely to the point of suffocation.

A condition called peritonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess can cause suffocation. In this case, which is a complication of purulent tonsillitis, pus permeates the fatty tissue around the tonsils (one or two). With a large amount of pus, the enlarged tonsil blocks the path of air.

Impaired air passage and suffocation can develop as a result of edema or abscess of the epiglottis. This condition develops as a complication of allergies (most often food) or acute respiratory viral infections.

In the cases listed above, what comes to the fore is not the feeling of a lump in the throat, but severe pain in the throat, inability to swallow, fever and symptoms of intoxication (headache, weakness, nausea).

Another significant part of the “lumps” is caused by the so-called postnasal drip. This is the name of the condition when, as a result of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (nose, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx), mucus is formed and flows down the back wall of the pharynx.

However, the main reasons for the sensation of a lump in the throat are localized in the esophagus - a tube that is designed to move food to those parts of the digestive system where it can be processed and digested. Pathological processes in the esophagus that can cause suffocation are those that either grow from its anterior wall, which is adjacent directly to the trachea (the trachea is in front) or have great hardness to try to close the tracheal cartilage. Before the feeling of lack of air appears, a “lump” and swallowing disturbances will be felt for a long time: first of solid food, then of liquid food.

Now let’s look at what could be the reasons for the appearance of a foreign body in the throat - depending on the symptoms that accompany the “lump”.

Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing

A lump in the throat when swallowing develops with any of the following diseases.

Cardiospasm (cardia achalasia)

This is a disease in which spasm occurs in the orbicularis muscle located between the esophagus and stomach.

Characterized by sudden difficulty swallowing, when warm liquid food or, in rare cases, solid food passes better. A person feels that food will pass better if he walks after eating or eats while standing, or puts pressure on the chest while eating. There may be pain in the upper part of the sternum, which is similar to pain in the heart.

Reflux esophagitis

This is the name of the condition when the contents of the stomach are constantly thrown into the esophagus and inflame its mucous membrane.

Symptoms of the disease: heartburn and sour belching that occur after eating (especially if you lie down immediately), when bending the body forward, if a person has eaten less than 1.5 hours before bedtime. With this disease, there is also pain in the chest (very reminiscent of pain in the heart), which radiates to the lower jaw, the area between the shoulder blades, and the left half of the chest. There may be a cough that develops only when lying down, dry throat, bloating, nausea, and vomiting.

Hiatal hernia

In this case, the stomach and, in some cases, the intestines, which should be in the abdominal cavity, due to the expansion of the hole in the diaphragm through which the esophagus should pass, find themselves (periodically or permanently) in the chest cavity.

The disease is very similar to reflux esophagitis: in addition to a “lump” in the throat, it is also characterized by heartburn after eating, pain in the pit of the stomach when a person has been standing in a bent position for a long time, and abdominal pain. If organs penetrating into the chest cavity compress the heart or lungs, shortness of breath, pain behind the sternum, and blueness around the mouth, worsening after eating, will be observed.

Thyroid pathologies

The feeling of a lump when swallowing occurs when the thyroid gland enlarges and begins to put pressure on the underlying thyroid cartilage of the larynx. This may look like:

production of an increased amount of hormones (hyperthyroidism), which is manifested by weight loss with increased appetite, increased heart rate, sweating, irritability, periodic attacks of abdominal pain and vomiting;
the production of a reduced amount of hormones (hypothyroidism), in which a person gains weight despite a decreased appetite. Such a patient exhibits slowness and fatigue, his memory is reduced, his skin becomes dry, and his hair becomes brittle and tends to fall out;
normal gland function. In this case, apart from a lump and an increase in the volume of the neck, there are no other noticeable symptoms.

Thyroid disease does not lead to swallowing problems.

Chronic pharyngitis

This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, which occurs either as a result of insufficient treatment of acute pharyngitis, or during prolonged inhalation of dusty, dry or polluted air.

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis are: a feeling of dryness, a sore throat, frequent attacks of a dry, painful cough. As the disease worsens, a sore throat is noted and the body temperature may rise.

Chronic laryngitis

This is the name for chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. Cause of the disease: frequent acute laryngitis due to professional activity (teachers, singers, speakers), smoking or alcohol abuse.

The disease manifests itself as a feeling of dryness in the throat, sore throat. The voice becomes hoarse until it is completely lost. There is also a dry, debilitating cough that develops in paroxysms. There may be a feeling of lack of air, pain when swallowing.

Mental disorders

This feeling is observed in 60% of people suffering from depression. The main symptoms: constant bad mood, inability to rejoice, constant pessimistic attitude, loss of interest in life or what used to make you happy.

The same complaint can be heard from people suffering from neuroses. These conditions arise after some kind of traumatic factor and can be manifested by various symptoms: irritability, frequent phobias, panic attacks, anxiety, mood instability, sleep disorders, pain of various locations (in the heart, in the stomach, in the head), imbalance, dizziness . The diagnosis is made after excluding cardiac, neurological and other somatic diseases.

