Sensation of something in the throat what could it be

Do you have trouble swallowing some foods or notice a strange sensation in your throat? We tell you why it may be and what the symptoms are.

Sore throats are common when we start to get colds. Even on many occasions, we tend to have difficulty swallowing as our throat is quite inflamed by the virus. This is a flu-like process that we usually have with sudden changes in temperature or even seasonal changes. Even on other occasions, this lump in the throat is also caused by nerves and anxiety in a specific manner. But what happens when difficulty swallowing becomes constant?

When we have difficulty swallowing and constant discomfort in the throat, we may be facing dysphagia. Dysphagia, according to Sanitas, is the difficulty in swallowing solid foods, liquids, and even saliva itself. This difficulty when swallowing is usually associated, according to them, with some brain or muscular alteration that intervenes in the swallowing process.

Symptoms of dysphagia

The signs and symptoms associated with dysphagia may be these:

• Pain when swallowing
• Inability to complete the swallowing process
• The sensation of having something constantly in the throat
• Heartburn
• Considerable weight loss
• Coughing or gagging when swallowing
• Problems swallowing larger foods

What are the causes of dysphagia?

According to the Spanish Foundation of the Digestive System ( FEAD ), the causes of dysphagia can be very varied and depend greatly on the type of dysphagia. The most common causes are divided into two types of dysphagia: oropharyngeal and pharyngeal.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia

Certain causes cause difficulty swallowing in this type of dysphagia, and therefore injuries to the throat. This type of dysphagia not only makes the swallowing process difficult but can also lead to other effects such as vomiting, and constant coughing, among others. We tell you what it could be due to:

Neurological disorders: mental illnesses can also affect the area of ​​the throat muscles, such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's.
Neurological damage: Sudden damage such as an accident to the brain area or spinal cord injury can also cause swallowing difficulties.
Cancer: some types of cancer and oncological treatments can cause dysphagia, and therefore make it difficult to swallow certain foods.

Pharyngeal dysphagia

Achalasia: When the inner esophageal muscle (sphincter) does not relax properly it does not allow food to pass correctly, and can cause food to return to the throat. This can also occur when the throat muscles are not strong enough.
Gastric reflux: injuries to the esophageal tissues caused by stomach acid backing up into the stomach and can influence the narrowing of the walls of the esophagus.
Radiotherapy: This oncological treatment can cause inflammation and scarring in the esophagus.
Scleroderma: The presence of scar-like tissue can cause stiffness and hardening of the tissues in the throat area, which can ultimately weaken the sphincter. This causes heartburn in the esophagus and also in the stomach.
Esophageal ring: Narrowing of the lower part of the esophagus can cause difficulty swallowing solid foods intermittently.
Eosinophilic esophagitis – This condition may be related to a food allergy that is due to an overpopulation of cells called “eosinophils” in the esophagus.

What to do to improve dysphagia?

The first thing you should do is go to the doctor. In the event of any anomaly that we observe in our body, it is important to go to a specialist, who will know how to give you a diagnosis as well as a more professional treatment. If you have already been diagnosed with dysphagia, these are some of the things you can do to improve it:

• Eat slowly and in small pieces. You must eat slowly and process the food you eat well so that it can pass through the pharynx better.
• Avoid elements that distract you at mealtime and focus on that moment of the meal.
• Ask a professional for help on techniques to better dilute food.
• Do not eat inclined or in a bad posture, try to always keep it straight and well incorporated so that the food can pass through the throat well.
• Make an appointment with a nutritionist to advise you on what foods to eat and what types of cooking are best for dysphagia.

If you want to know other people's experience of this sensation of pain in the throat and difficulty swallowing, you can do so in this conversation on the femenino forum. There you can also share what happens to you and learn more about the topic. Of course, although this may help you, do not forget to go to a specialist who will assess your case personally.