Dry throat and lump in the throat are not a pathology, but only a symptom and a separate disease, that is, such a condition is not an independent nosological unit. Actually, this is not even a medical term, this condition is a complaint with which patients often turn to specialists in general treatment, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, neurology, and in addition, pulmonology and so on. A feeling of dryness, sore throat and a lump may speak in favor of many different pathological conditions. And here, objective research is indispensable. According to medical statistics, a similar symptom develops in every third person. But as a rule, this is a physiological phenomenon, which is in no way interconnected with any pathological reasons. What you should know about this condition?
Physiological causes of pathology
There are very few physiological causes of dry throat and coma in the throat. By and large, everything, as a rule, comes down to psychosomatic spasms of the larynx. This can happen due to stress at a time when a large amount of corticosteroids, which are hormones of the adrenal cortex, are released into the blood.
Often, representatives of the weaker sex are exposed to the development of this symptom, along with impressionable individuals and representatives of both sexes that differ in an unstable nervous system. Most people most likely know a feeling of a lump and dry throat with intense emotional experience. Sometimes this is a physiological norm, but pathological factors can be much greater.
The main causes of the pathological condition
The pathological causes of dry throat and coma in the throat are usually more numerous. In most situations, the feeling of a lump in the throat can persist for a long time, since the ailments that cause it do not go away on their own. Among the characteristic pathologies, five large categories can be distinguished.
Oropharyngeal inflammation as a possible disease
So, a person is tormented by dryness in his throat and a lump in his throat. The following diseases can affect:
- Chronic and acute tonsillitis. Inflammation of the tonsils, which is provoked by bacteria and viruses, such as streptococci or staphylococci. Such pathologies are accompanied by the presence of intense sore throat, burning sensations, respiratory disorders, bad breath, the formation of purulent plugs, rashes in the sky and in the tonsils. What other throat disease leads to dry throat?
- Laryngitis. There are inflammatory lesions of the laryngeal mucosa. All this can be accompanied by edema, the appearance of a painfully strong barking cough that does not relieve with classic medicines, sore throat and neck and so on.
- Pharyngitis. In this case, there are inflammatory lesions of the oropharynx. The leading manifestation is a change in the timbre of the voice or its absolute disappearance. Symptoms are transitory.
In all situations, the cause of dryness and sore throat is swelling. At the same time, patients may feel that there is dryness and lump in the throat due to too much vasodilation, which is a protective reaction in response to the propagation of pathogenic microscopic organisms in the pharynx. Thus, more blood enters the area of inflammation, next immune cells arrive with it, and their total concentration increases.
Severe edema can cause respiratory failure in people, primarily asphyxiation. The patient is not able to perform a full respiratory movement due to narrowing of the respiratory canals. This is an extremely dangerous phenomenon in which the occurrence of respiratory failure is quite possible.
Not only a throat disease leads to dry throat.
Possible pathologies: thyroid disease
The following violations are possible:
- The appearance of diffuse proliferation of a small endocrine organ. Usually something similar provokes an excessive amount of special hormonal components, which, as it were, knock the thyroid gland to produce more specific hormone. This leads to a functional and anatomical change in the structure of the organ. This is a diffuse goiter. What are other causes of dry throat? What disease are these symptoms?
- Partial overgrowth of the thyroid gland is quite likely when a special nodular formation forms on its surface. This is a nodular goiter.
In both situations, the cause of a lump in the throat is the extensive growth of endocrine organ tissue, which puts pressure on the larynx and the organs of the respiratory canals, thereby provoking a specific feeling with discomfort for a long time, this can happen for years.
What else causes dryness and sore throat?
Digestive system pathologies
The following pathologies of the gastroenterological profile can affect:
- The appearance of abnormalities in the work of the stomach, primarily for reasons related to gastritis. This condition is an inflammation of the mucous membrane. During the pathological process, intense pain with heartburn develops in the chest and, of course, an excessive amount of acid is released outside the sphincter to the esophagus. This condition may require mandatory correction, as the risks of developing cancer in the digestive system increase.
