What causes the feeling of something stuck in the throat? Related conditions and treatments

Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician
Updated Jun 10, 2024  •  Published Nov 27, 2023
Fact Checked
In this article:

Overview: What does the feeling of something stuck in the throat feel like?

The feeling that something is stuck in the throat when you are not swallowing is called globus pharyngeus or globus sensation. It’s a common experience. Globus feels like a lump in the throat just behind the trachea (windpipe). It can feel like a piece of food or a pill won’t go down. However, it has nothing to do with swallowing. It doesn’t happen when swallowing but often improves when people eat. The feeling can last for days or weeks. Globus doesn’t hurt, but it can be bothersome. The throat might feel tight or like one is close to choking. Unless something is stuck in the throat, that feeling of a lump is usually nothing to worry about. It will eventually pass. If it doesn’t go away, this can signify a more severe problem, especially if there are other symptoms.

Key takeaways:

  • The feeling of something stuck in the throat is a common symptom that may be caused by GERD, esophagus disorders, swelling in the throat or windpipe, thyroid enlargement, cancer, structural abnormalities in the mouth and throat, stress, psychological issues, and emotions. It can be an uncommon symptom of some medical conditions or an uncommon side effect of some medications.

  • Typically, the feeling of something stuck in the throat does not require immediate medical attention unless there is difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, or significant pain.

  • The feeling of something stuck in the throat generally does not require treatment unless it persists or there are other symptoms. Globus is challenging to diagnose and treat, but if a cause is identified, the symptom may resolve with treatment.

  • Treatments of the feeling of something stuck in the throat vary by cause. Read more about treatments for GERD here and treatments for IBS here.

  • The feeling of something stuck in the throat may be decreased with yawning, stress reduction, relaxation exercises, posture correction, neck exercises, and steam treatment.

  • Save on prescriptions for the feeling of something stuck in the throat with a SingleCare prescription discount card.

What causes the feeling of something stuck in the throat?

Globus is the persistent feeling that something is stuck in the throat but has nothing to do with eating or swallowing. This sensation is often at its worst when people aren’t eating or drinking. Healthcare professionals haven’t figured out the causes of that feeling. They believe the possible causes include tension in the throat muscles, swelling, structural abnormalities, and improper functioning of the esophagus (food pipe). Several medical conditions are associated with globus sensation, including: 

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Strong emotions

  • Stress

  • Swelling in the throat or larynx, including tonsillitis, pharyngitis (sore throat), and chronic sinusitis with postnasal drip

  • Problems with the esophagus, particularly the ability of the esophagus to contract (esophageal motility disorders)

Globus can also be associated with:

  • Structural anomalies such as a backward-facing epiglottis (the flap that closes off the windpipe), enlargement of the base of the tongue, bony growths in the neck spine, or the growth of soft tissue in the upper esophagus

  • Thyroid nodules or enlarged thyroid gland

  • Tumors

  • Medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pregnancy, or medications such as pain relievers that cause acid reflux 

  • Medical conditions that cause anxiety or worry

  • Certain types of medications, called anticholinergic medications

Should I be worried about the feeling of something stuck in the throat?

If feeling a lump in the throat is a new problem, it will likely resolve itself. See a healthcare professional for medical advice if the problem just won’t disappear or if there are other symptoms. By itself, a feeling that there’s a lump in the throat does not have serious complications other than making life unpleasant. However, if there are other symptoms, that can be a sign of a problem that can be treated. 

Unless there are other serious symptoms like an inability to swallow, neck pain, pain when swallowing, or a palpable growth on the neck, the feeling of a lump in the throat does not require immediate medical treatment.

How is the cause of the feeling of something stuck in the throat diagnosed?

A feeling of a lump in the throat is a diagnostic challenge for healthcare professionals. Their primary goal is to identify and treat the cause. 

Physicians start with a history and a physical. The clinician will want to know when the feeling started, how long the symptoms have occurred, and what makes it better or worse. Other symptoms such as heartburn, hoarseness, indigestion, regurgitation, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, or a burning sensation in the throat will provide clues to a diagnosis. The clinician will look for red flag symptoms such as weight loss, difficulty swallowing, throat pain, neck pain, swollen thyroid, or a mass on the neck. The clinician will probably ask about swallowing problems to make sure that there isn’t a swallowing disorder, a potentially serious issue. 

