What Is The Feeling Of Something Stuck In My Throat?

Hi. The feeling of having something stuck in the throat or the need to keep clearing the throat is very suggestive of a condition called LPRD or Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease. Cigarette smoking and eating a lot of spicy food are strong precipitating factors for LPRD. Smoking in addition also destroys the protective lining that helps fight throat infections and causes caustic damage to the throat wall. Absence of the throat irritation during the day and gradually worsening as the day goes by correlates to smoking, spicy diet, LPRD and also vocal cord overuse due to excessive talking or coughing. In LPRD, small amounts of acid from the stomach create injury and inflammation around the voice box leading to swelling in the interarytenoid region (posterior portion of the voice box). This is what causes the sticking feeling in the throat and the acid irritation can occasionally lead to dry cough. LPRD is different from GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and therefore may not be associated with symptoms of gastritis such as burning chest pain, stomach pain and gas. Management of this condition involves keeping the LPRD under control and allowing the voice box to heal (2-3 weeks). This is a challenge because there is more effort required from your side in the form of lifestyle changes and little support provided by medications. Antacids and lifestyle changes may need to be followed for 6 months or more for complete cure. Here are some recommended lifestyle modifications 1. Reduce/ avoid spicy and fried food 2. Reducing intake of tea/ coffee/ carbonated drinks 3. Reducing/ stopping smoking and alcohol consumption 4. Reducing stress/ anxiety related to work or family 5. Taking plenty of fluids : 1.8 to 2.5 litres of water per day 6. Maintaining fixed or identical meal timings every day 7. Maintaining fixed or identical sleep timings every day 8. To maintain an upright posture for up to 2 hrs after meals. Avoid lying down immediately after meals. 9. Raise the head end of your bed. Avoid raising the height of the pillow. 10. Voice rest for 48 hrs If you do not see signs of improvement within a couple of weeks of antacids and lifestyle changes then you must see an ENT specialist for an examination of your voice box and a gastroenterologist for an evaluation to rule out other conditions that precipitate acid reflux. If you develop pain in the throat or fever then that is an indication to see the doctor as well. Hope you recover soon, Do let me know you have any further questions.