You can get heartburn after you eat a big meal or if you lie down right after eating. Some foods and drinks can trigger it. This includes tomatoes, spicy or fatty foods, alcohol, or foods with lots of acid, like citrus. Stress, smoking, and obesity make it more likely that you’ll get it.
What Causes Tightness in Throat and How Can You Manage This Symptom?
A tight feeling in the throat may be caused by heartburn, infection, allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), anxiety, or other conditions. If you suspect anaphylaxis, seek immediate emergency treatment.
If you have tightness in your throat, you may wonder what’s causing it. The cause of the tightness can vary from an infection like strep throat to a more serious allergic reaction.
If you have other warning signs, like trouble swallowing or breathing, throat tightness is an emergency that needs to be treated immediately.
- your throat is swollen
- you have a lump in your throat
- a band is around your neck
- your throat is tender and sore
- something is blocking your throat and making it hard to breathe or swallow
Read on to learn more about possible causes for tightness in your throat and how you can manage this symptom.
These are a few conditions that can cause a tight feeling in your throat:
1. Heartburn or GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is a condition that happens when the band of muscles between your esophagus and stomach doesn’t tighten properly. This relaxed opening allows acid from your stomach to back up into your esophagus. When stomach acid irritates the esophagus, it creates a burning sensation called heartburn.
GERD can feel like your throat is tight, or like you have a lump or food stuck in your throat. You might have trouble swallowing.
Other symptoms are:
- a sour taste in your mouth
- burping up liquid
- a hoarse voice
- chest pain that can feel like a heart attack
- a dry cough
- bad breath
2. Infection
Infections like tonsillitis and strep throat can cause a feeling of tightness or soreness in your throat. Other symptoms of a throat infection are:
- swollen glands
- painful swallowing
- fever
- chills
- ear pain
- bad breath
- headache
- loss of your voice (laryngitis)
- nausea or vomiting (in children)
- red or swollen tonsils
3. Allergic reaction
An allergic reaction happens when your immune system misidentifies something harmless, like peanuts or pollen, as a dangerous foreign invader. It launches a response, releasing chemicals that cause symptoms like a stuffed nose and watery eyes.
The most serious type of allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis. It can happen in response to:
- a food you’ve eaten
- a medicine you’ve taken
- an insect bite or sting
Symptoms of this reaction usually start within a few minutes to hours after the exposure.
The chemicals released during anaphylaxis cause inflammation, which is what makes your throat and airways swell up and tighten. Other symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- wheezing, or a whistling sound when you breathe
- a cough
- hoarseness
- tightness or pain in your chest
- swelling of your face, including your lips, tongue, and mouth
- itchy mouth or throat
- dizziness or fainting
- hives, rash, or itchy skin
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- stomach cramps
- fast pulse
Anaphylaxis is always a medical emergency. Call your local emergency services or go to an emergency room immediately for treatment.
4. Anxiety
Though anxiety is an emotional response, it can produce real physical symptoms. During a panic attack, you might feel like your throat is closing and your heart is pounding. These symptoms come on quickly and can resemble symptoms of a heart attack.
Other symptoms of a panic attack include:
- sweating
- shaking
- shortness of breath
- cramps or nausea
- headache
- dizziness
- chills
- numbness or tingling
- feelings of doom
5. Enlarged thyroid (goiter)
The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in your neck produces hormones that help control your body’s metabolism. An enlarged thyroid gland can make your throat feel tight and make it hard to breathe or swallow.
Other symptoms of an enlarged thyroid include:
- swelling in your throat
- a hoarse voice or changes to your voice
- coughing
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately. If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, like trouble breathing or swallowing, call your local emergency services or go to an emergency room right away.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have symptoms like these:
- chest pain
- a fever higher than 103°F (39.4°C)
- a sore throat that lasts longer than 48 hours
- a sore throat and swollen glands
- a stiff neck
The tests you get depend on the cause of your throat tightness.
Tests for GERD
Doctors can sometimes diagnose GERD based on symptoms alone. You might have to wear a monitor to measure the amount of stomach acid that backs up into your esophagus.
Other tests to evaluate your symptoms can include:
- Barium swallow or upper GI series. You drink a chalky liquid. Then the doctor takes X-rays of your esophagus and stomach.
- Endoscopy. This test uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera on one end to see inside your esophagus and stomach.
Tests for an infection
Your doctor will first ask about your symptoms. Then they might take a swab from the back of your throat to test for strep throat or other bacteria. This is called a throat culture.
Tests for anaphylaxis
An allergy specialist can do a blood test or skin test to identify your allergy trigger. Learn more about available allergy tests.
