A lump in the throat during neurosis is the first signal that malfunctions are occurring in the functioning of the nervous system. Patients who have problems with swallowing and sore throat seek help from many specialists, but few of them associate these symptoms with psychosomatics. “Pharynx neurosis” refers to a pathology that affects the funnel-shaped canal - the link between the mouth and the esophagus.
Where does the feeling of a lump in the throat come from?
The sensation of a lump in the throat is associated with the tone of the vagus nerve.
It is from it that branches extend to the larynx and vocal cords, but in addition to this, also to the dura mater (headache), inner ear (dizziness), heart, bronchi, pharynx muscles, diaphragm, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver. Therefore, if there is a violation of the coordination in the work of the nervus vagus, in addition to a lump in the throat and loss of voice, functional disorders in these organs may also appear. The feeling of a foreign body or a sore throat usually coincides in time with a strong experience, hysteria. But this connection may not be clearly visible, and with established neurotic reactions to traumatic situations, a lump in the throat appears on its own.
Diagnosis of throat neurosis at the Yusupov Hospital
In order to establish the cause of throat neurosis, doctors at the Yusupov Hospital conduct a comprehensive examination of the patient. Using radiography of the cervical spine, osteochondrosis is detected or excluded. More accurate information is obtained after a computed tomography scan of the spine. Patients undergo laboratory tests (general and biochemical blood tests, thyroid hormone levels).
In order to exclude the organic nature of the disease, doctors perform magnetic resonance and computed tomography of the throat. A comprehensive examination includes Doppler ultrasound of the vessels of the brain and neck, and electromyographic study. Patients are consulted by an otolaryngologist, neurologist, vertebrologist, and psychotherapist.
It is important not to miss other symptoms
The feeling that something is bothering your throat can appear not only with VSD. Therefore, it is important to exclude all other possible causes of this symptom, and only then begin treatment for vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the throat in the glottis area. Characteristic symptoms of laryngitis are a sore throat, pain when speaking, hoarseness or hoarseness, a dry barking cough, and increased body temperature. The sensation of a foreign body in the throat and soreness during laryngitis is caused by swelling of the glottis. Without proper and timely treatment, swelling can increase dramatically and impair breathing. The diagnosis is confirmed by an otolaryngologist.
In this case of enlargement of the thyroid gland, visible changes are usually observed on the front of the neck (unevenness, bulge or redness), the sensation of a foreign mass in the throat is not associated with emotions or time of day, body weight may change sharply, and the voice becomes rougher over time. An endocrinologist can determine the pathology of the thyroid gland.
Increased stomach acidity and gastroesophageal reflux disease can also cause discomfort in the throat and a feeling of a foreign body. Here the cause will be swelling and spasms that occur in response to the irritating effect of stomach acid. The leading symptom of GERD and high acidity is heartburn. Sore throat, sore throat, and a feeling of coma disappear after starting to take antacids and drugs that reduce the activity of gastric secretion.
Types of pharyngeal neurosis
There are 3 forms of pharyngeal neurosis:
- Anesthesia;
- Hyperesthesia;
- Paresthesia.
Anesthesia of the pharynx is manifested by a decrease or absence of throat sensitivity and impaired swallowing. The disease develops in patients suffering from brain tumors, syphilis, and hysterical neurosis. The patient may aspirate food or saliva into the airway and develop aspiration pneumonia.
Pharyngeal hyperesthesia is accompanied by an increase in the pharyngeal and gag reflex. The patient has a cough and tries to cough up non-existent phlegm. This type of throat neurosis can develop after severe stress or a chronic disease of the pharynx or larynx. Patients experience a spasm, a sore throat, and a sore throat. He may feel a “scratching” sensation on the surface of the larynx.
Pharyngeal paresthesia occurs under stress. Patients feel soreness, itching and a “lump” in the throat. Women who are in menopause, impressionable and irritable people are susceptible to the disease.
