Medically termed as ‘Globus’ or ‘Globus Pharyngis,’ the condition of a lumpy sensation in the throat is quite common. It may however be noted that patients with a physical lump in the throat that causes the throat to feel swollen need to immediately visit a doctor for relevant diagnosis and treatment.

Accompanying Symptoms

It was previously believed that feelings of a lumpy throat was a psychosomatic disorder triggered by elevated stress; such sensations of throat swelling are typically experienced just under the voice box. Research has currently proved that swollen throat sensations is not a psychosomatic ailment.

Some of the common signs and symptoms that may accompany the feeling of a swollen throat are listed below. Such symptoms may occur with varying intensity levels in different patients.

• Mild pain in chest
• Sensations of continuous blockage in the throat, even where there is no physical evidence of such obstruction
• Swallowing problems; discomfort when swallowing
• Chronic tightness and hurt in the throat
• Extreme pain which may occur along with a clicking sensation when swallowing
• The lumpy feeling or swollen throat sensation may occur sporadically, with waxing and waning periods. The feeling may migrate downwards or upwards or from one side to the other, within the throat
• Some patients may not face any problems when swallowing food, but swallowing saliva can be quite discomforting
• The voice may be increasingly husky or hoarse
• Increased stress can worsen the swollen throat feeling.

My Throat feels Swollen – What could be the causes?

Feelings of a swollen throat may occur due to varied causes. It is often caused due to increased tension in the muscles of the throat. Spams that affect the cricopharyngeus muscle present at the lower end of the throat has often been found to be one of the major causes of swollen throat sensations.Inflammation of the throat’s larynx or hypopharynx section can also trigger the condition of ‘throat feels swollen.’

Some of the common conditions which may be marked by the symptom of throat feels swollen are listed below:

• Gastro-esophageal reflux: Commonly referred to as acid reflux disease, gastro-esophageal reflux is a condition marked by anomalous passage of fluids within the body. The fluids and acids in the stomach tend to reflux or flow upwards in the backward direction across the food pipe or the esophagus into the mouth. This can eventually result in mucosal damage, inflammation of the esophagus, and eventual sensations of swollen throat or some kind of obstructive feeling in the throat.
  • Symptoms similar to acid reflux may also occur during laryngo-pharyngeal reflux wherein the digestive fluids tend to rise above into the upper section of the digestive system tract.
  • If patients of ‘throat feels swollen’ also experience heartburn, then it can be said with some certainty that they are suffering from reflux disease.
  • A few effective treatments for acid reflux include use of antacids, dietary modifications, and changes in lifestyle. Acid reflux can also be prevented by intake of different kinds of medications. People with chronic cases of acid reflux and swollen feeling in throat need to consult a doctor for proper treatment.
• Cricopharyngeal spasm: Lumpy throat sensations can also occur due to abnormalities of the cricopharyngeus muscle. This muscle behaves like a valve and prevents the anomalous backward passage of food and fluids from the esophagus. When this muscle experiences a spam, in place of normal relaxation and contractions, then patients may suffer from sensations of swollen throat. Even though the condition is benign, it can result in extreme discomfort.
  • Doctors are unaware about the exact cause of cricopharyngeal spasm. It also does not have an effective and full cure. However, use of muscle relaxing medications, reducing stress, and drinking tea and other warm liquids, can help alleviate the severity of the accompanying symptoms. The spams typically fade away on their own after some time.
• Laryngitis: Swollen throat sensation may also occur due to laryngitis, a condition marked by larynx inflammation that may occur due to varied causes such as infection by bacteria, fungi, or viruses; excessive stress of the vocal cords; corticosteroid inhalation; and allergic reactions. Some of the common treatment options for laryngitis include resting the vocal cords; antibiotics therapy or use of other medications; and intake of fluids.
• Pharyngitis: It is a throat infection caused by bacterial, viral, or fungal agents; it may cause ‘throat feels swollen’ and other symptoms such as fever, coughing, and throat pain, etc. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics for treating bacterial infections, and analgesics or steroids for pain alleviation.
• Tongue ailments: Feelings of swollen throat may also occur due to varied conditions of the tongue such as glossitis, i.e., inflammation or swelling of the tongue; and/or oral thrush, i.e., infection by candida albicans fungus/yeast. Patients need to consult a doctor immediately for fast and effective treatment.