If you feel like you have food stuck in your
throat, it can be uncomfortable, annoying or
even painful. Here’s how to determine
what’s causing the unpleasant
sensation and how to get relief.
“The most common reason people feel
like they have food stuck in their throat is
dysphagia due to gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD),” says Loreli
Garnica, M.D., a Piedmont family
medicine physician. “GERD is also
known as heartburn or reflux.”
That said, the first thing you want to do is
make sure you don’t actually have food
stuck in your throat, as this can cause a
medical emergency.
“Food can get stuck in the top part of
the esophagus, which can go into the
windpipe and cause air obstruction and
choking,” says Dr. Garnica.
What to do if someone is choking
The signs that someone is choking include:
If a person can cough forcefully, encourage
them to keep coughing. If they are choking
and can’t talk or cough forcefully,
try the following techniques from the
American Red Cross:
-
Start by giving them five back blows.
Bend them forward and hit them on
their back between the shoulder
blades with the heel of your hand.
Repeat five times.
-
Perform the Heimlich maneuver and
give them five abdominal thrusts.
Stand behind the person and wrap
your arms around their waist. If a
child is choking, kneel behind them.
Make a fist with one hand and place
the thumb side at the person’s
midsection. Cover your fist with
your other hand. Squeeze their
abdomen with five quick, upward
thrusts.
-
Repeat these two techniques until the
person can breathe or cough again.
If they become unconscious, call 911
and start CPR.
-
Never perform a blind finger sweep
(where you use your finger to try to
dislodge the item from their mouth
or throat). This can push the object
further into their airway.
If you’re choking and alone:
-
Call 911.
-
Place your fist just above your belly
button.
-
Wrap your other hand around your
first.
-
Bend over a hard surface like a chair
or countertop.
-
Firmly press your first inward and
upward.
It can be helpful to take a first aid class
to learn these techniques from a
professional. Having these skills can save
someone’s life.
Signs of gastroesophageal reflux
disease
If you feel like food is stuck in your
throat, but you’re not choking, the
most common culprit is GERD.
Sip some water and take an over-the-counter
antacid like Tums, Dr. Garnica suggests.
Symptoms of GERD include:
-
Feeling like there’s a lump in
your throat
-
Trouble swallowing
-
Chronic cough
-
A burning sensation in your chest
(Unlike a heart attack, GERD
presents as more of a burning
sensation, while a heart attack
feels like chest tightness or
pressure, she says.)
For chronic heartburn symptoms, Dr. Garnica
recommends making lifestyle changes first.
The following lifestyle modifications can
help relieve symptoms:
-
Avoid
triggers like spicy, fatty
or acidic foods.
-
Don’t lie down for at least
three hours after eating.
-
Quit
smoking if you currently
smoke.
-
Eat smaller meals.
-
Elevate the head of your bed by about
six inches.
“If lifestyle changes don’t work,
we have medications we can try, including
over-the-counter and prescription
antacids,” she says. “Left
untreated, GERD can potentially cause damage
to the esophagus and even lead to esophageal
cancer.”
When to seek medical care if you
feel like something is stuck in your
throat
“Be aware of your symptoms and listen
to your body,” says Dr. Garnica.
“If you have any health concerns,
it’s always a good idea to seek
medical evaluation.”
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