A lump in the throat is a problem familiar to everyone. At least once in a lifetime, such a condition bothered any person. If it appears frequently, repeats, brings discomfort, you need to find out why the lump appeared, and eliminate it. There are several pathological conditions that can provoke com. However, a lump in itself is a safe phenomenon that comes and goes under the influence of external factors. The main problem associated with it is discomfort. But the reasons that provoke its appearance can be dangerous.
Symptomatology
It happens that there is a lump in the throat after a meal, a lot of stress. At the same time, there are no deviations from the physiological norm by touch, only the feeling of the presence of a foreign object is concerned. There may be breathing problems. Some describe the condition as if the path for air is blocked, which makes it very difficult to inhale and exhale.
It is possible to notice a lump in the throat if perspiration and burns in this area, a feeling of sediment appears. Sometimes discomfort spreads to the chest.
If there are several symptoms described or all at once, you can talk about a lump in the throat. You can try to determine its causes yourself, but it is better to immediately make an appointment with a qualified doctor. As a rule, the reasons are either a nervous shock, or somatic problems.
Where did the trouble come from?
Where does a lump appear in the throat, what is it? Doctors say that most often an unpleasant phenomenon occurs against the background of nervous overstrain. Such consequences can be provoked by severe fear or excitement, the influence of a stress factor, or too intense arousal.
Sometimes the case is due to somatic causes. For example, a lump can be observed against the background of foci of inflammation in the throat, adenoids. Worried by a lump in the throat, is it difficult to breathe during a sore throat or laryngitis? Tonsillitis can lead to this condition. The larynx swells under the influence of inflammatory mediators, due to which the air gaps are reduced.
Sometimes the cause is disease, a violation of the functionality of the thyroid gland. The nodes of this organ grow in volume, squeeze the throat. This leads to a decrease in the clearance of the paths intended for food, air.
What else is possible?
In some cases, a lump in the throat is due to impaired functionality of the stomach, intestinal tract. If the stomach suffers from an illness, a lump often appears after a meal. In gastritis, ulcerative processes, the area of localization of unpleasant sensations is the larynx.
There are cases when the feeling of a squeezed throat bothered against a background of spinal diseases. To a greater extent, this is characteristic of a violation of the integrity, functionality of the tissues of the cervical spine. However, there is a chance that the lump appeared due to a hernia of the esophagus or the presence of neoplasms in the larynx. Those can be not only benign, but also undergone degeneration.
Sometimes a lump in the throat, pain in the chest are disturbed against the background of excess weight or indicate an allergic reaction. Such a side effect can provoke drugs, food, parasitic infestation. Such cases are quite rare, but still happen: parasites make egg laying near the throat.
Rare but possible
One of the causes of a lump in the throat is the presence of a foreign object in this area. It is not common, but if it is necessary to identify the causes of the condition, such an occasion should also be considered.
Quite rarely, the described condition provokes vascular, heart diseases. Com is one of the possible symptoms; appears infrequently, but in the absence of more suitable explanations, it is worth making an appointment with a cardiologist to clarify the features of the heart.
A constant sensation of a lump in the throat is possible if the larynx or esophagus is damaged.
How to get rid?
If the unpleasant state is often disturbed, persists for a long time, you should make an appointment with the therapist. The doctor will examine the patient, collect complaints, study the medical history, make a preliminary diagnosis or refer for further investigation to specialists with a narrower focus.
To clarify the condition will have to go through a series of studies and analyzes. As a rule, it is necessary to provide blood, urine samples for study, and take an X-ray of the cervical spine. The patient is referred for examination of the esophagus, thyroid gland. An examination by an otorhinolaryngologist will be mandatory.
The reason is nerves
If the constant sensation of a lump in the throat is disturbing due to nervous disorders, the patient will be asked to sign up with a psychologist and take a course of sedatives. Usually prescribed preparations containing motherwort and valerian. It can be tinctures or capsules with herbal extracts. In pharmacies, special complex collections are sold containing several herbs that have a relaxing effect. They are mixed in optimal proportions, accompanied by instructions for use, so it’s easier to use than hand-picked.
