Spasms in the throat - a fairly common unpleasant phenomenon associated with a sudden contraction of the larynx musculature, which is accompanied by inspiratory dyspnea (shortness of breath) and can cause a complete closure of the glottis.
Spasms in the throat - symptoms and causes
Spasm in the throat develops unexpectedly and is accompanied by such symptoms:
- noisy, labored breathing;
- pale or blue skin;
- tension of neck muscles;
- cold sweat.
Spasm in the throat is accompanied by a stop of breathing and suffocation, but the attack often spontaneously after a while, ending with an elongated inspiration. In severe cases, a person loses consciousness, there may be generalized seizures, foam from the mouth, and weakening of cardiac activity. With prolonged seizure, death from asphyxia is possible.
The appearance of a spasm in the throat can be due to the following reasons:
- inhalation of air saturated with irritants (dust, harmful gases, etc.);
- lubrication of the larynx by certain medicinal substances;
- inflammatory diseases of the throat (pharyngitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, etc.);
- irritation of the wandering or recurrent laryngeal nerve, associated with the presence of goiter, neck tumor, esophagus, aortic aneurysm or stress, hysteria, tetanus, etc.
Very often the sensation of a spasm in the throat arises when swallowing while eating. This may be due to stuck food slices in the throat. If the unpleasant sensations arise simply by swallowing saliva and characterized by symptoms such as "com" and sore throat, hoarseness and difficulty breathing, then, soonest of all, the cause are infections or swelling in the throat.
The feeling of a spasm in the throat can be caused by psycho-emotional factors (nervous spasm in the throat) - stressful situations, mental and emotional overstrain, etc.
How to remove a spasm in the throat?
At an attack of a throat spasm follows:
- Provide the patient with complete peace and fresh air.
- You can try drinking water or sniffing ammonia.
- If these methods do not work, you can try to pat the patient on the back, ask him to hold his breath or artificially induce a vomitive reflex.
- With prolonged seizure, it is recommended to take a warm bath.
As prevention of spasms in the throat, the following are recommended:
- regular walks in the fresh air;
- balanced diet;
- full rest and sleep;
- relaxation procedures.