Lump in the throat and stress: what to do?

Caution : You must consult your doctor for your health. This page presents only a personal and alternative point of view which should not be considered as an attempt to prescribe medicine.

This phenomenon has already happened to all of us.

When you are stressed, you often feel a lump in your throat.

Why does this happen and what to do?

We explain everything to you in this article.

Ball in the throat: what is it?

Whether it was crying over the end of the last Netflix series you just watched or in front of your exam copy, you have surely experienced that sensation of having your throat tied.

But where exactly does it come from?

This lump in the throat felt is called globus hystericus.

In French it corresponds to "globular sensation".

It can come from two causes: the first is inflammatory (we find more rarely cases of malformation), the second is psychogenic.

This term corresponds to a psychic origin, which is then called a psychosomatic disorder.

If the cause is found to be inflammatory, I recommend that you go see a doctor, who will be better able to find out what is going on.

It can be related to the esophagus, vocal cords, tonsils, or other causes.

Let's take a look at the psychic cause, which results from stress.

When we are faced with a stressful situation, such as a study exam, our body, thanks to our HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis), stimulates the sympathetic nervous system.

This axis is connected to our brain via two glands: pituitary (nicknamed the master gland), adrenal (which releases the hormones adrenaline and cortisol).

Stress comes from the release of the hormone cortisol in our body.

When this is released, our heart rate quickens.

Indeed take the test the next time you start to stress, you will feel that your heart is beating faster.

Blood pressure and metabolism also speed up.

These changes your body does not like.

To cope, he needs oxygen, and lots of it.

The glottis, a segment of the larynx, then opens so that this great need for air can indeed reach your lungs.

A conflict will then arise when you want to swallow or hold back your tears if you cry.

Indeed, a fight takes place between several muscles which have the role of closing the airway, and the muscles which have the role of opening it.

So here is the physical cause of the sensation of the lump in the throat.

What are the solutions?

Several solutions exist to deal with this problem.

If the feeling of a lump in your throat is temporary, you can just drink a glass of water or take a deep breath to relax.

The throat will then unravel.

In the event that the sensation appears frequently, it is advisable to use natural alternative medicines.

This is how all forms of treatment based on essential oils, plants, homeopathy or even acupuncture are recommended.

More generally, anything that involves relaxation and yoga is beneficial for you.

In addition, breathing exercises to relax the diaphragm are also recommended.

Indeed, when you are stressed, it causes a significant tension at the level of the diaphragm which often causes its blockage.

So, to reduce stress and therefore the feeling of a lump in your throat, you can first of all watch this free video workshop.

So there you have it, you now know how to effectively fight this unpleasant sensation.

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