Sensation of Something Stuck in Throat

There are numerous diseases or conditions that can give you a feeling of something stuck in throat. The list includes Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), malfunctioning upper esophageal sphincter (UES), stress, psychiatric and psychological disorders. If you feel a lump stuck in throat for over a period of 12 weeks, your condition is medically described as globus sensation. Effective medical treatment is available for majority of the causative diseases. Proper diagnosis of the underlying cause is necessary for complete and permanent treatment. Usually, a comprehensive evaluation for anatomic abnormality is done with an endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Sensation of Something Stuck in Throat: Possible Causes

Chagas Disease
Chagas disease is caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. The parts of body that mostly get affected with this disease are heart, colon and esophagus. The affected organs lose their ability to contract properly. As a result, they begin to dilate or stretch. The symptoms of Chagas disease are not noticeable for quite a long period of time. When felt, they are mainly boil or lesion on skin, fever, swollen lymph glands, headache, fatigue, confusion, shortness of breath. If esophagus is affected with Chagas's disease, you may get a sensation of something stuck in throat.

Chordoma
Chordoma is a rare type of slow-growing cancer that starts in the bone. It develops from the notochord, which forms the early spine in a fetus. Normally, after a period of six months or so, the notochord gets replaced by the bones of the spine. However, if it doesn't, then it involves the risk of leading to chordoma. The symptoms of chordoma are pain, incontinence, impotence, changes in mobility and bowel habits. If chordoma has originated in the base of the skull, the identifiable signs can be headache, double vision, auditory changes, facial pain and difficulty in swallowing. The last symptom may be accompanied with a persistent sensation of something stuck in throat.

Crohn's Disease
Crohn's disease is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract or GI tract. It can affect any part of the body, right from mouth to the anus. However, the structure that develops Crohn's disease more commonly is the small intestine. The signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, anal pain, mouth ulcers, skin rashes, fatigue, etc. If mouth or upper part of the esophagus is under the effect of Crohn's disease, you may develop a burning sensation of something stuck in throat.

Barrett's Esophagus
Barrett's esophagus is a condition that develops due to repeated exposure of the esophageal lining to stomach acids. You are at a higher risk of developing Barrett's esophagus if you have been suffering from GERD for a long time. Timely diagnosis and treatment of Barrett's esophagus is very important as it may lead to cancerous growth of the cells forming the lining of the esophagus. There are no particular signs or symptoms that are specifically produced by Barrett's esophagus. The condition is usually indicated by the symptoms of GERD. They are heartburn, regurgitation, nausea, difficulty in swallowing and sometimes, a sensation something caught in throat.

By going through the above account, you must have understood that you need to take the sensation of something stuck in throat quite seriously. It can be an indication of a severe medical condition that might be developing or have already reached an advanced stage. Pay a visit to an otolaryngologist for exact diagnosis and effective medical treatment. The diagnosis is usually done with the help of a number of tests and techniques. They include Barium swallow test, Chest and neck x-ray, esophageal manometry, esophageal pH monitoring and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. While you are under the treatment for the esophageal disorder, you should strictly follow the advice and instructions of the doctor. This is the key to recover faster and foreclose any serious health issue.