High blood pressure remedies favor lumps in the throat

Hypertension drugs favor „lump in throat“

07/01/2015

Feel a lump in the throat - many express this phrase, if they are excited, anxious or even touched, in short can not speak. Swallowing and breathing is then difficult, sometimes with a tight throat and shortness of breath. What usually disappears quickly when the situation is over, can sometimes persist and have medical causes. Triggers for the so-called Globus syndrome vary from patient to patient. Common to all forms is the feeling of a foreign body in the neck. The foreign body, which is not one, often feels like a hair or crumbs and makes people cough, clear their throat or even gag. However, these tests only rarely help and aggravate the symptoms - this is what the HNOnet-NRW, an association of established ENT doctors, points out.

„Outsiders can usually not imagine how desperately affected by the disease“, clarifies Uso Walter, CEO of HNOnet-NRW. „Some are afraid to suffocate and feel stressed and overwrought. In addition, they often suffer from the feeling that they are not taken seriously.“ To treat the symptoms effectively, an ENT doctor should clarify the cause. For the Globus syndrome diverse physical triggers come into question. By means of an endoscopy, ie a reflection of the deep throat and larynx, inflammations, swellings or tumors can be detected. Also, the so-called reflux disease - so if gastric acid flows back the esophagus - can be diagnosed in this way due to inflammatory sites in the larynx area. Drowsiness is less common with enlargements of the thyroid or cervical lymph nodes, which can be detected by ultrasound. By far the most common cause of a lumping sensation, however, is the dryness of the pharyngeal mucosa, for example, after infections, by dry air or medication. „Hypertensive patients who are treated with medication, relatively often suffer from Globus syndrome“, knows Dr. Walter. „In them an increased mucosal dryness occurs as side effects of the drugs. The dryness of the mucous membranes causes the normal mucus is not properly transported away and gets stuck in the throat, resulting in an unpleasant scratching.“ Sufficient hydration through drinking, gargling and inhaling provides relief in these cases.

Sometimes the causes are not in the throat. Muscular tensions in the neck and neck area are also an explanation for the unpleasant symptoms. Excludes the ENT doctor organic causes, it is important to illuminate psychological aspects. Even professional or private stress can promote muscle tension. In addition, fears, especially the pronounced fear of cancer, often increase the foreign body sensation in the throat. (Pm)

Picture: Rainer Sturm