Lump in Throat

Have you ever experienced the lump in throat sensation? As the name suggests, a patient with this medical condition experiences discomfort as he/she may experience a sensation of a lump or something being stuck in the throat. The patient might be able to swallow, but with some difficulty. Sometimes, the affected individual may also suffer from chest pain. This sensation is medically referred to as Globus, Globus Pharyngis and Globus Hystericus. Individuals with globus pharyngis complain of the lump sensation in the area where the cricoid cartilage is located. A muscle called cricopharyngeal muscle which is located behind the cricoid cartilage performs the important function of preventing the swallowed food from coming back into the mouth. When this sphincter muscle becomes tight, it gives rise to this sensation. In case of globus hystericus, stress could be a contributory factor.

Causes and Symptoms

The sensation of a something being lodged in the throat sensation could be caused due to several reasons. A person feels a sensation of something being lodged in the throat. This sensation may be accompanied by inflammation in throat, difficulty or pain while swallowing. One may even experience difficulty in swallowing the saliva along with tightness in throat. One may even experience voice problems. For some, this sensation might be caused due to sore throat or inflammation of the larynx. One might experience such symptoms before developing a head cold as well. Here are some of the most common causes of this condition.

Stress and Anxiety
A person suffering from stress experiences tightness in the throat. Muscles in the throat contract due to anxiety or stress. The patient might find it hard to swallow or feel the choking sensation when faced with certain situations that create stress. Any attempt to swallow the lump or obstruction might seem futile. Trying to gulp it down with any fluid also doesn't seem to work.

Gastroesophageal Reflux
In some cases, acid reflux disease might be responsible for the lump sensation in the throat. Due to the backflow of food particles and acid from the stomach to the esophagus, a burning sensation in the chest or heartburn might cause a lot of discomfort. When heartburn becomes a frequent occurrence, it can cause damage to the esophagus, which consequently can give rise to this sensation.

Tightness of Cricopharyngeal Muscle
Tightness of cricopharyngeal muscle could also be a contributory factor. The muscle spasms can cause a lot of discomfort. This sphincter muscle which performs the important function of not allowing the swallowed food from our stomach to come back in our mouth might become tight and make us feel as if something is lodged in our throat.

Mass on Neck
If this is not just a feeling but you can feel that there is an actual mass or lump in neck, you need to consult a doctor soon. Such masses could be cysts, granulomas or cancerous growth. Sometimes it could be caused due to swollen lymph nodes. In some cases, it could be due to a rare condition of thyroid gland encircling the esophagus. It could be a result of enlargement of thyroid which is manifest in the form of a mass growing out from the neck. Sometimes the patient might experience a lump in side of throat due to mucosal lesions that might be caused due to trauma or ulcers.

Treatment Options

The treatment options will vary depending on the underlying cause. If it is caused by anxiety or stress, lifestyle changes might help to ease the symptoms. If gastroesophageal reflux is causing this medical condition, drug therapy coupled with dietary modification will prove beneficial.

In case of strep throat or inflammation, drugs can be used to prevent any discomfort or difficulty in swallowing. In cases where the lump is caused due to some anatomical abnormality, surgery might be used to correct any such growth of physical tissues within the throat. In case of a mass in the neck, it is advisable to consult a doctor soon. Such masses could be caused due to throat cancer or other such serious ailments, therefore, a quick diagnosis and treatment would be required to tackle the problem.

If you suffer from any of the aforementioned symptoms frequently, you must seek medical attention. A quick diagnosis of underlying causes will be helpful in treating this condition successfully.