Complaints about this feeling are also made by people in whom psychiatrists, upon examination, discover hysterical personality disorder. This disease is more often found in women, when, against the background of a constantly observed unstable mood and a tendency to fantasize, attacks of transient blindness, deafness, and paralysis may appear. At the same time, a brain examination does not reveal any strokes or micro-strokes. "Lump", unlike attacks of blindness/deafness, can be observed constantly.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

It is manifested not only by a feeling of a lump in the throat, but also, most often, by dizziness, pain or crunching when turning the neck, and headache when the weather changes.

Foreign object in the esophagus

The feeling of a lump can be caused by an object stuck in the esophagus: a fish bone, a tablet, an inedible particle that gets in with food.

Esophageal trauma

The esophagus can be injured by a probe (during fibrogastroscopy or placement of a feeding tube or evacuation of contents). The injury can be caused by a swallowed bone or a tablet: damage to the mucous membrane can be distinguished from the appearance of a foreign object there only after consulting a doctor: an ENT doctor or an endoscopist, who will have to perform fibrogastroscopy.

Oncological diseases

Throat cancer may cause this sensation. accompanied by other symptoms: cough, difficulty swallowing first solid food, then liquid food, sudden weight loss.

Esophageal cancer, in addition to these symptoms, pain and a feeling of fullness behind the sternum, regurgitation of food, and the production of a large amount of saliva are added to it. The feeling of a foreign body in the throat at first simply prevents you from eating food, then forces you to drink it, then only take liquid meals. If at this stage a person does not consult a doctor, he completely loses the ability to take food and water.

Sjögren's syndrome

This is a condition when your own immunity affects the connective tissue and external secretion glands (tear, salivary). It develops most often in women during menopause. It begins with a feeling of dry eyes, dry skin, mouth and genitals. Seizures appear in the corners of the mouth, causing pain at first only when yawning, and then when talking. As a result of dry mucous membranes, crusts form in the nose, and sinusitis, bronchitis, and gastritis are often observed. With this syndrome, a lump when swallowing is not one of the first symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis

This is a disease in which one’s own immunity attacks the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Such a lesion is observed in a mosaic pattern: some people have some pathological foci (for example, in the frontal lobe and cerebellum), while others have others (more in the spinal cord than in the brain). Therefore, there are no specific symptoms for this disease. When the nerve pathways leading to the esophagus are damaged, swallowing is impaired and a foreign body is felt in the throat. This symptom is rarely observed on its own, accompanied by other changes: tremor, paralysis of one or more limbs, strabismus, blurred vision, decreased sensitivity.

Previous stroke

The sensation of a foreign object in the throat when swallowing can be as a result of a stroke in those parts of the brain that are responsible for the act of swallowing. In this case, the process of food entering the stomach will be disrupted (difficult), but will not depend on whether the food is solid or liquid.

Scleroderma of the esophagus

Scleroderma is a systemic disease in which normal connective tissue becomes dense and the arterioles that feed it cease to function.

The disease does not affect the esophagus alone. It begins with damage to the feet and hands, which begin to freeze paroxysmally (at first only in the cold, after excitement or smoking, and then without any visible provoking factor), while they first become alabaster-white, then turn red. Such attacks are accompanied by pain in the fingers, a feeling of fullness, and burning.

Simultaneously with Raynaud's syndrome, which has now been described, the esophagus is also affected. This is manifested by worsening swallowing problems and heartburn. It becomes increasingly difficult for food to pass through the esophagus, which creates the sensation of a lump.

Myasthenia gravis

This disease is characterized by progressive weakness of the muscles, including those that carry out the swallowing process, those that “put a block” to prevent food from entering the respiratory tract, and those whose duty is to “expel” particles that have entered the trachea or bronchi by coughing. food.

Most often, myasthenia gravis begins with a violation of swallowing and coma, then difficulty in raising the eyelids (so a person has to raise his chin to look at something), and the voice changes.

Damage to the nerves involved in the act of swallowing

This can happen with jugular vein thrombosis, a fracture of the base of the skull or a glomus tumor. This is accompanied by disturbances in swallowing, tongue movement, and a lump in the throat.

Fazio-Londe syndrome

This is a rare inherited disease that develops in children, adolescents and young adults. The first manifestations of the disease are breathing problems, wheezing, then the face becomes distorted, speech is impaired (becomes blurred, slurred), a feeling of a foreign body appears in the throat, and swallowing is impaired.

Pseudobulbar palsy

In this case, swallowing is impaired, speech is slurred, and a person may cry or laugh for any reason, especially when conducting neurological tests (by baring his teeth or holding some object across his lips).

Guillain-Barre syndrome

This is a disease that develops as a complication of intestinal infection, colds, herpes infection, when the activated immune system begins to attack the cells of the nerve trunks. The disease begins with deterioration of movements of the feet or both feet and hands. If this immune reaction is not stopped, the nerves that carry commands to the parts of the limbs that are closer to the body (hips, shoulders) are affected. In severe cases, swallowing is impaired, the voice appears nasal, and breathing may “switch off,” which is why such patients are treated in intensive care units.