If the lump in the throat is due to nervous strain, you can try the drug "Nervo-Vit." It contains cyanosis, which has a relaxing and calming effect on the body. The tool is soft and safe. A good result is shown by herbal failure on St. John's wort and vitamin, mineral complexes, designed specifically to increase resistance to stress factors. A good example is Apitonus-P.
Simple and efficient
If a lump in the throat bothers, a sore throat, breathing is difficult, but there is no inflammatory process, the temperature is normal, you can try breathing exercises. Exercise is aimed at relaxing the muscles of this area.
You need to breathe with your stomach. It is convenient to take a bag and take in and out breaths into it. This allows you to relax, calm down.
It is important to take deep and rhythmic breaths, not too fast, but not very slow. You can try to focus on the process of breathing, without being distracted by other thoughts, this helps to distract from emotions and nervous strain, and relax. Gradually, the state of the throat muscles will return to normal.
Somatic causes
If the com is explained by a serious illness, elimination will depend on the characteristics of the particular diagnosis. In particular, the sensation of a lump in the throat during swallowing, associated with insufficient functioning of the thyroid gland, will be corrected with preparations containing iodine.
If the cause is a violation localized in the cervical spine, the patient will be advised to regularly do gymnastics to develop this area. The course of exercises is best entrusted to the doctor - in each case, the set is selected individually. Poorly selected exercises can do considerable harm. In addition to gymnastics, they will recommend visiting a masseur, undergoing laser treatment and reflexology.
According to reviews, a lump in the throat of many was explained by diseases of the esophagus. Patients who were worried about such problems noted that the best effect was observed when changing the diet to diet. In addition, the doctor recommended drugs based on the pathology characteristic of the case. There is also mention of surgery - this is indicated if the cause is a hernia.
Diseases are different
If there are white lumps in the throat with an unpleasant odor, the cause may be the focus of inflammation, infection. In this case, the doctor takes samples to determine which microflora is present in the body, to which substances it is sensitive. Based on the results obtained, antibiotics and other drugs are selected that are effective in a particular case. If the cause is the focus of inflammation, the choice of antimicrobial agents for yourself is prohibited: there is a risk of harm, but there will be no benefit. In addition, uncontrolled use of antibiotics can provoke the appearance of superinfection.
To maintain treatment and increase the effectiveness of the course, you can gargle with soda water or herbal infusions. Sometimes the doctor recommends using iodine preparations. Occasionally, warming compresses are indicated to the patient. You can apply them only after consulting a doctor. In some inflammatory, infectious diseases, such compresses are contraindicated and can provoke a sharp deterioration in the condition.
If the sensation of a lump in the throat when swallowing is due to a neoplasm, the doctor chooses the course of treatment. They may recommend surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Sometimes only one approach is enough, sometimes different methods are combined to achieve a more reliable result.
First aid
How to remove a lump in the throat at home? It is not always possible to go to the doctor right away, a barely unpleasant condition has appeared. To ease it a little, you need to drink soothing tea. If the cause of the coma is a nervous strain, the symptom will disappear by itself, as soon as the person calms down. To minimize the risk of a recurrence of the situation, it is necessary to devote at least eight hours a day to sleep, providing for this quality conditions - a quiet, dark, cool room.
If the patient's question about why there is a lump in the throat, the doctor will say that the reason is overstrain, in order to improve the condition and minimize repeated attacks, regular procedures should be performed to relax. It can be baths with essential oils, a visit to a masseur. Developed breathing exercises for relaxation. You can start practicing yoga.
To lump in the throat appeared as rarely as possible, you should eat foods rich in iodine.
Prevention is the key to health
Dry throat is rarely disturbed, a lump in the throat of those who adhere to a healthy lifestyle is rarely sick. If ENT diseases are detected, it is necessary to start their treatment in a timely manner, then the likelihood of deterioration of the respiratory function and narrowing of the air passages will be lower. The same applies to disorders of the thyroid gland, digestive system organs.
To minimize the likelihood of a lump in the throat, it is necessary to regularly rinse the nasal cavity with salted water.
It is important to monitor your daily routine, avoid poisonous, chemically active substances, do not inhale those. In addition, you need to speak in a moderate voice, without straining the ligaments.
