If someone has ever met a sensation of a lump in his throat at least once in his life, he will say that he cannot be called pleasant. This condition not only causes discomfort, but also frightens with its obscurity. Why? The answer is simple - there are many reasons that can provoke it.
A bit about pathology
A lump in the throat is an unpleasant feeling that interferes with swallowing. This is something similar to a clot of dense squeezing mucus, creating a feeling of tickling, burning, tickling and suffocation. Some people describe this condition with these words: “It’s like a pill is stuck in the upper respiratory tract.”
A sensation of a coma in the throat may be accompanied by other symptoms:
- Heaviness in the upper respiratory tract and sternum.
- General malaise.
- Labored breathing.
- Fatigue and pain when swallowing.
- Burning in the esophagus.
An unpleasant sensation makes a person cough often. It seems to him that in this way he can free himself from the "excess" in the throat.
According to statistics, only about 4% of people turn to specialists for help. If the feeling of mucus in the throat does not cause suffocation, there is hope that it will pass by itself.
Doctors call several reasons for the sensation of a coma in the throat: psychogenic, somatic, diseases of various organs and systems.
Psychogenic factors
Factors that cause a sensation of a foreign body in the throat can be: anxiety, a desire to aggravate the situation, troubles, experiences. They arise on a nervous basis and are absolutely not associated with any disease.
Being in a constant stressful situation enhances the swallowing reflex in humans. Due to the lack of a large amount of saliva, the process is gradually becoming more difficult. An unpleasant sensation of a lump in the throat appears.
Discomfort may also be felt if a disease has previously been transmitted. During an illness, a person begins to listen to the available symptoms. This habit remains, even if the disease is “defeated”. After diseases associated with the digestive tract, discomfort in the throat can also be felt. Over time, this feeling disappears. Try to pay less attention to the process of swallowing and breathing.
If it is difficult to cope with the problem yourself, then consult a psychologist for advice. It will help in this case, valerian, motherwort, St. John's wort, as well as any relaxing herbal preparations. To increase stress resistance, it is recommended to take the Apitonus-P complex of vitamins. And Nervo-Vit will be able to relax and calm.
Respiratory diseases
The appearance of an unpleasant feeling in the throat (as mentioned above) occurs due to many factors. One of them is acute and chronic respiratory diseases. They belong to the class of somatic causes:
- Laryngitis and pharyngitis.
- Angina is follicular.
- Acute inflammation of the tissues near the tonsils (phlegmonous tonsillitis).
- Inflammatory processes occurring on the epiglottis or the root of the tongue.
- Inflammation of tissues near the pharyngeal space of the neck.
A feature of these diseases - clots of mucus are formed in the larynx. They prevent oxygen from entering the air paths. These ailments can provoke a swelling of the throat, which is accompanied by a cough, fever, and fever.
The treatment of the underlying disease is the ability to get rid of the sensation that there is a lump in the throat.
Iodine deficiency, osteochondrosis and neoplasms are three more reasons that belong to the somatic class.
A lack of iodine in the human body provokes the development of thyroid dysfunction, which leads to throat problems. This happens as follows: the gland increases in size and gradually compresses the respiratory organ. This condition is a symptom of a disease called goiter. An inflamed thyroid gland begins to produce a large amount of thyroid hormones. This phenomenon is characterized by a constant sensation of a coma in the throat.
Now let's talk about osteochondrosis. Problems in the cervical spine lead to unpleasant sensations in the throat. The causes of this problem are heredity, impaired posture, overeating, bad habits.
The most dangerous cause of a coma in the throat is the growth of a benign or malignant tumor. This symptom appears at an early stage of the development of the disease. At this point, it is important to consult a specialist in a timely manner. Otherwise, the neoplasm grows, severe pains in the chest and trachea appear, breathing is difficult. In addition, rapid weight loss occurs, the functioning of organs and systems of the body is disrupted.
Somatic pathology causes - treatment
Depending on what caused the sensation of a lump in the throat, treatment is prescribed. If the cause is thyroid problems, then medicines containing iodine are prescribed.
The occurrence of an ailment is associated with neck problems - you will have to do special gymnastics to develop it. In addition, manual, laser therapy and reflexology are performed.
The patient with a sick esophagus is given appropriate medications, and diet food is prescribed. In the case of a hernia of the esophagus - they may resort to surgery.