Dystrophic myotonia

This is a hereditary disease, the symptoms of which often appear between the ages of 10 and 20 years. Less commonly, symptoms occur immediately after birth.

It is characterized by the appearance of spasmodic tension in the masticatory muscles and those muscles that flex the hand. Swallowing and facial expressions are impaired, the timbre of the voice changes, and sleep apnea may occur.

Other reasons

For diseases that force a person to breathe through the mouth (adenoiditis, chronic sinusitis)
For dehydration (for example, food poisoning or intestinal infection: salmonellosis, dysentery).
Enlarged lymph nodes under the lower jaw, near the angle of the lower jaw, on the front of the neck, or near the hyoid bone.

Diseases that also cause an unpleasant odor

A lump in the throat with an unpleasant odor is a symptom characteristic of ENT diseases. Basically, it appears in chronic sinusitis and chronic tonsillitis.

Chronic sinusitis

It is manifested by prolonged mucous or mucopurulent discharge (“snot”) on one or both sides, the flow of which down the back wall of the pharynx and causes a sensation of “coma” with an unpleasant odor. Difficulty breathing through the nose - on one or both sides.

In addition, a person periodically feels a headache - it is on this side that sometimes a feeling of heaviness is felt directly in the area of the inflamed sinus. The sense of smell decreases until it is completely lost. Due to constant mouth breathing, dry mouth occurs, the ear on the affected side periodically feels stuffy, and hearing deteriorates.

Chronic tonsillitis

This is a long-term and indolent inflammation of the tonsils. The tonsil is a formation of soft tissue, with depressions and passages on the surface, and voids inside. If the tonsil becomes inflamed under the influence of a microbe and cannot cleanse itself, the inflammatory process in it becomes chronic. Food debris enters this amygdala, which also supports this process.

As a result, white lumps of dead leukocytes, microbes, food debris and cells exfoliated from the surface of the organ are formed in the tonsil. These are caseous plugs, which are the source of an extremely unpleasant odor.

When the inflammatory process worsens, the tonsils also secrete pus. Over the course of a day, up to half a glass can form, and all of it will be swallowed. This pus, on the one hand, is the “lump” in the throat. On the other hand, it leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and stomach, where it enters, which increases bad breath.

Zenker's diverticula

This is the name for protrusions of the wall of the esophagus, which are facing outward, at the level of the transition of the pharynx to the esophagus. The disease manifests itself as a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, difficulty swallowing both solid and liquid food. Since a diverticulum is a kind of “pocket” where food can (and does) enter, an unpleasant odor is often felt from the mouth.

Such patients also complain of regurgitation of undigested food (especially in a lying position), dry cough, nausea, and change in voice timbre. There may be attacks of the “blockade phenomenon”: after eating, a person feels that he is suffocating, he begins to feel dizzy, and he may even faint. If you induce vomiting against this background, the attack goes away.

Diseases in which a lump is combined with belching

A lump in the throat and belching are characteristic of the following diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

Gastroesophageal reflux

This is the reflux of food from the stomach into the esophagus. It is described in the section “Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing.”

Esophagitis

This is the name for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, which can be caused by various microbes, physical (consequences of a burn from hot food) or chemical (consequences of ingested acid or alkali). The cause may also be esophageal tuberculosis (only in the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis) or candidiasis (as a complication of oral thrush).

It is characterized by the development of the following symptoms:

burning behind the sternum after eating;
pain behind the sternum, which is present constantly or periodically, can radiate to the shoulders and the area between the shoulder blades;
the sensation of a lump in the throat and belching is present during and immediately after eating, which is associated with additional trauma to the inflamed mucous membrane from the food bolus;
periodically, a small amount of food from the esophagus may return back into the mouth.

Neuroses

These are conditions in which the functioning of individual parts of the central nervous system is disrupted, but their structure is not disrupted.

Taking certain medications

Treatment with those medications that have a damaging effect on the mucous membrane causes belching, and the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, which is often accompanied by this condition - a lump in the throat.

The main drugs that lead to the appearance of these two symptoms are painkillers (Nimesil, Diclofenac, Analgin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin) and hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone).

If you really need to take one of these drugs, and you notice the appearance of belching and a lump in the throat, consult a gastroenterologist on how to protect your stomach (usually drugs like Omeprazole or Rabeprazole are used for this). Take anti-inflammatory drugs only after meals.

Pregnancy

The combination of belching and a lump in the throat can be caused by pregnancy. This is explained by the fact that in this case women change, which leads to relaxation of the muscles located between different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, including between the esophagus and stomach. As a result, food is often thrown into the esophagus, inflaming it, which causes belching and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat.

Combination of several diseases

It may happen that two unrelated diseases develop at the same time: for example, an increase in the volume of the thyroid gland, which causes a sensation of a lump in the throat, and inflammation of the stomach (gastritis), which causes belching. The same combination can be observed when consuming a large amount of gas-forming foods and drinks and acute respiratory infections with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat.

