Yes, the “lump in the throat” is associated with anxiety. Anxiety is associated with a cascade of events which culminate in the physical symptoms of anxiety. With a perceived threat or stressor, a part of the brain called the amygdala becomes overactive, which then activates the sympathetic nervous system, which initiates the fight-or-flight response. This cascade terminates in the adrenal glands, where adrenaline and cortisol are released, which are the stress response hormones. Within the cascade, the sympathetic nervous system increases the rate of breathing, and stimulates the increase in airflow to the lungs, to oxygenate the blood so that more oxygen can be provided to the skeletal muscles for preparation to fight or flee the perceived threat.
To make more room for the increased airflow into the lungs, the throat must expand and make way. Thereby the glottis, which is the gap in-between the vocal cords and the associated throat muscles, has to expand as wide as possible. See the illustration below for the anatomy of the larynx, which houses the glottis and vocal cords.
Now contrast the above with the act of swallowing. When food is swallowed and passes down the throat into the esophagus, the muscles at the back of the throat lift the airway, the glottis constricts, and the epiglottis closes on top of the glottis, forming a seal. This prevents food from going down the wrong pipe, into the trachea (which is only for air).
However, when you attempt to swallow during this state of anxiety, the fight-or-flight response and the activated sympathetic nervous system is telling the glottis to expand, while the act of swallowing is telling the glottis to constrict. These simultaneous, opposing signals to the glottis are what give you the feeling of the lump in the throat.
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I had anaphylaxis yesterday and had to go to the emergency room. My throat closed up and now today I am having an anxiety attack since I am alone is this the anxiety or another anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction to an allergen, and can cause death. It usually involves the release of histamines, which leads to inflammation and subsequent contraction of smooth muscles in the air passages in your lungs, expansion of your blood vessels, and leakage of fluid from your blood vessels. This then leads to symptoms of problems breathing, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, dizziness, hives/rashes/swelling of the skin, vocal cord spasm, and difficulty swallowing. A panic attack is different as it only lasts for 5 to 10 minutes, and is not associated with drop in blood pressure or skin swelling. Anaphylaxis worsens over time, is associated with a drop in blood pressure, and is associated with skin swelling. Most importantly, you can die from anaphylaxis if you receive no treatment.
I’ve got here through a comment in a yb video. I used have this feeling, constantly, I thought it was reflux, because that’s what the ear throat doctor said and gave me omeprazol, which I saw minimum results. I went to a dentist for a tooth ache , he found nothing, he said I might do tension when I sleep in, so I’ve tried 25 mg of alplax, it was magic that throat pain dissapear. It was annoying to live with that pain. Since then I didnt want to auto medicate myself and went to a psychiatrist, and when I took sertraline the first week I had a similar feeling, not annoying but wouldn’t let me eat. It is interesting how the body works.
thanks for the info. (sorry about mistakes not native english speaker)
Thanks for sharing Maria!
I do have a throat pain am 38 weeks pregnant and I have anxiety, whenever i hear or see news about covid 19 the pain starts and getting worst like soar throat and burning pain whenever am talking with peoples around me or each movie it got disappear and my right eye is a bit pinkish am not sure if am always sleeping only left side or the syptom of corona or my anxiety what I know for sure is I never go out and make contact with anybody but I do have this pain on and off so pls advice me
You need a medical assessment- please see your doctor. If the doctor does not find anything, then come back to AnxietyBoss.com and learn some of these techniques to reduce your anxiety and stress.
Hi Doc. For 3 to 4 days now I have been experiencing tightness around my neck (front and sides). Occasionally, my ear becomes itchy (usually, left ear) before I only notice itchy ear after playing badminton going down to Santa Rosa from Tagaytay (I thought altitude has something to do with it). But lately, even not playing badminton due to lockdown, I felt ear itch and mild scratchy throat (not at the same time tho). Although, this happened after a nearb30 day intense exercise without rest (trying to be toned before badminton again after lockdown). No fever, no cough, no cold, no difficulty swallowing. I was adviced by a Doctor friend to take omep (because I complained of acidity and heartburn-which I suspected from taking collagen) and because I thought itchy throat and hoarse voice is from acid reflux. Still there is constriction around my neck and shoulder blades. Please help Doc. Thank you! 😊