- The presence of reflux esophagitis. In this case, the contents of the stomach are thrown into the esophagus. In this case, aspiration with hydrochloric acid or food particles is possible. The patient may be disturbed by the characteristic dryness and bitterness in the mouth, along with coughing and burning in the throat. This condition is extremely dangerous, as it often causes shortness of breath with suffocation. A lethal outcome is not excluded, especially at night, when the patient is in a horizontal position.
- The presence of a stomach ulcer. This condition can be provoked by the intense action of hydrochloric acid on the walls of the digestive organ in combination with a decrease in the protective properties of the anatomical structure.
The immediate causes of the development of severe dryness in the throat are the discharge of juice into the esophagus. It is enough to adjust the underlying condition in order to eliminate the pathogenic manifestations.
Anatomical features
Among the anatomical features, the following factors can be distinguished:
- The cause of dryness and a lump in the throat are often violations in the anatomical location of the spine in the cervical region. The leading disease in this area is osteochondrosis. The main reason for the development of such a sensation in the throat is a violation of the innervation of certain parts of the neck. But as practice shows, such symptoms are relatively rare and only with high damage to the spinal cord at the level of the first and second vertebrae.
- The presence of a hernia of the esophagus. This is a pathological protrusion of the anatomical structure at different levels of the organ. This can develop as a result of a congenital anatomical defect, trauma and malnutrition (i.e., excessive consumption of food). Pathology is localized, as a rule, in the area of transition of the esophagus to the stomach. The deviation may be asymptomatic, except for the described uncomfortable sensation. Correction is required exclusively surgical, since drug therapy is unpromising. However, similar symptoms of esophageal hernia can occur only if the vagus nerves are compressed. This is very rare.
- The presence of obesity. It is proved that in obese patients, a sensation of coma and dryness in the throat can develop much more often. Patients describe this condition as follows: it is in the throat. The reason for this is the deposition of the lipid structure. Fat can act as a kind of goiter and is able to put pressure on an Adam's apple with a neck, which affects a person’s condition in a negative way.
- The presence of tumors and tumor structure of the larynx. As a rule, we can talk about a benign neoplasm. Malignant tumors of the respiratory system, nearby anatomical structures and throat are very rare, requiring correction by surgical methods.
- The appearance of injuries of the larynx. In this case, they speak of secondary reactions. The affected area can become inflamed and swollen, which subjectively will feel like a lump in the throat, persisting for a long time.
Other reasons
Other factors include the following factors:
- The presence of allergic reactions. An immune response can cause a coma in the throat that will not go away for a long time. The reasons lie in the increase in edema of the lower respiratory canals or the upper anatomical structure at the level of the oropharynx. Additionally, dry mouth with perspiration may be observed. Against the background of all this, patients need to take pharmaceutical antihistamines along with the use of bronchodilators. Otherwise, there is a likelihood of respiratory failure. Acute reactions, such as Quincke's edema or an asthmatic attack, may well lead to death.
- The influence of parasitic and helminthic invasions. This can be found very rarely, but still takes place. Worms are able to lay eggs in the throat. Subjectively, this can be perceived as a lump or as a foreign object in the throat. Often, this is characteristic of echinococci, tapeworms and some other large parasites.
- The presence of a foreign object in the throat. At the same time, a lump is felt, since special receptors of the larynx and esophagus are irritated. As a rule, in this case we are talking about food particles. In children, the list of foreign objects is voluminous, so parents are advised to carefully monitor the behavior of their babies.
- Damage to the system of the heart and blood vessels leads to dryness in the throat and in the mouth. Usually we are talking about coronary heart disease and its insufficiency of stagnant type.
- The presence of tumors and tumor structures of the brain. Neoplasia can provoke false sensations of a lump in the throat, while the patient may feel dizzy.
- The influence of psychogenic factors. The onset of depression, neurosis and other conditions can lead to a psychosomatic manifestation.
