Globus is a symptom that can make you feel like you have a lump in your throat. It is also called 'globus sensation'. Globus can be caused by many things, such as an increased tension of muscles or irritation in the throat.
The most common causes of globus pharyngeus are anxiety and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a form of acid reflux that causes the stomach's contents to travel back up the food pipe and sometimes into the throat. This can result in muscle spasms that trigger feelings of an object caught in the throat.
Globus can last days to weeks to even months and can be recurrent. If symptoms last longer than a couple weeks, often, the patient will be referred to an Otolaryngologist or an ENT.
In many cases, globus sensation can improve or go away on its own without treatment. If you've been diagnosed with another health condition associated with globus sensation (such as GERD), treating that condition will often help the lump in your throat.
You should see your doctor to determine the cause of your swallowing difficulties. Call a doctor right away if you're also having trouble breathing or think something might be stuck in your throat. If you have sudden muscle weakness or paralysis and can't swallow at all, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Cancers likely to cause swallowing problems
mouth and tongue (oral cancer) throat (pharynx) nasal cavity and sinuses. melanoma or other skin cancer on the face.
Neurological conditions that can cause swallowing difficulties are: stroke (the most common cause of dysphagia); traumatic brain injury; cerebral palsy; Parkinson disease and other degenerative neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), multiple sclerosis, ...
Nasal regurgitation, drooling, coughing or choking during meals are relevant and may be suggestive of an oropharyngeal disorder. Systemic review should include weakness and any associated fatigue, tremor and speech disturbance. There may also be shortness of breath or a hoarse voice.
Dysphagia can be painful. In some cases, swallowing is impossible. Occasional difficulty swallowing, such as when you eat too fast or don't chew your food well enough, usually isn't cause for concern. But persistent dysphagia can be a serious medical condition requiring treatment.
Many cases of dysphagia can be improved with treatment, but a cure isn't always possible. Treatments for dysphagia include: speech and language therapy to learn new swallowing techniques. changing the consistency of food and liquids to make them safer to swallow.
The first stage is the oral preparation stage, where food or liquid is made ready in the mouth, chewed, and gathered together in preparation for swallowing. The second stage is the oral stage, where the tongue pushes the food or liquid to the back of the mouth, starting the swallowing response.
Dysphagia can be classified as acute or nonacute. The acute onset of the inability to swallow solids and/or liquids (including saliva) is likely related to an esophageal foreign body impaction. Food impaction is the most common cause of acute dysphagia in adults.
Dysphagia, with a frequency of about 63%, is also a common symptom found in brain tumor patients [1]. And dysphagia in brain tumor patients is a risk factor for complications, such as aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, and malnutrition, which impacts on quality of life and on the long-term prognosis in these cases [3].
If untreated, dysphagia can cause patients to aspirate food and liquid into the lungs, leading to infections, aspiration pneumonia, and death. However, if dysphagia is identified early and its cause diagnosed, Ciucci says, it can be treated in a variety of ways.
The true prevalence of dysphagia is higher in the elderly population than the general population. Although the prevalence of dysphagia in the Midwestern US population was reported to be 6% to 9%,1 its prevalence in community-dwelling persons over age 50 years is estimated to be between 15% and 22%.
Appropriate supportive care is important because dysphagia can be life-threatening and last for a long time.
Swallow test
The SLT will ask you to swallow some water. The time it takes you to drink the water and the number of swallows required will be recorded. You will also be asked to chew and swallow a soft piece of pudding or fruit so the SLT can look at how well your lips, tongue and the muscles in your throat work.
Thyroid enlargement can cause difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia, as a result of the thyroid gland directly compressing the swallowing organs. The thyroid gland, which is usually about the size of a quarter, can become enlarged as a symptom of various thyroid disorders, as well as other medical conditions.
Foods with a fibrous or 'stringy' texture - e.g. celery, green beans, melted cheese or pineapple. Fruit or vegetables with thick skins, seeds or pips - e.g. baked beans, peas, grapes and tomatoes. Crunchy and crumbly items such as toasts, biscuits, crackers, crisps, pie crusts.
Sour taste in the mouth. Difficulty swallowing only solids (may indicate a tumor or stricture) suggests a physical blockage such as a stricture or a tumor. Difficulty swallowing liquids but not solids (may indicate nerve damage or spasm of the esophagus).