If the pathology is associated with the respiratory tract, then antibiotics and other medicines are prescribed. It all depends on the cause of the disease. Do not underestimate gargling with a solution of soda or herbal infusions. Sometimes the doctor recommends using warming compresses.
If the cause of the sensation as if there are malignant and benign tumors in the throat, then the treatment will be the use of radiation therapy or chemotherapy. In extreme cases, an operation is performed. Treatment can be carried out in combination or preference will be given to one of the options presented. It all depends on the situation.
To relieve symptoms, you can use folk remedies:
- Have a soothing tea, take a relaxing bath, do massage.
- Sleep well.
- Eat foods that are high in iodine.
Gastrointestinal diseases
This is one of the main causes of a sensation of a coma in the throat and burping. The peculiarity of this condition is that discomfort is felt both during meals and after it. You can add to the symptoms of the disease:
- heartburn and belching;
- pain in the esophagus or stomach;
- the appearance of sour and putrid taste in the mouth.
Often with gastroesophageal disease or reflux, a sensation of a coma in the throat occurs. Why is this happening? During a meal, the contents of the stomach return to the esophagus. The use of carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, chocolate can cause this pathology. It provokes disease and overeating or prolonged abstinence from eating.
A lump in the throat and belching, hoarseness, nausea, a feeling of fullness and bloating are all signs of a problem with the gastrointestinal tract.
Sensation of coma and burping
First, let's talk about what burps accompany a lump in the throat. They are of two types:
The first kind of special inconvenience is not created. The second one talks about the problems. If the smell is rotten, then this means that there is decomposition and stagnation of food in the stomach. Sour burping indicates increased acidity, bitter - the ingestion of bile into the stomach.
There are a large number of causes of burping and a lump in the throat. These symptoms can be observed not only in sick people, but also in completely healthy people.
Why do these symptoms appear in healthy people?
- irregular nutrition;
- fast food;
- physical activity after eating;
- malnutrition or overeating;
- the use of chewing gum;
- the use of carbonated drinks;
- swallowing air while eating.
If a lump in the throat and belching begin to appear after each meal, you should consult a doctor. Most likely, there were problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Esophageal hernia
This is another reason that causes an unpleasant sensation in the throat. A hernia of the esophageal diaphragm develops due to the displacement of a certain part of the muscle mass of the esophagus. The factors provoking this condition are: overweight, frequent problems with stool, prolonged cough, heredity, psycho-emotional stress.
In addition, there is a sensation of a lump in the throat when swallowing, pain in the sternum is felt, frequent heartburn and hiccups appear. If you have these symptoms, be sure to consult a specialist. He will prescribe drugs that reduce acidity. In this case, you can not do without proper nutrition. To relieve discomfort in the chest, you can drink warm milk with honey. To drink, preferably slowly.
If the situation is not “taken under control”, there is a risk of developing an ailment such as gastroesophageal reflux.
Lump in throat and chest pain
Sometimes there is a sensation of a coma in the throat and pain is felt in the chest. The reasons that provoke this condition include:
- Gastrointestinal problems.
- Malfunctioning respiratory system. Here we are talking about diseases such as bronchitis, pneumonia, tracheitis, tuberculosis, flu and others.
- Pathology of the cardiovascular system: angina pectoris, heart attack, thromboembolism, MVP and others.
- Blood problems: leukemia (acute stage), paraproteinemia.
- Chest injuries.
- Hysteria, vegetovascular dystonia.
Not all diseases that can lead to chest pain and a lump in the throat are listed here.
Malignant tumor
When there is a feeling of something superfluous in the throat, many people first of all begin to think about cancer. No need to panic, you should immediately go to a specialist who will make an accurate and correct diagnosis. Symptoms of this ailment depend on the location of the neoplasm. In addition to sore throat, sensations of coma are also observed:
- Hoarseness, loss of voice, pain when swallowing, if the tumor is in the fold of the larynx.
- Difficulty breathing, coughing, salivation with droplets of blood - the growth is located in the subglottic section.
Signs of throat cancer include the following:
- Losing weight and weakness.
- The skin in the neck is deformed and dry.
- Teeth may fall ill and fall out.
- A putrid odor comes from the mouth.
In the presence of these symptoms, you can not lose time, you need to urgently consult a doctor.
A little more about the causes of the disease
Now let's talk about the causes of an unpleasant sensation in the throat, which are rare.
- Features of the structure of the nasopharynx. If there is a pathology, nasal mucus drains into the larynx, tonsils suppuration. In this case, surgery is indispensable.
