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What is tightness in the throat?

If you have tightness in your throat, you may wonder what’s causing it. The cause of the tightness can vary from an infection like strep throat to a more serious allergic reaction. If you have other warning signs, like trouble swallowing or breathing, throat tightness is an emergency that needs to be treated immediately.

Tightness in your throat can take many forms. It might feel like: Your throat is swollen, you have a lump in your throat, a band is around your neck, your throat is tender and sore.

something is blocking your throat and making it hard to breathe or swallow

Read on to learn more about possible causes for tightness in your throat and how you can manage this symptom.

What can cause this feeling?

These are a few conditions that can cause a tight feeling in your throat:

1. Heartburn or GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is a condition that happens when the band of muscles between your esophagus and stomach doesn’t tighten properly. This relaxed opening allows acid from your stomach to back up into your esophagus. When stomach acid irritates the esophagus, it creates a burning sensation called heartburn.

GERD can feel like your throat is tight, or like you have a lump or food stuck in your throat. You might have trouble swallowing.

Other symptoms are: a sour taste in your mouth, burping up liquid, a hoarse voice, chest pain that can feel like a heart attack, a dry cough, bad breath.

2. Infection

Infections like tonsillitis and strep throat can cause a feeling of tightness or soreness in your throat. Other symptoms of a throat infection are: Swollen glands, painful swallowing, fever, chills, ear pain, bad breath, headache, loss of your voice (laryngitis), nausea or vomiting (in children), red or swollen tonsils.

3. Allergic reaction

An allergic reaction happens when your immune system misidentifies something harmless, like peanuts or pollen, as a dangerous foreign invader. It launches a response, releasing chemicals that cause symptoms like a stuffed nose and watery eyes.

The most serious type of allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. It can happen in response to: A food you’ve eaten, a medicine you’ve taken, an insect bite or sting.

Symptoms of this reaction usually start within a few minutes to hours after the exposure.

The chemicals released during anaphylaxis cause inflammation, which is what makes your throat and airways swell up and tighten. Other symptoms of anaphylaxis include: Wheezing, or a whistling sound when you breathe, a cough, hoarseness, tightness or pain in your chest, swelling of your face, including your lips, tongue, and mouth, itchy mouth or throat, dizziness or fainting, hives, rash, or itchy skin, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, stomach cramps, fast pulse.

Anaphylaxis is always a medical emergency. Call your local emergency services or go to an emergency room immediately for treatment.

4. Anxiety

Though anxiety is an emotional response, it can produce real physical symptoms. During a panic attack, you might feel like your throat is closing and your heart is pounding. These symptoms come on quickly and can resemble symptoms of a heart attack.

Other symptoms of a panic attack include: Sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, cramps or nausea, headache, dizziness, chills, numbness or tingling, feelings of doom.

5. Enlarged thyroid (goiter)

The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in your neck produces hormones that help control your body’s metabolism. An enlarged thyroid gland can make your throat feel tight and make it hard to breathe or swallow.

Other symptoms of an enlarged thyroid include: Swelling in your throat, a hoarse voice or changes to your voice, coughing.

When should you see your doctor?

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately. If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, like trouble breathing or swallowing, call your local emergency services or go to an emergency room right away.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have symptoms like these: Chest pain, a fever higher than 103°F (39.4°C), a sore throat that lasts longer than 48 hours, a sore throat and swollen glands, a stiff neck.

What to expect

The conditions that cause tightness in your throat are treatable.

Antacids and other medicines that neutralize or block the production of stomach acids can decrease heartburn. You can also control symptoms by avoiding your heartburn triggers.

Infections will usually get better within a week or so.

You can manage severe allergic reactions by carrying an epinephrine pen, taking allergy medication, and avoiding your triggers.

With therapy and medication, panic attacks should get better over time.

Thyroid gland enlargement may improve once you treat it.

(06/09/2021)
by Healthline

More Information: https://www.healthline.com/health/tightness-in-throat#seeking-help

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