How to get rid of the feeling of a lump in the throat with VSD
In case of excessive nervous excitement, prolonged stress, or a lump in the throat, sedatives help get rid of it. The ones you can buy over the counter without a prescription are based on herbal ingredients or the amino acid glycine. Unlike herbal preparations, glycine improves the nutrition of nervous tissue at the cellular level and does not have a sedative effect - that is, it does not affect the reaction rate. It is approved for pregnant and lactating women, it can be used when driving a car, glycine does not interact with other medications.
Long-term intake of amino acids, which improve cellular respiration, helps to gradually establish normal regulation in vegetative-vascular dystonia, and ultimately relieves a lump in the throat for a long time. The most effective complex is cystine + glycine + glutamic acid in the drug Eltacin®. When these amino acids work together, their effect is significantly enhanced and the healing effect occurs faster.
Treatment
Treatment must be comprehensive and based on the clinical symptoms of neurosis.
During a course of therapy, a person visits a psychotherapist, the specialist finds out why the patient “likes” to be nervous, what reasons cause him stress. With the help of a doctor, it is possible to remove psychological blocks step by step. He teaches the patient:
- Relax even in stressful situations, do not succumb to panic attacks;
- Focus on positive things, removing the negative into the background;
- Keep your nerves under control, the ability to prepare yourself before important moments.
Physiotherapeutic procedures will help normalize a person’s condition with pharyngeal neurosis:
- Electrophoresis with vitamins;
- Therapeutic gymnastics (including breathing);
- Hypnosis sessions;
- Therapeutic shower (Charcot, contrast).
- Massage of the cervical-collar area.
To prevent “throat and pharynx neurosis,” use the following techniques daily:
- Pay attention to physical activity. Jogging in parks or exercise in the gym, as well as aerobics, dancing, and swimming are suitable. Sport strengthens the body, creates a positive attitude, and also promotes the production of endorphins.
- Get plenty of rest. Short breaks between work help to restore thoughts, get rid of overstrain, and relax.
- Eat right. The menu needs to be filled with foods rich in fiber, vitamins, and proteins.
- Follow the rules of healthy sleep. They mean going to bed no later than 22.00, sleeping no less and no more than 8 hours, short walks in the fresh air before bed.
Important! Giving up alcohol and cigarettes - bad habits not only undermine health, leading to neuroses, but also contribute to the occurrence of chronic diseases.
If you notice that aggression or anxiety cannot be controlled, you need to turn to Eastern techniques: yoga, meditation. They will teach you how to manage emotions correctly, without harming yourself.
Neurosis is a phenomenon that can happen to anyone. Therefore, you need to listen more carefully to your feelings. In case of any abnormalities or suspicious symptoms, consultation with specialists is required.
Relieving throat muscle tension during neurosis
Tension of the throat muscles during neurosis causes breathing problems. In the complex treatment of neurosis of the pharynx and larynx, breathing exercises can give good results. It helps relieve spasm and tension in the respiratory muscles, restore breathing rhythm, reduce the dosage of medications, and speed up the healing process. You need to take an active short breath and a natural passive exhalation. The air should be inhaled through the nose, making a short, strong movement, and exhaled through the mouth.
The breathing movement and inhalation must coincide in time. The rhythm of breathing movements should correspond to the rhythm of the march. Breathing exercises for throat neurosis can be done standing, sitting or lying down. Their effectiveness improves in fresh air. To determine the cause and type of throat neurosis, exclude the organic nature of the disease and undergo a course of effective therapy, call the contact center of the Yusupov Hospital.
Causes of the disease
The occurrence of any nervous disease is not one reason, but a combination of them. And throat neurosis is no exception. There are three forms of neurosis: anesthesia, hyperesthesia and paresthesia. All three species have different factors that contribute to the development of the disease.