This is an incomplete list of probable causes, however, it is with them that doctors meet most often.
What accompanies dry throat and lump in throat?
Concomitant symptoms
A lump in the throat that cannot be felt by the hand is a frequent manifestation of many various pathological processes. But this is far from the only one. Most often they talk about a whole complex of pathological symptoms:
- The presence of a feeling of lack of air. The presence of shortness of breath, that is, an increase in the number of respiratory movements, and suffocation, which represents the inability to perform a full-fledged movement for reasons of obstruction. Usually, such a symptom is completely unrelated to a coma, but is adjacent directly to it.
- The appearance of a burning sensation along with perspiration, which can be provoked by an intense cough without separating the mucous exudate and sputum.
- Itching in the throat. In this case, a desire may appear to comb the affected area with the tongue. This is observed mainly in the presence of allergic reactions.
- The appearance of a foreign body in the pharynx and respiratory canals.
It is also possible the appearance of pain of different localization along with heartburn, belching of air, food and many other manifestations.
Where to go with a sensation of dryness in the throat?
Diagnostic measures
Diagnosis is not difficult, even despite the multiplicity of probable causes of deviation. But a very thorough examination of the patient is required. Firstly, it is recommended to consult a therapist. Only then, perhaps, consultation of specialized specialists in the form of gastroenterologists, neurologists, otolaryngologists or pulmonologists will be required. The following diagnostic measures are prescribed:
- Blood test. This analysis is done in order to exclude likely inflammatory processes in the affected area. In the event that leukocytosis is observed along with a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, then it will be necessary to look for the root of the existing problem in inflammation. In the presence of eosinophilia, the likelihood of helminthic invasions or allergies is very high.
- Urinalysis test. This analysis is used to diagnose problems with the body, but it is less informative.
- Examination of the thyroid gland by injecting a radioisotope solution intravenously. This is a very reliable diagnostic technique.
- FGDS as part of the examination of the stomach and esophagus.
- Radiography of organs in different projections and magnetic resonance therapy to detect osteochondrosis.
- Comprehensive otolaryngological examination, including laryngoscopy and other methods.
In the system of the above measures, this will be enough to establish and verify the diagnosis.
Treatment depending on the underlying disease
What to do with constant dry throat?
Oropharyngeal inflammations are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs of non-steroidal origin, and in addition, with the help of corticosteroids, antiseptics and antibacterial drugs. It is very important in this matter to stop the root causes of the disease and drown out the main symptoms.
Thyroid diseases are treated with iodine preparations or by limiting the use of this element. In extreme cases, people need surgery. The pathology of the digestive system and stomach is treated with antacids and proton pump inhibitors, and so on.
Dry throat treatment should be comprehensive.
Osteochondrosis is stopped by anti-inflammatory drugs, and in addition, by wearing a special corset and through muscle relaxants. Analgesics also help. True, by and large it is absolutely impossible to cope with such a disease, it will only be possible to relieve symptoms.
Esophageal hernias and tumors can be eliminated only by surgery, and obesity is removed by diet. In general, treatment should be appropriate and appropriate to the underlying disease. The treatment option is chosen only by the doctor.
A lump that stands in the throat is a very common complaint at a specialist appointment. But it is not a symptom that needs to be cured, but the disease itself. This is the only way to achieve high-quality results.
Reviews
As doctors write in the reviews, people often complain of a symptom such as a lump in the throat and the presence of dryness. People write that such a condition is manifested in them by a feeling of lack of air, and sometimes even by a burning sensation and itching in the throat.
Sometimes dry throat after taking medications happens.
As doctors and patients themselves say, basically a similar symptom is associated with inflammation of the oropharynx of a different nature, with pathologies of the thyroid gland, digestive system and anatomical features. For adequate treatment and competent elimination of the problem, you must consult a doctor and conduct an examination.
We examined the main causes of dry throat. What diseases these symptoms correspond to is now clear.