Hiatal hernia

The symptoms of this pathology are discussed in the section “Diseases accompanied by the sensation of a foreign body when swallowing.”

Esophageal trauma

Swallowing too hot, aggressive contents, inserting a feeding tube before anesthesia, or conducting a study such as fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FEGDS) can cause belching and coma.

Diseases in which both a foreign body and dryness are felt in the throat

Diseases in which both a lump and dry throat are noted are described above. This:

laryngitis: acute and chronic;
pharyngitis: acute and chronic;
chronic sinusitis;
allergic swelling of the epiglottis. This condition appears after eating some new food, walking in a blooming garden, using new medications, or working with household chemicals. It manifests itself as a lump in the throat, which quickly grows and interferes with breathing. It is necessary to urgently seek medical help.
Sjögren's syndrome;
adenoiditis;
diseases leading to dehydration;
smoking.

When you feel a lump in your throat as if made of mucus

A lump in the throat and mucus will be observed with:

postnasal drip, when mucus from an inflamed nose or its paranasal sinuses flows down the back wall of the pharynx;
exposure to the mucous membrane of the throat from tobacco, spicy foods, alcohol, and vasoconstrictor nasal drops. In this case, your health does not suffer, and a “lump of mucus” is observed only in the morning;
chronic pharyngitis;
runny nose;
inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx;
allergic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis;
reflux of gastric contents into the throat (laryngopharyngeal reflux), which is manifested by a mucous lump and attacks of dry cough.

When a foreign body sensation is combined with a sore throat

The appearance of a sore throat and lump is characteristic of the following pathologies:

Acute tonsillitis, which is manifested by increased temperature, weakness, and sometimes nausea. The throat hurts, it hurts to swallow both liquid and solid food.
Acute pharyngitis, which often occurs with acute respiratory infections (viral, fungal or bacterial origin). It manifests itself as a sore throat, a feeling of mucus, soreness and a lump in it, and a dry cough.
Acute laryngitis, which can also be a manifestation of acute respiratory infections or occur due to hypothermia and excessive use of the voice. It manifests itself as hoarseness of the voice, pain in the throat, which may intensify when swallowing, a feeling of dryness, soreness, and scratching in the throat. The cough is dry and painful at first, but soon phlegm begins to be coughed up.
Peritonsillar abscess– impregnation of fiber near the tonsils (most often one) with pus. Develops as a complication of purulent tonsillitis or purulent pharyngitis. Manifested by increasing sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, and bad breath.
Parapharyngeal abscess. In this case, the abscess is localized in the peripharyngeal space. This, like a paratonsillar abscess, is a complication of purulent tonsillitis, but it can also develop due to the flow of pus from the nasal sinuses into the peripharyngeal tissue, or the ingress of pus from the roots of the teeth. It is characterized by pain on one side of the throat, painful swallowing, difficulty opening the mouth, and high fever. It requires urgent surgical intervention, otherwise it may be complicated by the breakthrough of pus into the tissue around the large vessels of the neck, which may result in severe bleeding.
Abscess of the root of the tongue characterized by a feeling of a lump in the throat, an increase in the volume of the tongue, which prevents it from fitting in the mouth and makes breathing difficult and speech slurred. The temperature rises, weakness and malaise appear, and sleep is disturbed. Urgent treatment is required in the ENT department of the hospital.
Inflammation and abscess of the epiglottis manifested by a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, pain in the throat, which intensifies when swallowing, increased body temperature, difficulty breathing, and a nasal voice.

What to do if you have a lump in your throat

Treatment for a lump in the throat depends on its cause. So, if it is a tumor formation, surgery is needed, followed by the administration of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Diverticula are also removed surgically. With the development of a paratonsillar or parapharyngeal abscess, an operation to open and drain the abscess is also necessary. But myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and some other diseases can only be treated conservatively.

Therefore, to determine the cause of the “lump,” contact an otolaryngologist (ENT). He will examine the pharynx and larynx, examine the epiglottis and palpate the neck to rule out a parapharyngeal abscess, and take a culture from the tonsils and posterior pharyngeal wall. If no pathological process is detected, you need to be examined further:

perform an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and test those hormones that the endocrinologist says;
perform an MRI of the brain, cervical spine and neck organs and undergo those examinations recommended by a neurologist;
visit a gastroenterologist, perform FEGDS (fibrogastroscopy).

If at least 1 symptom from the following occurs, consult a doctor immediately:

it became difficult to breathe;
temperature increased above 37.5°C;
swelling of the neck along with a sore throat;
coughing up sputum in which pus or blood is visible;
a lump in the throat appeared either against the background of impaired sensitivity and movements in the legs or arms, or one can say that it becomes more and more difficult to swallow each time;
if, in addition to a lump in the throat, there is a nasal voice, blurred speech, choking when swallowing.

