Feel like you have food or a pill stuck in your throat that just won’t go down? Let us introduce you to the frustrating feeling known as globus sensation.
Also called globus pharyngeus, globus sensation is a term that describes the phantom feeling of having a lump in your throat. “The sensation is common and it has a number of different causes,” says Haley Sibley, M.D., a laryngologist at Henry Ford Health.
Fortunately, most of those causes aren’t serious. Still, the feeling you have something stuck in your throat can be really unpleasant. Here’s what to know about globus sensation, and what you can do to relieve the annoying feeling.
What Is Globus Pharyngeus?
Globus sensation isn’t usually cause for concern. The lump-in-the-throat sensation isn’t painful, and it’s often harmless. Still, the feeling tends to range from mildly distracting to incredibly annoying.
Globus sensation might come and go, or it might persist continuously for days, weeks or even longer. Some people notice it gets worse at night or after speaking for a long time, Dr. Sibley says. “It’s unpredictable and varies a lot from person to person,” she adds.
But what causes it? “Globus pharyngeus isn’t a disease itself,” Dr. Sibley explains. “It’s a symptom.”
The feeling can be a symptom of a number of underlying problems, including:
- Acid reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD, is the most common cause of globus sensation, Dr. Sibley says. When you have reflux, some of your stomach acid creeps up into the esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach). “The acid can irritate the back of the voice box and cause a little swelling,” she explains. GERD can also make the throat more sensitive, and people with the condition tend to clear their throat frequently. That constant clearing can lead to even more irritation, which can contribute to the feeling that there’s a lump in your throat.
- Postnasal drip: Sinus problems and a chronic runny nose can also cause irritation and inflammation of the throat. That, in turn, can trigger globus sensation. Though this is less common than globus sensation caused by reflux, Dr. Sibley says, it’s not unheard of.
- Stress: Some people hold tension in their jaw or shoulders. For others, stress takes up residence in the throat. (It’s not as strange as it sounds. That tension is why people often feel a lump in their throat when they’re trying not to cry.) For people who hold stress in the neck and throat, globus sensation can develop—or get worse—during times of high stress or anxiety.
- Thyroid disease: The thyroid is a gland in the throat, and there is some evidence that an enlarged thyroid or thyroid nodules can lead to globus sensation. However, Dr. Sibley says, this is less common than other causes.
- Rare tumors: Occasionally, an actual lump is present in the throat. Such masses could be cancerous or benign. But tumors are very rarely the cause of globus sensation, Dr. Sibley notes.
How to Treat Globus Sensation
ENT Care At Henry Ford
Often, globus sensation gets better on its own. If it lingers, though, it’s a good idea to see your doctor for an evaluation. They can assess you for acid reflux and other underlying problems. Your doctor might recommend a laryngoscopy, a procedure that uses a scope to examine the voice box.
Treatment depends on what your healthcare team finds during that examination.
If you have acid reflux and globus sensation, for example, it’s a good idea to treat the reflux. (Untreated, GERD can lead to complications including esophageal cancer.) By avoiding foods that trigger symptoms and taking medication, you can reduce reflux and help ease the phantom lump in your throat.
You might have to be patient, though. “It can take a few weeks for things to settle down and the sensation to go away,” Dr. Sibley says.
People with globus sensation might also benefit from special massages and exercises designed to release tension in the throat. Often, those exercises are taught by speech therapists.
If you’re dealing with globus sensation, one thing not to do is clear your throat a lot. That can be all too tempting if you feel like something is stuck inside, but the action can cause irritation that makes things worse. “It’s like scratching a bug bite,” Dr. Sibley says. Instead, take sips of water or munch on watery snacks like grapes and cucumbers.
“If it’s not too bothersome, you can also do nothing and just ignore globus sensation,” she adds. “But if it’s bothering you, it’s worth talking to your doctor to try to find some relief.”
Reviewed by Haley Sibley, M.D., a laryngologist at Henry Ford Health who practices at Henry Ford Hospital and Henry Ford Cancer in Detroit.
