Throat Conditions

This is where someone feels like there is a lump or a sensation of something being stuck in your throat. These sensations do not affect swallowing or one's voice and these sensations are usually less prominent when swallowing. This condition is usually closely associated with stress and/or reflux. Globus is a benign condition, but it is worth getting assessed by an ENT specialist.

This refers to cancers that originate from different areas in this region; mouth, nose and sinuses, throat (nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx), voice box (larynx) and salivary glands. Head and neck cancers are relatively uncommon, with some types being rare. About 12,000 people are diagnosed with a head and neck cacner in the UK per year. Head and neck cancers are the fourth most common cancers in men. 

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Some of the symptoms that people may notice that may be related to head and neck cancers include:

• Non resolveing ulcers or white/red patches in the mouth

• A lump in the lip/mouth or neck 

• Non resolving sore tongue/throat

• A hoarseness of the voice

• Difficulty swallowing

This is a sensation of a burning feeling in the chest due to stomach acid travellig up the throat.

Common symptoms include:

• Heartburn

• A bitter/bilious/sour/metallic taste at the back of the throat/inside the mouth

• Fluctuant hoarse voice

• Bad breath

• Difficulty swallowing

• The above symptoms being worse after eating certain foods, or when lying down or bending over

This is when one's breathing stops and starts in a cyclical pattern whilst one sleeps. This is commonly seen in children and adults.

Common symptoms include:

• Stopping and starting of breathing whilst sleeping

• Gasping/snorting noises whilst trying to breathe

• Waking up multiple times during the night

• Loud snoring

• Feeling unrefreshed on waking and feeling tired during the day

• Mood swings

• Headaches on waking

• Difficulty concentrating

The most common problems of salivary glands are infections, stones causing obstruction causing swelling and infections on a recurrent basis or less comonly, tumours of the salivary gland. Swellings of the salivary glands warrant investigations by a head and neck surgeon to ensure there is no sinister pathology causing the swelling. 

This is a common problem and is usually caused by certain medicines or other medical conditions, such as reflux or a neurological problem. The degree in swallowing difficulty can vary significantly:

• Coughing/choking when trying to swallow

• Bringing up swallowed food/drink immediately after swallowing or after a period of time (regurgitation and vomiting)

• A feeling of food/drink getting stuck in the throat/chest

• A gurgling, wet sounding voice when eating and drinking

• Recurrent chest infections caused by food and drink going down on your chest whilst swallowing

• Dehydration

• Weight loss

Tonsillitis is the infection of the tonsils and it is particularly common in children and young adults. It can present with a sore throat, pain/difficulty swallowing, high temperature, ear pain and generally feeling unwell. 

Sore throats are very common and usually nothing to worry about. They normally get better with time. However, if throat pain/soreness persists or is associated with other problems, it is worth getting seen by a medical professional to ensure there is nothing serious going on. 

A change in one's voice is usually nothing to worry about and usually get better by keeping hydrated, resting and taking regular painkillers. A change in voice can present in different ways; people may notice - 

• Hoarseness

• A rough quality to the voice

• A breathy and weak voice

• A strained voice

• A limitation in the pitch and range of the voice compared to normal

As well as the change in voice, one may feel tightness, discomfort or throat pain when talking or swallowing.

However, if the change in voice is persisting, it is worth getting seen by a medical professional to ensure there is nothing serious going on.