While you are being examined, take the following measures:

Rinse your nose and gargle in the morning with salt water, for which you can dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of boiled water. sea or regular salt, or buy one of the saline solutions at the pharmacy.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
Eliminate seafood, spicy foods, and high-fat dairy products from your diet.
If swallowing is impaired, introduce more liquid and high-calorie foods into the diet: broths with chicken meat passed through a blender, fermented milk products, enteral nutrition mixtures.
If mucus in the throat bothers you, include chicken broth, fresh apple puree, and warm soups in your diet. Just don't eat before bed.
If, along with a lump in your throat, your temperature has risen while you are waiting for the day for which you are scheduled to see an ENT specialist, gargle with antiseptic solutions: Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
If you notice that a lump in your throat has appeared after contact with an animal, eating new food, working in dusty conditions, and so on, take an antihistamine, optimally 1st generation (although they cause drowsiness, they act quite quickly): “Diazolin” , "Suprastin", "Tavegil". If such a “lump” interferes with breathing, call an ambulance.

Sooner or later, everyone feels a lump in their throat. The reasons may be related to disturbances in the functioning of the body or to disorders of the psychological state. This problem should not be neglected. If you feel a lump in your throat, the causes and treatment can only be explained by a doctor based on a complete examination of the body.

A lump in the throat itself does not pose a danger to the body, but it can cause discomfort. If this problem appears regularly, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause. They can be hidden in throat diseases, injuries and other dysfunctions of the body.

Tumor

If there is a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, then there is a high probability that the cause is a tumor of the larynx. In the process, it can compress the lumen of the larynx or the larynx itself, which can lead not only to discomfort in the throat, but also to lack of air. The last symptom indicates the last stage of the disease.

In the early stages of pathology, a favorable outcome for the patient is possible. Therefore, it is so important to consult a doctor in time, as soon as discomfort appears.

Thyroid dysfunction

Any diseases that are localized in the larynx can cause discomfort, including thyroid disease. The most common are:

thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid parenchyma);
diffuse toxic goiter (occurs as a result of an acute lack of iodine in the body).

Osteochondrosis

This disease is associated with dystrophic disorders of articular cartilage. Localization may also be in the cervical spine, which can lead to the feeling of a foreign body in the throat. There may also be other symptoms, such as headaches or back discomfort.

Problems with the gastrointestinal tract

If a lump in the throat occurs after eating, then the cause is definitely problems with the gastrointestinal tract. You can find out about this not only by a lump in the larynx, but also by the presence of discomfort in the stomach, a feeling of acid in the mouth, and heartburn.

Reflux

The appearance of unpleasant sensations in the throat is also possible due to another disease of the gastrointestinal tract - reflux (esophagitis). This disease occurs in 40-60% of the adult population. It is associated with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, which may be caused by the ingress of acidic stomach contents into it. In this case, a lump in the throat is accompanied by heartburn, belching, regurgitation of undigested food debris, pain in the chest and ears.

A hiatal hernia is a displacement of an internal organ of the abdominal region towards the chest cavity through a hole in the diaphragm. This disease is more common in older people, and more often in women than in men. The reasons are commonplace - heavy lifting, frequent constipation, severe cough or excess body weight.

As a result of such changes, after eating liquid or semi-liquid food, a lump may appear in the throat. Contrasting water or rushed consumption of food may also be the cause. This symptom is not constant and is not necessarily present in the presence of this pathology.

Injuries

The cause of discomfort can be various injuries to the pharynx or esophagus. Damage factors may vary. Most often, this disorder occurs as a result of eating rough food or after swallowing a tube.

Allergic reactions

A large amount of allergen in the body can provoke Quincke's edema. This problem is dangerous due to its rapid development and almost complete blocking of the larynx for air. In this case, the person is not in pain, but if you do not give him an antihistamine in a short time, death is possible.

Psychogenic causes

The most common provocateurs of a coma in the throat are psychogenic causes. Therefore, the therapist refers the patient for examination to specialized specialists (ENT and gastroenterologist) to exclude somatic diseases.

If no diagnosis is confirmed, then the lump in the nasopharynx is clearly of a psychogenic nature. This could be intense anxiety before an important event (for example, an exam, a job interview, or a wedding). In this case, such a condition may be accompanied by difficulty breathing, excessive sweating and trembling of the hands.

A separate group includes people with panic attacks. This condition has pronounced symptoms, in particular, increasing anxiety, rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing and a lump in the throat. This does not pose any health threat, but quality of life may be greatly reduced.

Other reasons

ENT diseases can also lead to unpleasant sensations in the throat. Most often this is:

acute and chronic laryngitis;
purulent sore throat;
acute and chronic pharyngitis.

The cause may also be complications of these diseases, for example, paratonsillitis or abscess of the root of the tongue and epiglottis. The latter disease is the most dangerous due to the possibility of blocking the entrance to the throat, and therefore the lungs.

There are other reasons:

Symptoms

The feeling of a coma does not always require immediate contact with a specialist. This need arises when the following symptoms are present:

a similar feeling manifests itself after eating or a stressful situation, but it is not possible to find a lump;
breathing problems, a lump may block the path of air;
soreness and burning in the throat;
feeling of an unpleasant aftertaste in the throat or chest.

