Why Do I Feel Something Stuck in My Throat?

A feeling of having something stuck in the throat is a fairly common experience. In some cases, there may not be any food or a foreign object stuck in the esophagus (food tube), but it feels as though there is. The sensation is called globus.

The feeling can last for a few minutes to several days and sometimes causes pain, but it's more often described as being an uncomfortable annoyance. It’s important to know if there is actually food or an object in the throat and to understand the possible causes, even if it's just the feeling that there is.

1. Dysphagia 

"Dysphagia" is the term for difficulty swallowing. There are a number of causes of dysphagia, such as a previous stroke. When dysphagia is a problem, there is the potential for something, such as food, to be stuck in the throat, which is called a food obstruction.

A food obstruction isn't blocking the airway, so it’s not choking. However, food could become dislodged from the esophagus and wind up in the windpipe, which could cause choking. A food bolus (round mass) is painful and a reason to seek medical care to have it removed safely.

2. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GERD is a common condition in which the stomach contents move back up into the esophagus. This leads to symptoms such as indigestion or heartburn. The stomach acids irritate the esophagus. This can feel like something is caught in the throat when nothing is there.

3. Globus Pharyngeus

Globus is the feeling in the throat and/or the chest that something is stuck, but nothing is there. It tends to be longer lasting and may lead to seeking medical care out of concern something is wrong with the esophagus.

It can be a nuisance and uncomfortable. It can also lead people to try to alleviate the discomfort by clearing their throat or coughing. This could, in turn, lead to irritation. 

When people seek medical care for this problem, it may be necessary to look inside the throat with an endoscopic procedure (which uses a flexible tube with a camera inserted through the mouth or nose). This can help ensure that nothing is there because even a tiny object or piece of food could lead to the feeling that something larger is stuck.

4. Thyroid Disease

Some people who see a healthcare provider for globus sensations are diagnosed with a thyroid disorder. Thyroid disease is found in up to a third of all people who describe the sensation of something stuck in your throat.

The sensation also is reported in people who have had the thyroid removed. More research is needed to better understand the connection between the thyroid and globus symptoms.

5. Nerve Damage

Nerve damage, such as injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve or the vagus nerve, can lead to symptoms that affect structures in the throat. Globus symptoms may follow.

Some studies suggest that neurological disorders affecting the ability to speak or swallow may be more common with conditions such as diabetes, in which neuropathies are a complication.

6. Inflammation

Inflammation of the upper airways, including chronic sinusitis and postnasal drip, can lead to globus. Tonsilitis (inflammation of the tonsils) and pharyngitis (affecting the pharynx) also can cause globus. Other conditions that can lead to inflammation and globus symptoms include:

• Anatomical variations that lead to physical irritation, such as changes to the tongue base
• Dysfunction in saliva production and flow

7. Spinal Problems

It's uncommon, but injuries or degenerative changes in bone structure affecting the neck could lead to globus symptoms. Bone spurs in the cervical spine are one example.

So can surgical procedures, such as head and neck surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

8. Tumors

Both benign cysts and growing cancer tumors can lead to symptoms of globus. This is rare in the context of cancer but should be considered with other symptoms that include:

• Coughing up blood
• Changes to the voice
• Unexplained weight loss
• Masses or lumps in the neck

Lifestyle Changes

In some cases, lifestyle changes may help with symptoms of globus. They include:

• Not smoking and avoiding smoke exposure
• Avoiding caffeine and alcohol
• Trying not to cough or clear the throat, limiting the irritation
• Stress management
  

One reason for globus could be feeling anxiety or stress. A mental health professional might help determine how to manage this aspect of globus.

Aside from lifestyle changes, treatments might need to be prescribed or recommended by a healthcare provider.

Treatment

Healthcare providers will first consider your medical history and complete a physical exam, especially of the neck. They may look into the airway with a small scope.

Other tests needed for diagnosis can include:

• Endoscopy to examine the inside of the throat by inserting a flexible tube that has a camera and a light on the end through the mouth and down into the esophagus
  
• Manometry to detect the movement of muscles in the esophagus through the use of sensors that are placed in the throat (such as with a special type of balloon)
• Ultrasound, which uses sound waves to help see the structures in the throat.
• X-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan of the neck and chest to look at those structures

If a disease or condition is found, it will be treated as needed. Some interventions include:

• GERD medications: Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) include Nexium (esomeprazole) or Prilosec (omeprazole) used to treat GERD. Treatment of acid reflux may resolve symptoms.
  
• Speech therapy: Some small studies have shown that relaxation techniques taught in speech therapy could be helpful in resolving symptoms.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Treatment from a mental health care provider could include CBT or prescription antidepressant medication.
  

There’s no good research on how exactly the vagus nerve, which runs from the brain to the large intestine, may be involved with globus, or how to treat it. However, a combination of flupentixol and melitracen (both psychoactive drugs) has been tried to reduce the sensitivity of the vagus nerve.

Summary

The feeling of something stuck in one’s throat (globus) can be constant or it can come and go. If there isn’t a disease or a condition causing it, making some lifestyle changes may help in making the feeling go away.

If it persists, it’s a reason to see a healthcare provider and try to determine a cause and create a treatment plan. In the case of choking, call 911 and seek emergency medical attention.