Feeling like you have a lump in your throat can be very distracting and can keep you calm or sleep poorly. If the feeling occurs once, the inconvenience will be limited, but what if it keeps you awake every night. It is therefore necessary to find a solution for the throat problems. What causes a lump in the throat when there is nothing in it and how do you get rid of it?

Lump in the throat

• How does it feel?
• What causes a lump in the throat?
• What can you do about it?
• Actions for relaxation
• What if it continues?

How does it feel?

A lump in the throat feels like a piece of food has become stuck, causing an unpleasant sensation. This can lead to the need to regularly swallow saliva, causing either a dry throat or too much saliva being produced. Normally, just the right amount of saliva is produced to keep the oral cavity and tongue moist. It can also lead to vomiting because too much saliva enters the stomach or because the stomach becomes bloated due to acid reflux. The uncomfortable feeling in the throat or larynx makes us worry and keep thinking about the discomfort. As a result, people quickly go to the doctor because we fear the worst, but that concern is not justified. What then causes the condition?

What causes a lump in the throat?

So the condition is not caused by food stuck in the throat. There is something else going on. It may be that the body has built up too much tension due to stress or anxiety. Stress and anxiety can cause the body to tense too much, causing muscles to become too stiff and therefore pull on tissue and skeleton more than usual. The same goes for the neck. The muscles also pull on the throat, causing the strange distracting feeling. This tightening can happen unconsciously so that in principle you do not notice it, but it does lead to physical complaints. Please note that sometimes the “lump in the throat feeling” can be caused by an underactive thyroid or Hashimoto’s.

What can you do about it?

Because the cause is built-up tension in the body, the solution can be found in relaxation. But how do you relax effectively so that you feel good about yourself again? On the one hand, it is a form of life. Doing fun things without thinking about work or problems is important to relax. For example, for many people, preparing a tasty meal after work is the optimal form of relaxation. People are busy and work stress is forgotten. On the other hand, it can be important to additionally relax the body. Take the following steps to de-stress when it suits you.

Actions for relaxation

Take time for yourself every two or three hours to relax. Go to a place where you will not be disturbed by others or noises, or you can possibly do it at your own workplace. Sit up comfortably and relax all your muscles. You can shake the muscles loose and gently rotate the neck. Now relax all your muscles and think about just one thing. That could be a number or a certain picture, it doesn’t matter what it is as long as it doesn’t associate with stress or work. Keep thinking about this, keep repeating yourself or just think about that one picture. Do this for at least ten to fifteen minutes. Stand up slowly and relax your muscles again.If you do this a few times a day, you will see that you relax completely. An additional benefit is that the throat muscles relax, causing the lump in the throat to disappear. Normally the body will be sufficiently relaxed within a short period of time, so that you feel much better.

What if it continues?

If you have already performed the previous exercises for a few weeks, but your throat continues to bother you, there may be something more going on. The problems are then not solved through simple relaxation techniques. You may have an allergy, a throat infection, acid reflux due to stomach or small intestinal disorders and cancer. It is then necessary to receive medical treatment as soon as possible so that your condition improves quickly. Please note that these conditions are relatively less common and so a lump in the throat will normally arise due to tension. Also de-stress during and after work, but also before going to sleep so that you have a good night’s sleep and are well relaxed.

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