The question regarding why it hurts to swallow, but the throat does not hurt, interests many people. Because it is a very unusual occurrence. If the throat hurts, and this is accompanied by difficulties with swallowing, fever and headache, we can assume the onset of bronchitis. But when there are no such symptoms - what does it mean? Now we will talk about this. It is worthwhile to understand why it can be painful to swallow, as well as how to cope with it.
Thyroid overgrowth
This is one of the reasons. The growth of the thyroid gland is characterized by the development of the so-called goiter nodular or diffuse in nature.
In the first case, this happens unevenly. Specific nodules form on the iron. They need to be differentiated with early stage cancer, which is quite common.
In the second case, the organ grows evenly. There is an increase in the mass of thyroid cells.
Be that as it may, the cause is always endogenous. Goiter begins to grow either due to abuse of iodine preparations, or due to excessive secretion of pituitary hormones.
So why does it hurt to swallow, but the throat doesn’t hurt? The notorious goiter, growing, puts pressure on the throat, thereby causing uncomfortable sensations. They are usually localized below the Adam's apple. In this case, sensations radiate to the external parts of the oropharynx.
Goiter removal
If treatment is started in time, then the gland can be reduced to its natural size and restore its normal function. The main task is to achieve an adequate level of thyroid hormones.
Usually prescribed drugs such as Levothyroxine sodium, Triiodothyronine, Lyiotironin and Eutiroks.
All the time the patient should be under medical supervision, since the most important part of therapy is the constant monitoring of the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Thyroid cancer
Another common reason it can be painful to swallow food. Why does this symptom appear? Because a cancerous tumor provokes the appearance of compression of the surrounding structures. Because of this, swallowing and sore throat.
The same symptom can be observed in the presence of tumor factors. Cancer does not apply to them, although their goodness can only be judged conditionally. Indeed, with growth, a compression of the esophagus and larynx occurs, and this is fraught not only with pain experienced during swallowing, but also with suffocation.
In the presence of tumors, discomfort is localized deep in the throat. Neoplasms differ in appearance - there are fibromas, polyps, papillomas, lymphangiomas, cysts, adipose, chordomas, carcinomas and sarcomas. Of course, a tumor of one type or another needs to be affected in different ways. After a thorough diagnosis, the endocrinologist will prescribe treatment.
Gastritis
If a person is concerned about the question of why it hurts to swallow, but the throat does not hurt, there is a possibility that he suffers from gastritis.
This inflammatory lesion of the epithelium of the stomach has rather specific symptoms. The patient feels pain in the epigastrium and epigastric region, nausea (both before and after eating), suffers from vomiting, which brings relief.
Symptoms of a dyspeptic nature are also observed. In particular, heartburn, which causes pain when swallowing.
In this case, the use of antacids can help. The drugs of this group include such medicines as Vicair, Vicalin, Fosfalugel, Maaloks, Almagel, etc.
Antacids are available in the form of a suspension, gel, lozenges, and chewable tablets. It is better to take them 2 hours after eating and at night. You can not use antacids along with drugs of other groups - they simply will not let them digest.
Reflux esophagitis
It is even more common than gastritis. Why is it painful to swallow? In the esophagus with this disease, inflammation develops on its mucous membrane. This is fraught with throwing the contents of the stomach back into the initial sections of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, when swallowing food, a person feels a burning sensation and pain.
This disease cannot be ignored. Reflux esophagitis almost three times increases the risk of developing cancer of the esophagus. Plus, food particles and gastric juice can get into the respiratory tract at any time, and this will provoke asphyxiation.
In this case, you also need to start taking antacids. But also therapy is supplemented by the use of proton pump inhibitors.
You can pay attention to medicines made on the basis of lansoprazole. They are characterized by increased absorption. This group includes “Lansal”, “Lansodin”, “Helikol”, “Lanset”, “Lanpro”, “Lansoprol”, “Lanzoptol”, “Epicurus”, “Acrylanz”.
Also, tablets, whose main active ingredient is omeprazole, have a good effect. These are Helicid, Ultop, Gastrozole, Ortanol, Omez, Bioprazole, Losek and Demeprazole.
If we talk about drugs based on pantoprazole, then we can note the attention of "Aspan", "Pantaz", "Proxy", "Ultra", "Sanpraz", "Puloref", "Panum", "Control".
Laryngeal neurosis
This is the name of the pathological psychosomatic process, characterized by a violation of swallowing function. The reasons for its occurrence are as follows:
- Neuropsychological disorder.