- A lump in the throat can be caused by parasites (for example, helminths). With a large number of them, they can accumulate not only in the intestine, but also in the larynx, esophagus, stomach.
- Cardiovascular diseases. They are rare, but are accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body in the throat.
- Excess weight. Subcutaneous fat puts pressure on the throat. There are difficulties with the outflow of saliva and food. Obstruction of the larynx is formed. One of its symptoms is a sensation of a coma in the throat after eating and more.
- Foreign body. A bone, small object, or even a tablet may get stuck in the throat. Using an X-ray, you can determine its exact location.
Diagnostics
After the appearance of a feeling of discomfort, a person should go to an appointment with an otolaryngologist (ENT). The doctor will carefully listen to the patient. If he does not detect somatic diseases that can cause such an unpleasant sensation, then he writes out a referral to other specialists:
- Endocrinologist. This doctor will confirm or deny the presence of thyroid disease.
- Neurologist. The specialist will determine if there are diseases of the nervous system.
- Oncologist. Diagnoses the presence of neoplasms.
If doctors have not found diseases of their profile, the patient will have a consultation with a psychiatrist, psychotherapist. After all, one of the reasons for the appearance of a coma in the throat is psychogenic factors.
In order to make a correct diagnosis, it is carried out:
- general analysis of urine and blood;
- MRI and CT of the spine, cervical spine;
- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland;
- X-ray of the cervical spine;
- examination of the tonsils, the root of the tongue, larynx, epiglottis, neck and cervical lymph nodes.
Treatment
In no case should you self-medicate, especially if an unpleasant sensation does not leave you alone for several days. Listening to the advice of people far from medicine, you will only aggravate your condition. Waiting for someone to disappear is also not a way out.
Getting rid of the disease is best started with the first symptoms. Only a doctor can find the cause of the pathology and prescribe the correct treatment.
- Incorrect thyroid function - you will need drugs with a high iodine content.
- Hormonal disorder - necessary hormones are attributed.
- Problems with cervical vertebrae - therapeutic exercises, manual therapy. A balanced diet and movement will also help get rid of the disease.
- If a malfunction in the gastrointestinal tract is a factor causing a sensation of a coma in the throat and burping of air, then in addition to medicines, a special diet is made for each patient.
A person needs to review his daily diet, avoid overeating. When eating, you should not talk. The diet should consist only of healthy foods.
Treatment of pregnant women consists in the use of special drugs approved for expectant mothers (herbal sedative drugs). A woman should be more in the fresh air and sleep soundly.
Getting rid of psychogenic disorders
Troubles, stresses, conflicts cause nervous disorders. And this, in turn, leads to the appearance of a coma in the throat. We will talk about this problem and getting rid of it in more detail. Treatment consists in the use of not only medical procedures, but also psychotherapeutic ones.
In depression, tranquilizers and antidepressants are used to eliminate conflicts that exist "within" a person.
If the patient has difficulty breathing when panic attacks occur, the symptoms of vegetovascular dystonia are corrected. Respiratory exercises help a lot. You should breathe in your stomach or in a bag, hold your breath for a while.
If the sensation of coma appeared for the first time, then several breathing exercises will help get rid of it. Do not give up a cup of herbal tea or infusion.
As you can see, if the cause of discomfort in the throat is psychogenic disorders, then you can help yourself. Just try not to delay the treatment. If relief does not come, then go to a specialist.
Prevention of ailment
It should immediately be said that no special preventive measures are carried out. The reason is a large number of factors affecting the appearance of this ailment. If we take into account the more common factors and, based on them, call preventive measures, then we can highlight several general recommendations:
- Strengthen the nervous system. The weaker the nervous system and the greater the psychoemotional load, the more often an unpleasant sensation appears in the throat. In this case, attention should be paid to breathing trainings and practices. Breathe in your stomach. If emotions are “going wild” you can breathe in a bag.
- Watch your health, especially the condition of the upper respiratory tract and throat. At the first symptoms of the disease, consult a specialist. Responsibly get rid of the disease. Do not self-medicate. After all, you cannot correctly diagnose yourself.
- Have regular check-ups. Thanks to this event, serious diseases are detected in the early stages.
Do not assume that a lump in the throat is a harmless symptom. It often indicates dangerous pathologies. In order not to suffer from obscurity, visit a doctor. Only he can determine the cause of the appearance of discomfort in the throat and prescribe treatment.