Have you ever said to someone, “It feels like something is stuck in my throat”? and you don’t know the reason behind this one since there’s nothing there? The feeling of something stuck in the throat has many causes.
You would actually know if something was caught in the throat, like a piece of food or an object, or if there was some phlegm having trouble coming out. And yet, everything seems to be clear.
This sensation usually occurs at the back of the throat, behind the tongue, and feels like the object you feel that is stuck in the throat won’t come away from there is no matter how much you try to dislodge it, usually by clearing the throat.
Often the feeling is accompanied by difficulty in swallowing, drooling, hoarseness (only because of the continuous attempts to clear your throat), loss of appetite, or sensation of pain and even pressure in the upper chest (this might be cause for some concern).
The condition is frustrating and sometimes alarming, but then actually there is no need to panic. It would go away on its own with most ailments and peculiar symptoms, if it doesn’t go away on its own after a week then you should seek the advice of a medical professional, especially if you have chest pain and if you are also drooling quite a bit during the day.
Why does it feel like Something Is Stuck In My Throat?
If you have suffered a stroke, or have a muscle or nerve condition, it can feel like something is stuck in your throat when swallowing. Feeling as though you have something stuck in your throat when there is nothing is perplexing; and conversely, sometimes there is a physical object behind this sensation. The most common conditions for this feeling are listed below.
1. Something Is Actually Lodged in Your Throat
Children and the elderly people often get the food caught in their throats. A preventative measure against this physical issue is to chew the food more thoroughly and take the food in smaller bites. Also, drink water and let the food fully pass down the throat. If you are struggling, you might need to cough it up.
2. Scleroderma
Scleroderma is a disease of the connective tissue featuring hardening, weakening, thickening, and also narrowing of esophageal tissue. Scleroderma can make the food particles travel back up to the throat and get lodged in the throat, or at least it creates the sensation that something is stuck in the throat.
3. Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is a condition in which the acid in the stomach travels up the esophagus, which can then create ulcers and scars that constrict the esophagus and further create problems. If you feel like something is stuck in your throat and also if you keep burping, it’s more likely a result of GERD, which causes burping and also a burning sensation in the chest.
4. Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils. This is when the tonsils in your throat become inflamed and infected by a viral or bacterial infection. It can cause trouble in swallowing, making it feel like something is stuck in the throat, but there is nothing; or at least, there are no other objects beyond the inflamed tonsils.
5. Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis is a condition that develops sacs form in the wall of the colon. These small sacs that get formed in the throat which seems to be unsettling. Senior citizens are more prone to this condition.
6. Allergies
Seasonal or pet allergies can cause slight swelling, and give the sensation of having something stuck in the throat. Take some allergy medication or try clearing the passages with a neti (nasal irrigation is performed using this as a part of hatha yoga) pot.
7. Esophageal Growths on the Outside
Tumors and lymph nodes can cause pressure on the esophagus, and also creating a feeling of something stuck in the throat.
8. Enlarged Thyroid Gland
An enlarged thyroid can be seen as a swelling in the front of the neck. A swollen thyroid can create the sensation of something being stuck in your throat.
9. Esophageal Tumors
Tumors like Benign or cancerous tumors within the throat can create difficulty swallowing and make it feel as though something is stuck in the throat.
10. Stress and Anxiety
The Feeling of anxiousness can make it feel like something is stuck in your throat and chest, and you can’t clear it away. To combat this, simply take in a few fortifying breaths and then release them slowly through your mouth. Having a glass of water can also calm anxiety as well. Once the stress dissipates, the sensation that there is something stuck in throat should be gone too.
Having a glass of water can also calm anxiety as well. Once the stress dissipates, the sensation that there is something stuck in throat should be gone too.
Treatment for Feeling Something Stuck in Throat
So what exactly do you do when you feel like something is stuck in your throat? Treatment options depend on what the exact trouble or the problem is, and your doctor will be the one to determine about this after a thorough medical examination. Some of them are listed below.
1. Chew Properly
Don’t swallow your food try chewing your food slowly and methodically before swallowing it and see if this helps the problem.
2. Antibiotics
If there is an infection somewhere in your throat, then you will be prescribed the appropriate medication to tackle the issue. Use the medication until there is no such feeling felt so that all the bacteria are killed.
3. Lavender Oil
If you feel stress is the reason causing the sensation of something being stuck in your throat, then get some lavender oil and inhale the lavender scent directly from the bottle if you have to. Lavender is known to be an excellent calmative and will bring your anxiety down immediately.
Lavender is known to be an excellent calmative and will bring your anxiety down immediately. You can also try to take hot bath with 10 drops of lavender oil. The heat will provide an extra soothing element.
4. Removal
If you have something complicated lodged in your throat such as a fish bone, you will need to have it removed by a medical professional immediately so that there would not be any damage.
In a Nutshell,
I listed various causes for the sensation of feeling something is stuck in your throat. Also, the treatments to cure or avoid the something stuck in throat problem.
Try to follow the above procedures and live happily!