- An oncological disease that affects the structure of the brain.
- Paralysis.
- Syphilis spreading to the mucous pharynx.
- The affecting cervical spine is osteochondrosis.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Infectious disease (flu, typhoid, etc.).
- Tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, other chronic diseases of the pharynx.
- The abuse of tobacco and alcohol, the effects on the body of chemicals.
Talking about why it is painful to swallow food in the absence of discomfort in the throat, it should be noted that the symptoms of laryngeal neurosis in everyone are individual. They depend on both the psycho-emotional background and the type of pathology. The most common symptoms include:
- Irritability.
- Anxiety.
- Excessive susceptibility.
- Frequent mood swings.
- Aggressive and depressive states.
- Severe headaches that cannot be eliminated even by analgesics.
- Inexplicable fatigue and decreased performance.
- Hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands (hence increased sweating).
- Tachycardia.
- Inflammation or stenosis of the larynx.
- Sleep disturbances.
- The feeling of a foreign body in the throat.
This is why it hurts to swallow saliva and food. Pharyngeal neurosis must be treated, otherwise the voice or even the pharyngeal reflex may disappear. Also, this disease can lead to aspiration of saliva and food, and because of this, pieces of food can penetrate the respiratory tract.
But the most dangerous is a fatal outcome. If the pharyngeal reflex is disturbed, then the food will not enter the esophagus, but into the respiratory tract. Consequently, they will be blocked, and the person, in the absence of help, will suffocate.
Diagnosis and treatment of pharyngeal neurosis
Often people, puzzled by the question of why it hurts to swallow, but the throat does not hurt, go to the otolaryngologist. The doctor examines the pharynx, but with a neurosis, he sees nothing but inflammation. Therefore, the doctor interviews the patient and makes a presumptive diagnosis.
Further, a neurologist or psychotherapist is involved in the treatment of the disease. Therapy is supplemented with medication. As a rule, sedative drugs are prescribed, as well as pills that relieve muscle cramps.
Mandatory is the intake of multivitamin complexes that support the immune system. Indeed, often with neurosis, inflammation of the mucosa is observed, and this increases the risk of infection.
A good addition is a massage that normalizes the patient’s psycho-emotional background, as well as physical therapy and physiotherapy.
When treating throat neurosis, you must also consider the following recommendations:
- Maintaining a special diet. It is necessary to abandon cold, spicy, fatty, salty, solid and hot foods.
- Quitting smoking and alcohol.
- Respect for emotional peace.
It is also necessary to relax more, avoid physical exertion, and provide yourself with a source of positive emotions. And it is strictly forbidden to let insomnia drift. Its elimination is one of the key success factors in the fight against the disease.
Throat abscess
Here's another, what kind of ailment can a person who is concerned about the question of why it hurts to swallow saliva. An abscess of the throat is a bacterial inflammatory process of the formation of an abscess in the pharynx hypodermis.
It requires urgent medical attention, since ignoring the symptoms is fraught with thrombosis, respiratory problems, sepsis or toxic shock.
With an abscess of the throat, it is painful to swallow, but the throat is not red, since the inflammation is localized in the thickness of the epithelium. Other symptoms include the following:
- The feeling of a foreign body in the throat.
- Enlarged lymph nodes, swelling of the tonsils.
- Bad breath.
- Nasal voice and speech impairment.
- Worsening condition.
- Fever, severe weakness.
There are 5 main reasons why an abscess may appear. These include complications after a sore throat, trauma to the mucous membranes and throat (during diagnosis), dental problems, and weak immunity.
So, why it is so painful to swallow - clearly. But how to deal with an abscess? First of all, you need to open it. The operation is performed by a doctor using an antiseptic. Then, medication is prescribed to restore the body. A person takes antibiotics (Ampicillin, Amoxiclav), antiallergic drugs (Suprastin), painkillers (Nurofen, Nise), antiseptics (Chlorhexidine and Miramistin).
It will also be necessary to drink vitamin complexes to maintain immunity, and also do rinses and baths for the speedy healing of wounds. It is better to use saline, chamomile broth and sage infusion.
Diagnostics
The answer to the question of why, when you swallow, it hurts in the throat, can only be a doctor after an examination. Diagnostics is carried out by specialists of various profiles, since there can be many reasons (this could already be verified, based on the foregoing).
To begin with, it is better to visit a therapist. He is engaged in primary diagnostic activities. This specialist helps determine the tactics of the examination and performs the basic procedures.