Even one of the symptoms described above may indicate a problem.

Diagnostics

To exclude pathologies, it is recommended to immediately consult a doctor, primarily a therapist. And based on a survey and other research, he will be able to refer you to a more specialized specialist. To make a diagnosis, the following studies are necessary:

general blood and urine tests;
biochemical blood test (according to indications);
external examination of the neck and cervical lymph nodes on the right and left, the thyroid gland;
examination of the oral cavity, especially the root of the tongue and palatine tonsils (at this stage, oropharyngoscopy is performed);
examination of the larynx, including vocal and vestibular cords, epiglottis, pyriform sinuses by;
Ultrasound of the thyroid gland; to clarify the results obtained, an analysis of thyroid hormones may be necessary;
X-ray, CT and MRI of the cervical spine.

When should you see a doctor?

You should consult a specialist immediately, because there are many factors that provoke a lump in the throat. In some situations, emergency care may be required, for example, with Quincke's edema or a foreign body. In the second case, it will require its removal, which can only be performed by a doctor.

First of all, you need to go to a therapist, who, after examining the existing symptoms, will refer you to a specialist.

Treatment methods

The choice of treatment method depends on the cause. In most cases, treatment of the underlying disease is required; this is not always possible to do at home. For example, if a tumor is present, chemoradiotherapy may be necessary, the course of which is carried out exclusively in a hospital setting. In addition, surgery may be required. The rehabilitation period after a surgical procedure should be carried out under the strict supervision of doctors.

The situation is similar with the presence of a hiatal hernia. Most often, the problem is solved with surgery.

Medicines

Medicines are used to treat most diseases that may cause discomfort. But their dosage is determined only by a doctor based on tests and other diagnostic studies. Self-treatment is not recommended. In this case, the lump in the throat is eliminated as follows:

for hyperfunction of the thyroid gland, iodine preparations are prescribed;
for thyroiditis, hormones are required (in some cases, maintenance therapy is carried out throughout life);
for ENT diseases, antibiotics or antiviral drugs are indicated, depending on the nature of the pathology;
for diagnosed depression, the psychotherapist prescribes antidepressants and tranquilizers;
for vegetative-vascular dystonia, it is possible to take vegetotropic drugs, for example, “Anaprilina” or “Pirroxan”;
in the presence of neuromuscular excitability, mineral correctors, in particular calcium and vitamin D2 preparations, can help.

Regardless of the cause of the lump in the throat, taking sedatives of plant origin based on valerian, motherwort, cyanosis (Nervo-vit), and bee products (Apitonus) is indicated.

Folk remedies

Alternative medicine does not always help get rid of a lump in the throat. This mainly helps if the problem has psychogenic causes. In this case, you can prepare a decoction of medicinal herbs at home.

You can add lemon balm, motherwort, linden, peppermint and other herbs that have a calming effect to the collection. The collection is brewed with 1 liter of boiling water and then left to infuse for 2 hours. Strain the liquid and then drink in small portions throughout the day.

It is advisable to make a fresh infusion every day.

Treating a lump in the throat at home

You can treat a lump in the throat at home only if there is no threat to life. For example, for osteochondrosis, special gymnastics are prescribed, which can be performed at home. The exercises are as follows:

tilt the head alternately to the sides, while you need to pull the top of the head horizontally as much as possible;
turning your head to the sides, you need to try to see what is behind;
tilting the head forward and backward, while muscle tension should be clearly felt;
circular movements with the chin;
tilting the head back and then to the side;
semicircular movements of the head;
Raise your shoulders as high as possible, then hold them in this position for 15 seconds.

This gymnastics should be done daily for 10 minutes. However, you will still have to visit a specialist, since other treatment methods are also indicated for this disease, for example: vacuum, manual and reflex laser methods of therapy, the implementation of which can only be entrusted to a certified doctor.

Additionally, it is recommended to radically change your lifestyle. In particular, the vertebrologist will definitely advise his patient to move more, preferably walking in the fresh air, and also adhere to the principles of a healthy diet. First of all, you need to exclude excessively fatty, fried, spicy, smoked and salty foods from your diet, and limit your sugar intake.

At home, you can eliminate another cause of throat discomfort - problems with the gastrointestinal tract. In such cases, following a special diet in combination with taking medications as prescribed by a doctor is indicated.

In case of ENT diseases, in addition to medications, it is recommended to gargle daily with the following products:

soda;
iodine-containing solution;
"Furacilin";
infusion of herbs with antiseptic properties, such as chamomile.

When a lump appears in the throat for psychogenic reasons, it is recommended to perform breathing exercises; it is not recommended to constantly think about troubles, but it is better to clearly monitor swallowing movements so that they do not become more frequent. Breathing exercises are as follows:

deep and rare breathing movements, while exhalation should be twice as long as inhalation;
breathing into the bag (duration 10 minutes, in which you need to inhale, hold your breath for 10 seconds, and then exhale into the bag).