Tests for anxiety
Your doctor will do a physical exam. You might get tests like an electrocardiogram (EKG) to rule out any heart conditions or blood tests to check for other problems that can mimic anxiety. A counselor or therapist can help pinpoint the cause of your anxiety.
Tests for an enlarged thyroid
Your doctor will feel your neck and may do blood tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. Other tests used to diagnose an enlarged thyroid gland include an ultrasound and a thyroid scan.
If you have heartburn, the following can help prevent throat tightness and other symptoms:
- avoid overeating
- avoid foods that trigger it
- take antacids or acid-blocking drugs
For a sore, tight throat caused by infection, pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can ease the discomfort. You may also need a prescription for antibiotics from your doctor for bacterial infections like strep throat. You can gargle with a mixture of salt, baking soda, and warm water, or suck on a throat lozenge. Rest your voice until you feel better.
Anaphylaxis is treated under close medical supervision and with a shot of epinephrine. Other medications like antihistamines and corticosteroids may be necessary as well.
The treatment depends on what caused the tightness in your throat.
GERD/heartburn
Several different medications treat heartburn:
- Antacids like Rolaids, Tums, and Maalox neutralize the acid in your stomach.
- H2 blockers like cimetidine (Tagamet HB), and famotidine (Pepcid AC), reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes.
- Proton pump inhibiters such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and omeprazole (Prilosec) block stomach acid production.
A few lifestyle changes can also help decrease heartburn symptoms, including:
- eating smaller meals, especially before bedtime
- losing weight if you are overweight
- quitting smoking
- avoiding alcohol
- raising the head of your bed six inches
If you have frequent heartburn symptoms — more than twice a week — see your doctor for a proper diagnosis and evaluation.
Infections
Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria, but they won’t help if a virus caused your illness.
- Rest and take care of yourself to help your body fight off the infection.
- Avoid getting sick in the future by washing your hands often and staying away from anyone who’s sick.
Allergic reactions
Anaphylaxis is treated with an injection of epinephrine. Carry an auto-injector (Adrenaclick, EpiPen) if you have severe allergies in case you react to a food, insect sting, or medication. An EpiPen requires a prescription from your doctor.
For some types of allergies, a technique called immunotherapy can help desensitize you to the allergen and prevent a reaction in the future. You’ll get a series of shots over a long period of time. These shots will contain increasing amounts of your trigger until you no longer react as severely. Learn more about allergy shots.
Anxiety
To prevent panic attacks, your doctor might prescribe a combination of talk therapy and medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation can sometimes also help.
Enlarged thyroid
If you have a very enlarged thyroid gland or goiter, you might need surgery or radioactive iodine depending on the cause. These treatments remove or destroy part or all of the thyroid gland. You’ll need to take thyroid hormone afterward to replace what your thyroid gland no longer makes.
Tightness in the Throat: Causes and Treatments
Does your throat feel tight or like you can’t swallow your food?
Many things can cause this. Not all are serious. Let your doctor know right away if the tightness doesn’t go away or if you have any other symptoms with it.
Symptoms of Tightness in Throat
Depending on what’s causing the tightness in your throat, it might feel like:
- Your throat is sore or burns.
- Your throat is swollen or closed up.
- You find it hard to swallow.
- You have a lump in your throat.
- You need to swallow often.
Causes and Treatments of Tightness in Throat
Heartburn or GERD
Heartburn is a common problem that may cause tightness in your throat. Your throat can feel sore or burn. You might find it hard to swallow. It can last anywhere from minutes to hours.
This condition happens when stomach acid rises in your esophagus and creeps into your throat. If this happens often, it may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux, or GERD.
You can get heartburn after you eat a big meal or if you lie down right after eating. Some foods and drinks can trigger it. This includes tomatoes, spicy or fatty foods, alcohol, or foods with lots of acid, like citrus. Stress, smoking, and obesity make it more likely that you’ll get it.
If heartburn causes your throat tightness, you might also have these symptoms:
- Pain or burning in your chest after meals, when you lie down, or when you bend over
- Bitter, sour, or salty taste in your mouth
- A feeling like food is stuck in your throat or chest
To keep it from happening, avoid trigger foods. Stop eating at least 3 hours before you go to bed. It may help to raise the head of your bed 6 inches to keep stomach acid where it belongs while you sleep.
When it does strike, you can try OTC (over-the-counter) antacids.
For intense attacks or if it happens often, see your doctor. You may need prescription medication. For example, H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can help slow down your body’s production of stomach acid, while prokinetics and antibiotics speed up digestion to help your stomach get rid of waste after eating. Be sure to ask your doctor about the possible side effects of these medicines, including nausea, diarrhea, and a loss of bone density.
In some serious cases, your doctor might recommend surgery.
Allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis is a fast, strong allergic reaction to something — often a food, drug, or insect sting. It can cause your throat to tighten up suddenly. You may feel like it’s very hard to swallow. It can happen minutes or hours after your exposure.
If an allergic reaction is the cause of your throat tightness, you might have some of these other symptoms:
- Low blood pressure
- Trouble breathing
- Dizziness or fainting
- Itchy mouth, eyes, or throat
- Hives or rash
- Pale or bluish skin
- Stomach pain or vomiting
If you notice any of these signs, call 911 right away.
Your doctor may prescribe an epinephrine self-injection pen to keep on hand if you know you have any allergies that could cause anaphylaxis. Remember that you’ll still need to call 911 right away after you use it. The medicine can wear off, or you could have a second reaction.
Tonsillitis
If you still have your tonsils, you can get tonsillitis. That’s when tonsils become inflamed because of an infection from viruses or bacteria.
Tonsillitis makes your tonsils swell and hurt. Your throat feels very sore. You may find it hard to swallow. Lymph nodes in your throat and neck can swell up too.
If tonsillitis is the cause of your tight throat, you may also have these symptoms:
- Red throat
- Fever
- Hoarse voice
- White or yellowish patches on the back of your throat
- Headache
- Bad breath
If it’s caused by a viral infection, treat it with rest, warm liquids, throat lozenges, and gargles with saltwater to ease throat pain and tightness. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen may ease fever and pain.
If a bacterial infection is the cause, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics.
If it happens often or makes it hard for you to breathe, swallow food, or sleep, you may need surgery to remove your tonsils.
Goiter
A goiter is when your thyroid swells. This is a big, butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your throat. It makes hormones that keep your metabolism in balance. When it gets bigger, it can make your throat feel tight and closed up.
A goiter can happen if you don’t get enough iodine in your diet. This mineral is an important part of your thyroid’s hormone production.
Most people get enough iodine because it’s added to most table salt. It’s also found in seafood, seaweed, dairy products like yogurt or milk, and grains.
If a goiter is the cause of your throat tightness, you may also have these symptoms:
- Lump in your neck that you can feel or see under the skin
- Problems swallowing
- Trouble breathing
- Cough
- Hoarse, scratchy voice
If you think you may have a goiter, see your doctor. Your doctor can feel your throat for any lumps and run tests to find the cause, such as:
- Blood test to measure your thyroid hormone levels or spot any antibodies that suggest thyroid disease
- Ultrasound or scan of your thyroid
- Thyroid biopsy to draw out a fluid sample that’s sent to a lab for testing
Treatment of a goiter depends on the cause. If your case is mild and only causes a little swelling, you may just need to watch it.
To get enough iodine, use iodized table salt and eat fresh fish or shellfish, or seaweed foods like sushi. Cut back on iodine if your doctor says you get too much.
Medications can either raise or lower your thyroid hormone levels to get them back to normal. This can reduce the swelling.
If you have a very large goiter that makes it hard to breathe or swallow food, you can have surgery to remove part or all of your thyroid. Thyroid cancer is also treated with surgery.
Anxiety
Some research shows that anxiety can be linked to feelings of tightness in your throat. For example, globus is the medical term for the feeling of a lump in your throat. People who have this almost always say it’s worse when they’re stressed or anxious. This is at least in part because stress triggers muscle tension.
Another condition related to tightness in your throat is dysphagia, which is when you have a hard time swallowing or feel like something is stuck in your throat. In one study, doctors were able to predict how severe participants’ dysphagia was based more on whether they said they had anxiety than on the standard physical exam and tests.
Muscle tension dysphonia (MTD)
This is when your voice gets strained because you’re having to put more pressure or effort into speaking because of an issue affecting your voice. It can make the muscles in your neck feel tense or tight when you talk. It also can make you sound gravely, hoarse, or raspy and make it hard or painful to speak.
It can be caused by several things, including:
- A reaction to an upper respiratory infection
- Stomach acid working its way up to the throat (laryngopharyngeal reflux or LPR)
- Secondhand smoke
- Overusing your voice
- Stress
Show Sources
Cleveland Clinic: “Esophageal Spasms & Strictures,” “Heartburn Overview.”
National Sleep Foundation: “Ease Heartburn at Bedtime.”
Mayo Clinic: “Heartburn,” “Tonsillitis,” “Goiter.”
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: “Anaphylaxis.”
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: “Iodine.”
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Treatment For GER and GERD,” “Graves’ Disease,” “Hashimoto’s Disease.”
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust: “Globus: A Feeling of A Lump In The Throat.”
Northwestern Medicine: “Anxiety’s Overlooked Role In Swallowing Disorders.”
National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association: “Muscle Tension Dysphonia.”
Johns Hopkins Medicine: “Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.”
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