Then you need to consult a specialist - an allergist, immunologist, psychotherapist, neurologist and otolaryngologist.
To find out why, when you swallow, it hurts in the sternum and throat, you will need to carry out such events:
- General blood analysis.
- Examination of the oropharynx with a mirror.
- Laryngoscopy
- CT / MRI scan.
- Allergic tests.
- Biopsy.
- FGDS.
- Histological examination of tissues.
Depending on a particular case, the list of necessary diagnostic measures is reduced or, on the contrary, supplemented.
Dental reasons
Many people wonder - why is it painful to swallow after removing a wisdom tooth? The answer is simple. This is just a complication that goes away on its own after a while. To discomfort disappear faster, you must adhere to these rules:
- Refuse for a short time from strong rinses of the oral cavity.
- Do not take hot baths for a while.
- Do not touch the tongue with the hole formed after removal.
- Brush your teeth as accurately as possible. Do not touch the wound with a brush.
Why it is painful to swallow after tooth extraction is clear. This is just a reaction of the body to a trauma. But, if the sensations do not go away during the day, or even are accompanied by a high temperature, you need to seek medical help. It is possible that at the time of the operation an infection was introduced.
Here are some rules that must be followed so that a person’s pain is not disturbed:
- For several hours after the operation, you should not eat or smoke.
- Over the next days, do not chew on the side on which the removal was performed. Opt for easily digestible, light foods.
- With severe pain, the use of an anesthetic is allowed.
- To eliminate discomfort, it is allowed to use decoctions from medicinal plants. A great option is calendula, sage and chamomile. But rinsing is recommended to be performed only 4-5 days after surgery.
- If edema occurs, ice can be applied.
Usually, a few days after tooth extraction, the discomfort completely disappears.
Tonsil problems
Often there is a question regarding why the glands hurt and it hurts to swallow. Hypertrophy and their pain indicates inflammation of the lymphadenoid tissues.
The provoking factors that may cause this problem include:
- Deficiency of Vitamin C, B, and A.
- Diseases of a chronic nature.
- Autoimmune disorders.
- Hormonal problems.
- The abuse of nicotine and alcohol.
- Injury of the mucous membranes of the pharynx.
- The neglected state of stomatitis.
The causative agent is usually a fungus, pathogenic virus or bacterium. The exact treatment will depend on the pathogen.
One-way problem
It happens that unpleasant sensations are localized in only one part. Hence the question - why is it painful to swallow on the right side? The reasons may be the following:
- Tonsil hypertrophy.
- Mononucleosis of an infectious nature.
- Tonsillitis.
- Diphtheria.
- Angina Ludwig.
- Paratonsillar abscess.
- Caries.
- Aphthous stomatitis.
- Helger's Syndrome.
- Awl sublingual syndrome.
- Cervical osteochondrosis.
But, despite a long list of possible causes, the localized unpleasant sensations significantly simplify the process of making a diagnosis.
The specific nature of the manifestation of pain significantly narrows the spectrum of possible diseases. But, nevertheless, it will be necessary to pass a general blood test, undergo pharyngoscopy, radiography and bacteriological culture.
Whatever illness is diagnosed in a person, it must be treated urgently. Even bacterial inflammation of the ENT organs in an advanced state can lead to damage to the joints, liver, and kidneys. Heart and brain. In addition, if the pathogenic flora is not timely eliminated, the risk of complications will increase.
Alternative medicine
Every person who is interested in why it hurts to swallow (on the one hand or on both), it is useful to know the recipes of some folk remedies. Using them, you can alleviate the discomfort. Here are the most popular:
- Take 1 tsp. Willow bark and pour a glass of hot water. Bring to a boil over low heat, then cool. Strain and take 1 tbsp. l before eating.
- A glass of water pour 1 tbsp. l mint leaves. Put on low heat, cook for 20 minutes. Strain, take half a glass twice a day. Last drink before bedtime.
- Fill half a glass with boiling water and add 10 grams of thyme. Let it brew for 2 hours. Strain. Take 15 drops three times a day. Infusion can be stored for 48 hours, but only in the refrigerator.
- Take 2 tsp. sage and chamomile, add water (500 ml), simmer for 15 minutes. Cool and strain. Gargle with the resulting composition 3 times a day. You can dilute it with furatsilinom.
But if you are interested in the question of why it is painful to swallow a child, it is better not to use these funds. Of course, in a baby this symptom may appear for the same reasons as in an adult, but alternative medicine is not the best solution for children. Because they have weak, immature organisms, and many components can trigger allergies.