Prevention

It is easier to prevent any condition than to cure the problem and its consequences. This also applies to a lump in the throat. For prevention you need:

avoid stressful and conflict situations;
alternate periods of work and rest, allocate 8 hours a day for sleep, overwork can lead to prolonged stress;
treat ARVI in a timely manner, not independently, but after consulting a doctor;
take care of your immune system, get vaccinated in a timely manner, take vitamins;
adhere to the principles of a healthy diet, include as many vegetables and fruits in your diet as possible, and reduce the amount of spices to a minimum;
lead a healthy lifestyle, in particular, spend more time in the fresh air, preferably for at least an hour, and it is better not just to sit on a bench, but to take walks, ride a bike, or go swimming;
undergo a preventive medical examination once a year, including a visit to a neurologist, which will allow you to identify possible health problems in a timely manner;
if professional activity is associated with hazardous production, then safety measures must be observed in order to protect the body from negative effects.

The frequent appearance of a lump in the throat and prolonged discomfort may indicate a possible disease that requires proper treatment. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a doctor to rule out various complications.

The feeling of a lump in the throat after eating is an alarming sign that gastroenterologists and otolaryngologists most often encounter. The cause may be diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

When you have a lump in your throat after eating, you first need to consult an ENT doctor. At the same time, there are groups of diseases that are identified by endocrinologists, cardiologists or neurologists.

Causes

If a patient complains of a lump in the throat after eating, the cause most often lies in the digestive and respiratory system. This sensation also appears in many other diseases:

Hiatal hernia.
Gastroesophageal reflux.
Aortic aneurysm.
Osteochondrosis of the cervical segment of the spine.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Tonsillitis.
Benign and malignant tumors of the esophagus, trachea, bronchi.
Pathology of the thyroid gland, in which the causes are inflammation, lack of iodine or hormone production.
Infections of the pharynx, trachea, and larynx are also a causative factor in the appearance of a lump in the throat. Most often, this symptom is caused by streptococcus.
An esophageal diverticulum is a protrusion of the wall that narrows the lumen.
Swallowing objects.
Obesity.
The cause is the use of antihistamines and antidepressant medications.

Interesting! In addition to organic diseases, the feeling of a coma occurs in mental disorders. Prolonged nervous tension and fear also cause pharyngeal spasms. Usually the hysterical lump goes away within a few hours. These problems are solved by a neuropsychiatrist.

Gastroesophageal reflux

The sensation of a lump is caused by the reflux of acidic gastric contents into the esophagus and even higher into the pharynx. Pathology occurs when the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter decreases.

Frequent backflow of food into the esophagus leads to burns and inflammation of its internal walls. This causes a feeling as if food is stuck in the throat after eating.

The development of reflux esophagitis is also accompanied by other symptoms:

heartburn;
soreness;
pain in the epigastric region after eating;
belching sour foods;
a burning sensation in my chest;
difficulty swallowing.

Attention! Provoking factors for heartburn and a lump in the throat are chocolate, coffee, mint. These foods dilate the lower esophageal ring, allowing stomach contents to flow upward. The reflux of food into the throat increases in a horizontal position or overeating.

As a result of the constant irritating action of acid, the mucous membranes of the esophagus and throat can degenerate with the formation of a malignant tumor. Therefore, if heartburn or a lump in the throat occurs frequently, you should visit a gastroenterologist.

The disease is detected by ultrasound examination (ultrasound).

Treatment of a lump in the throat after eating is related to the causes of its appearance. For reflux esophagitis, proton pump inhibitors reduce the acidity of gastric juice - Omeprazole, Pantoprozole.

Graves' disease

If there is a lump in the throat associated with food, the cause is an enlarged thyroid gland due to Graves' disease.

Anatomically, the gland lies on the surface of the trachea in the area of the Adam's apple. When increased, it puts pressure on the breathing tube, causing a feeling of a lump in the throat. This feeling intensifies as food passes through the esophagus.

Hyperplasia (overgrowth) of the thyroid gland is also accompanied by other symptoms - sweating, difficulty breathing and swallowing. In the advanced stage, a clear sign of Graves' disease is bulging eyes.

The pathology can be treated with drugs that reduce the production of thyroid hormone.

Aortic aneurysm

If after eating a lump in the throat lingers for a long time, making breathing and swallowing difficult, the cause is dilation of the aortic arch. This occurs as a result of pathological expansion of the vessel in the neck, which compresses the muscles of the pharynx.

The disease develops as a result of dystrophic or inflammatory changes in the aortic wall. In addition to a lump in the throat, other symptoms gradually appear with an aneurysm:

dry cough;
hoarseness of voice;
difficulty swallowing;
discomfort when swallowing;
hemoptysis.

In an advanced stage, an aneurysm provokes spasms of the laryngeal muscles, leading to suffocation. In most cases, pathology is detected in atherosclerosis, syphilis, and diabetes mellitus. A cardiologist treats a lump in the throat due to an altered aorta.