1. Anesthesia.
Anesthesia of the pharynx is characterized by complete or partial loss of sensitivity and disruption of the swallowing process. The following factors lie at the root of this disease:
- hysteria or severe stress;
- brain tumors;
- all types of paralysis;
- syphilis;
- infections. For example, influenza, measles, diphtheria or typhus;
- problems with the spine. Another reason for the development of pharyngeal neurosis is incorrect posture and osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.
2. Hyperesthesia.
This increases the sensitivity of the throat. Its appearance can be caused by the following reasons:
- throat diseases. This includes tonsillitis, laryngitis and pharyngitis, as well as other inflammatory processes in the trachea, larynx and pharynx;
- bad habits. An unhealthy lifestyle, namely drinking alcohol and smoking, can lead to throat neurosis;
- neurasthenia. A person who is under the influence of severe stress often complains of pain, soreness, scratching and spasm in the throat. These listed symptoms are the main ones in the diagnosis of pharyngeal neurosis.
3. Paresthesia.
It can cause a wide variety of sensations, as in hyperesthesia and anesthesia, but numbness and tingling are added to the clinical picture. The causes are considered to be:
- menopause is the main factor in females;
- suspiciousness. Very often the disease manifests itself in people who are unbalanced and irritable. Based on the form of throat neurosis, the symptoms of the disease are also distinguished.
Treatment of throat neurosis
Symptoms of neurosis of the pharynx and larynx disrupt the quality of life of patients. At the initial stage of the disease, it is performed on an outpatient basis. The patient is recommended to change his lifestyle, maintain the correct daily routine, alternate between wakefulness and sleep, go to bed on time, and get a good night's sleep. If the cause of neurosis is sleep, the symptoms of the disease disappear after several days of rest.
In the presence of an inflammatory process, anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out. A patient with throat neurosis is prescribed herbal sedatives. The selection of medications and dosage is carried out by a doctor. After several days of taking medications, the symptoms of neurosis of the pharynx and larynx disappear. If the patient feels a lump in the throat during neurosis, pureed liquid food is prepared for him, which does not irritate the mucous membrane of the pharynx. You should stop smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating spicy foods.
If the therapy is ineffective, doctors prescribe small doses of antidepressants in the presence of depression and asthenic syndrome. To treat throat neurosis, which manifests itself as hypochondria (constant worry about the possibility of contracting a serious illness), antipsychotics are used. If the cause of throat neurosis is a disease of the cervical spine, neurologists at the Yusupov Hospital treat it using medications, physiotherapeutic procedures and modern rehabilitation methods. In some cases, manual therapy is performed.
Psychotherapeutic techniques include hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Psychological correction techniques are aimed at teaching the patient effective ways to relax. Treatment has the following goals:
- Leading the patient to understand the true causes of the pathology;
- Identification of psychotraumatic factors;
- Eliminating them or learning to adapt to them.
Children suffering from neurosis of the throat and larynx are observed by several specialists: an otolaryngologist, a psychologist, a speech therapist (depending on age). Correct parental behavior increases the effectiveness of treatment. Most of the psychogenic factors that cause neuroses in children come from home.
Children with throat neurosis undergo restorative therapy, which includes vitamin complexes and mild sedatives. During the treatment of throat neurosis in a child, it is important to suppress obvious physical symptoms. When there is a sore throat, children are prescribed rinses, inhalations, absorbable tablets, and medications that increase the level of immunity. For infectious diseases, dekasan or trachysan are prescribed.
Psychotherapy for children involves classes on general development, training in relaxation techniques, which include breathing exercises. Babies receive a full body massage aimed at finding blocks and relaxing them. Psychotherapists recommend that parents change the psychogenic situation at home, reconsider their behavioral reactions and correct them. It is important that the child follows a daily routine. He needs to introduce healthy foods into his diet, enriched with vitamins and minerals.
A child with neurosis of the pharynx and larynx should be treated carefully. There is no need to scold him, but hysterics must be stopped immediately. With neurosis, a spasm of the throat is often observed. During an attack, it is necessary to help the child cope with the situation, calm him down, and explain how to breathe correctly.