To reduce the likelihood of a coma in the throat, you should eat balanced and healthy. The body must receive an adequate amount of minerals, vitamins, essential minerals. Especially useful vegetables, fruits.
A method for preventing coma in the throat is lifestyle adjustment. It is necessary to add motor activity to everyday life, take walks in the park every day, along the river, in a word, where the air is clean and fresh. Useful will be sports. It’s worth putting a humidifier at home. At least eight hours should be allocated for sleep, providing all the conditions for a good rest. From time to time it is worth pampering yourself with relaxing herbal teas.
What to look for?
Incidentally, one of the possible causes of a coma in the throat is an uncomfortable place to work. If it is designed in such a way that the muscles of the upper half of the body are overstrained, this can easily provoke various diseases, disorders, unpleasant conditions, including com. Muscle strain provokes a load on the nervous system. To reduce the likelihood of negative impact, it is important to be able to equip the workplace so that it is as camphoric as possible.
In the general case, a lump in the throat is a relatively minor problem, although it can indicate significant health problems. The symptom usually goes away on its own, and brings discomfort only if it bothers for a long time. And yet, you should not treat him carelessly - a check with a qualified doctor will eliminate serious diseases.
Not knowing why a lump in the throat appears, you should not immediately convince yourself that the cause is a very serious illness. The probability of, say, a cancerous tumor is very, very small. Most likely, the root cause is nervous strain, and fears associated with a non-existent serious illness will only exacerbate the situation. To alleviate the condition, you need to visit a doctor who will dispel all doubts and concerns, pick up drugs to improve the condition.
Some organic causes
Sometimes a lump in the throat is explained when studying the results of an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland. If this organ increases in size, there is pressure on the trachea, esophagus. Inflammatory processes are called thyroiditis. In some cases, the size of the organ is normal, but its density with thyroiditis is greater than in a healthy person. It can also provoke a sensation of a lump in the throat.
If the lump is explained by the activity of this particular organ, usually the situation is not accompanied by problems with swallowing food. The esophagus is located deeper than the gland; organ enlargement does not affect it. A rather characteristic symptom that allows us to suspect that the cause in the thyroid gland is the asymmetry of the disorders, accompanied by respiratory failure. It is explained by pressure on the trachea, a decrease in its clearance.
If the cause of a coma in the throat is a neoplasm in the esophagus, then the main accompanying symptom is the difficulty in absorbing fluids, solid food. With such sensations, the patient is prescribed fibrogastroduodenoscopy to reveal all the features of the state of the stomach, esophagus from the inside.
Important Nuances
If a lump in the throat is triggered by organic causes, this condition is permanent. A person almost all the time feels squeezing, the presence of an extraneous formation. If studies do not allow to identify a pathological condition, the patient is sent to a CT scan of the neck. Using this technique, it is possible to determine the presence of neoplasms behind the sternum, as well as to identify a tumor localized behind the esophagus, trachea.
Doctors say that somatic causes are characteristic of no more than 10% of those who go to the doctor because of a lump in the throat. The predominant share falls on functional cases associated with nerve stress. Symptoms in this case are inconsistent, com often occurs against the background of overwork, hard working day, quarrel, stress. On vacation, someone does not appear at all, but disappears under stress, if you use a small amount of alcohol - many resort to this particular relaxation method. Such a feeling rarely arises in the morning of the weekend, since subconsciously a person feels that no stress threatens him.
Diagnostic Features
Turning to the doctor with a lump in the throat, it is worth counting on an ultrasound examination. First of all, they check the neck, the state of the thyroid gland. The results of the study will be interpreted by the endocrinologist. If the diagnosis made it possible to detect large nodes, a biopsy is prescribed. From questionable sites, tissue samples are taken for histological examination.
If the tests suggest that the thyroid gland disrupts the functionality of the esophagus or presses on the trachea, the patient is prescribed a non-contrast chest CT. If there is a suspicion of neoplasms in the esophagus, fibrogastroduodenoscopy is prescribed.
Based on the results of all analyzes, the patient needs to visit the endocrinologist again to clarify the results. The doctor will evaluate the information and determine why there was a lump, how to get rid of it effectively, quickly, without negative consequences.