A sensation of a lump in the throat can occur when the disc under the fourth cervical vertebra becomes thin. When it is displaced, the nerve roots are compressed and inflamed.

The disease develops gradually. The disc itself does not have its own blood vessels, and receives nutrition from the surrounding tissue during movement in the spine. With a decrease in physical activity, the disc becomes thinner and protrudes outward - this is a hernia.

If other specialists have not identified the cause of the lump in the throat, you should also consult a neurologist. He diagnoses and treats spinal diseases.

ENT infections

One of the common causes of a lump in the throat is respiratory tract infections at different levels. Inflammation is accompanied by swelling of the tissues of the nasopharynx, which leads to narrowing of the larynx and trachea. This is the reason for the feeling of a coma in the following diseases:

angina;
laryngitis;
pharyngomycosis;
tracheitis;
pharyngitis;
sinusitis.

Colds are accompanied by signs of intoxication - fever, headache and muscle pain, chills.

Important! If the infection is not treated in time, the process takes on a chronic form. At the same time, structural changes occur in the respiratory tract. As a result, a lump in the throat may develop.

False bulbar palsy or myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular pathology. The disease is manifested by excessive fatigue of muscle tissue. The cause of myasthenia gravis is a malfunction in the immune system.

The pathology affects the masticatory and pharyngeal muscles with swallowing disorders. Every meal is torture for the patient, since the masticatory muscles practically do not contract.

Other symptoms and signs of a lump in the throat with myasthenia gravis are frequent choking, which threatens food getting into the respiratory tract. Speech ability is impaired. With physical effort, weakness increases in all muscles.

The development of the disease is facilitated by decreased immunity and chronic diseases. Myasthenia gravis can begin after improper use of immunocorrectors. The provoking factor is frequent or prolonged psycho-emotional stress.

By the way! The disease is most often discovered in adolescence.

Laryngeal tumor

Benign and malignant formations are asymptomatic for a long time. As they grow, they compress the larynx and cause discomfort in the throat. In addition, respiratory tract cancer causes difficulty breathing and swallowing food.

First, a lump in the throat occurs when swallowing solid food. Over time, liquid food also becomes difficult to pass. When the tumor significantly fills the lumen of the esophagus, it becomes impossible to drink water.

Cancer pathology usually develops in the lower parts of the esophagus, mainly in men. The cause of cancer is drinking alcohol, drinking too hot food, and smoking.

Food products – smoked meats, chips, French fries – provoke the development of malignancy. Chemical and thermal burns of the esophagus contribute to the onset of the disease.

Important! The main factor provoking the development of cancer of any location is a sharp decrease in immunity.

The main treatment for esophageal cancer is surgical removal of the tumor, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy drugs.

Patients with mental disorders periodically experience laryngeal spasms, which doctors call hysterical coma. With a disease of a neurogenic nature, soreness and burning of the larynx at the level of the Adam's apple also occurs.

A lump in the throat sometimes occurs in healthy people during a stressful situation or panic. Excessive overstrain of the nervous system causes spasms of the laryngeal muscles.

Discomfort increases while eating because the passage of food increases the narrowing of the airways.

Neurologists treat the disease with sedatives, antidepressants or antipsychotics.

The disease is a protrusion of a segment of the esophagus due to deformation. The immediate cause of pharyngoesophagitis is a decrease in wall tone due to inflammatory processes.

Typically, diverticulitis forms after reflux esophagitis, fungal infection of the esophagus, or tuberculosis of the lymph nodes. The disease is accompanied by other signs:

heaviness in the throat after eating;
difficulty or painful swallowing;
increased salivation;
putrid odor in the mouth.

Changes in the esophagus develop slowly and are closely related to the cause of the disease. Untreated diverticulitis is dangerous due to a serious complication – neck phlegmon. Pharyngoesophagitis is treated with diet and medications under the supervision of a gastroenterologist.

Surgery is performed for severe damage to the esophageal wall, which carries the risk of perforation or bleeding.

Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia is formed due to a decrease in the tone of the diaphragm, which leads to an enlargement of the esophageal opening. As a result, the lower esophagus and part of the stomach protrude into the chest. At first, this does not affect the person’s condition. As it progresses, other signs of a hernia appear:

heartburn;
hoarseness of voice;
sensation of a foreign body in the throat;
hiccups;
chest pain;

The causes of hernia are underdevelopment of the diaphragm, age-related degenerative processes of muscle tissue.

Attention! An increase in intra-abdominal pressure during pregnancy is one of the reasons for the expansion of the esophageal ring with a feeling of a lump in the throat.

Treatment in most cases is conservative. First-line therapy is frequent and small meals with the exclusion of irritating foods. Drug treatment is used using antacids, antispasmodics, and astringents.

There are various causes of a lump in the throat - from simple nervous strain to a dangerous illness. Therefore, doctors advise not to take this symptom lightly.

If a lump occurs frequently, contact an otolaryngologist first. If necessary, the doctor will refer you to an endocrinologist or gastroenterologist. You may need to consult a neurologist.