A feeling of tightness in the throat is present in many conditions. The reasons why the throat is tight are varied. Such complaints can be characterized by various pathological processes caused by diseases of the thyroid gland, throat, and impaired innervation. In addition, the feeling that the throat is squeezing can also be noted when the psychoemotional state is disturbed. In this case, patients complain that it is difficult to breathe.
Depending on the localization of the pathological process, its nature, complaints can be formulated as a tightness in the throat, a feeling of a lump, a foreign body, pressing pain on the throat from the inside.
The most common feeling of tightness in the throat is in the following conditions:
- pathology of the thyroid gland;
- inflammatory and infectious diseases of the throat;
- tumors;
- allergy;
- neurological disorders;
- injury.
ENT pathology
If there is a squeezing in the throat, first of all, it is necessary to contact an otolaryngologist for an appointment. The specialist will conduct a pharyngoscopy, which will assess the condition of the throat mucosa and its components. Pressing pain, discomfort when swallowing can be signs of such throat diseases:
- sore throats;
- tonsillitis;
- tonsil abscess;
- pharyngitis;
- tumor process;
- injury.
In addition to the results of an objective examination, additional symptoms will help to clarify the diagnosis in this case. A constant sign of angina is an increase in body temperature up to 39 degrees, as well as an increase and soreness of regional lymph nodes. The results of pharyngoscopy make it possible to identify hyperemic, sharply edematous tonsils. With the development of a purulent form of sore throat, dirty gray or yellowish deposits are found in the follicles or lacunae.
For sore throat, the most typical pain is pronounced pain that radiates to the ear, neck, which intensifies when swallowing. The constrictive nature of pain is also characteristic of chronic tonsillitis.
In this case, the disease is characterized by a long course with periods of remission and exacerbation. Additional symptoms are constant malaise, fatigue, subfebrile condition, joint pain. In most cases, even in a state of remission, the tonsils are covered with a purulent bloom, there is a putrid odor from the mouth.
Tonsil abscess can narrow and constrict the throat lumen. Most often, this disease is a complication of the purulent course of angina. It manifests itself as a deterioration in the general condition of the patient, an increase in body temperature up to 40 degrees, an increase in sore throat.
Examination of the throat is difficult, since the patient's mouth opening is accompanied by increased pain. In this case, a one-sided sharp increase in the amygdala is noted, as a result of which the tongue is displaced to the side. Enlarged and sharply painful regional lymph nodes are palpated. This condition requires treatment in a surgical department.
The feeling of pressure can also be caused by the development of the inflammatory process of the throat mucosa. In this case, the pathological process of the amygdala does not affect. They appear to be somewhat hyperactive, but not enlarged. There are no purulent deposits. Sore throat is most common in pharyngitis, an inflammation of the throat. Pharyngoscopy is characterized by the accumulation of mucus on the back of the pharynx. An additional symptom is a dry barking cough that bothers the patient for several weeks.
If the larynx is involved in the process, then a change in voice, the appearance of hoarseness, is present as an obligatory symptom. With a pronounced process, there may be a lack of sound reproduction. The patient tries to spend most of the time in silence.
Throat swelling is also accompanied by a feeling of constriction.
The initial sign of neoplasms in the throat is complaints of foreign body sensation, discomfort when swallowing.
Additional symptoms may include malaise, weakness, fatigue, fever, and an increase in regional nodes. Most often, throat cancer affects the larynx, therefore, a change in the timbre of the voice is an obligatory symptom of the disease. With the progression of the process, hemoptysis, an increase in the intensity of pain during movement, and a deep breath may be noted.
The defeat of the throat during medical manipulations or a foreign body with trauma can also be accompanied by complaints, which puts pressure on the throat and makes it difficult to breathe. The reasons for the development of this condition are obvious and are caused by the developing post-traumatic edema. Symptoms develop rapidly. Difficulties can only lie in specifying the localization of the lesion and determining the treatment tactics in each specific case.
Endocrine pathology
Difficulty swallowing, a feeling that the throat is pressing, is also characteristic of the pathology of the thyroid gland. Normally, this organ is located below the thyroid cartilage and is almost invisible when examining a patient. However, some diseases can be characterized by an increase in the size of this formation, that is, the formation of a goiter.
Since the enlarged thyroid gland is adjacent to the larynx, it presses on it, causing the development of symptoms. There are several degrees of enlargement of the thyroid gland. Depending on its size, the patient's complaints may be aggravated. With a certain size, the gland can squeeze the surrounding tissues, the larynx, the trachea, cause a feeling that it is pressing in the throat, it is difficult to breathe, and it is difficult to swallow.
The most common thyroid disorders are:
- endemic goiter;
- sporadic goiter;
- tumors of the thyroid gland;
- diffuse toxic goiter;
- hypothyroidism.
The thyroid gland, due to the production of its hormones, is involved in metabolic processes in the body. Pathological processes in the thyroid gland can be characterized by a normal level of hormones, decreased release of them into the blood, or increased, which affects the development and nature of clinical manifestations.
Hypothyroidism is characterized by a decrease in hormone levels. In this regard, there is a slowdown in metabolic processes in the body. Such patients are characterized by lethargy, drowsiness, hoarseness, dry skin, weight gain, constipation, bradycardia.
Hypothyroid coma is a life-threatening complication. Patients complain that it becomes difficult to breathe, cramps appear, signs of cerebral insufficiency, breathing slows down.
An increase in thyroid hormone levels is accompanied by symptoms such as nervousness, sweating, interruptions in the heart, tachycardia, and weight loss. Disorders of hormone production can be characterized by an increased size of the gland or proceed with its unchanged volume. In such cases, it is the presence of clinical signs of the disease that forces you to go to an appointment with an endocrinologist and undergo an examination for the level of thyroid hormones. Timely correction of this condition will lead to a significant improvement in the condition.
At the same time, the presence of a goiter is not always accompanied by a change in the hormonal background of the gland. Even in the absence of clinical signs indicating a lack or excessive amount of hormones, an enlarged thyroid gland is a reason to conduct an ultrasound examination. This symptom may be a consequence of a lack of iodine in the body, as well as the result of the development of benign or malignant tumors.Timely diagnosis of this condition will help avoid a severe course of the disease.
Under the influence of arthritic changes, nerve fibers and vessels located in the spinal column can be compressed. As a result, certain parts of the neck and head receive insufficient nutrition, which can also be manifested by complaints of squeezing of the throat, a feeling of a lump. Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is a common cause of this symptomatology.
Emotional factor
The constrictive nature of the sore throat, the feeling that it is difficult to breathe, are also present in psychoemotional disorders. The development of such symptoms can be noted as a result of stress, fear.
If the condition is caused precisely by psychological factors, then within a short time the patient's condition will return to normal. In this case, the complaints are not associated with pathological processes occurring in the throat or thyroid gland, their dysfunction. Unpleasant sensations are caused by the body's reaction to stress.
This condition should cause concern only in the case of a prolonged course. Help can be provided by a psychotherapist, in case of a depressive state - by a psychiatrist.
If it squeezes in the throat, what kind of condition it is and how dangerous it is, a specialist should determine. Since these complaints may be due to the involvement of various organs in the process, then to clarify the diagnosis, it will be necessary to conduct instrumental examinations, laboratory diagnostics, and consultations of related specialists.