If the only problem is a lump in the throat with no other symptoms, there may be no further tests. The physician may refer the case to an ear, nose, and throat specialist called an otolaryngologist.

The ENT specialist may examine the throat with a transnasal esophagoscope, a long tube with a camera at the end. Other tests may include swallowing tests, esophagus tests, endoscopies, X-rays, or a CT scan.

Is the feeling of something stuck in the throat contagious? 

In most cases, a lump in the throat is not contagious. However, if the feeling that something is stuck in the throat is caused by swelling of the windpipe, it could be due to an infection. The most common causes of the feeling of a lump in the throat are not infectious diseases. 

How long does the feeling of something stuck in the throat last?

Healthcare providers do not understand the feeling of something stuck in the throat. Much of the time, this feeling resolves by itself without treatment. Sometimes it doesn’t. Globus sensation can last for a few minutes, a few days, a few weeks, or even months or years. 

How to stop the feeling of something stuck in the throat

In most cases, a temporary feeling that there’s something stuck in the throat will resolve on its own. If it persists or there are other symptoms, healthcare professionals will diagnose and treat the underlying condition, such as GERD or anxiety.

If there is no identifiable cause, clinicians may recommend home remedies or lifestyle changes. They may also choose to treat the symptoms with prescription medications, but not every physician will choose this route. Two medications that work include proton pump inhibitors (to reduce stomach acid and acid reflux) and gabapentin to reduce nerve sensitivity. In one study, 77% of people with a persistent feeling of a lump in their throat reported improvement in their symptoms with proton pump inhibitors. Those who didn’t improve with a stomach acid reducer responded well to gabapentin. Antidepressants may also help improve globus sensation.

A clinical or ENT specialist may recommend psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the best treatments for symptoms like globus that don’t have an identifiable physical cause. Healthcare professionals call these symptoms “somatoform disorders” or “somatization.” Feeling a lump in the throat is the fourth most common type of somatic disorder. Seeking psychotherapy for physical issues may appear to downplay such symptoms, but the reverse is true. Somatoform disorders like a lump in the throat are real. If a healthcare provider can’t find a physical cause, certain types of psychotherapy work to improve the symptoms. 

Living with the feeling of something stuck in the throat

If globus sensation is an ongoing problem and healthcare professionals cannot find a cause, there are effective ways to minimize or control the feeling of having a lump in the throat. These include:

  • Yawning—this relaxes the throat muscles and can be very effective at improving globus sensation

  • Swallowing water—swallowing helps to relax the sphincter that separates the throat from the esophagus

  • Practicing relaxation techniques

  • Practicing good posture

  • Doing neck stretches

  • Doing neck exercises 

  • Reducing stress

  • Taking antacids before meals may help reduce the feeling

If feeling anxious, worried, or depressed, see a psychotherapist. The right kind of therapy can improve the symptoms. Speech therapy is also effective at teaching voice exercises and other swallowing techniques that reduce globus sensation. 

Avoid clearing the throat or coughing if a lump is felt in the throat. Clearing the throat will irritate the vocal cords and throat, which can worsen the feeling of a lump in the throat. Swallowing, yawning, or drinking something will more likely relax the throat muscles and decrease the globus sensation.

Most importantly, the feeling of something stuck in the throat can be controlled

Feeling a lump in the throat is nothing to worry about if it happens occasionally and resolves spontaneously. It’s rarely a symptom of a serious problem unless there are other symptoms like trouble swallowing or throat pain. If swallowing difficulty persists, remember that it is manageable. The first place to start is by seeing a doctor. There may be a treatable cause, such as GERD. If not, lifestyle changes such as reducing stress and learning to relax can help relieve the globus sensation and improve one’s quality of life.

What’s next? Additional resources for people with the feeling of something stuck in the throat

Test and diagnostics

Treatments

Scientific studies and clinical trials

Medically reviewed by Leslie Greenberg, MD
Board-Certified Family Physician

Leslie Greenberg, MD, is a board-certified practicing family physician with more than 25 years of doctoring experience. She was a psychology major at Northwestern University near Chicago, then graduated with an MD from the University of Nevada School of Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. She has trained more than 350 family medicine resident-physicians, been in private practice, and delivered babies for 22 years.

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