Cricopharyngeal spasm causes a feeling of a lump in the throat and difficulty swallowing saliva, but not food. It is often caused by stress and can be treated with muscle relaxants, stress reduction, and heat therapy. Surgery may be necessary for chronic cases.
A cricopharyngeal spasm is a spasm that occurs in the cricopharyngeus muscle. It is distinguishable when a person has a chronic feeling of having a lump in the throat. Many patients report that saliva is difficult to swallow, but food tends to go down easily.
There are two separate valves in the esophagus. Both of these valves relax to allow food and liquids to pass through. They then contract after swallowing to keep stomach contents from flowing back up. When the contraction part of swallowing doesn’t work properly, cricopharyngeal spasm occurs.
Many people worry that the feeling of a lump in the throat is the result of an actual lump in the throat, such as one that occurs from a growing tumor. Most commonly, the causes of cricopharyngeal spasm are related to stress. The occurrence of a spasm often becomes worse or worse as stress levels rise.
The most pronounced and main cricopharyngeal spasm symptom that can occur is the feeling of a lump. Most patients find that the sensation gets worse towards the end of the day. Eating stops the spasm in many cases, even if it only stops for a short time. A patient may not experience a spasm every day or the spasm may continue for days at a time.
Treatment of cricopharyngeal spasm will vary for each patient. Physicians must consider individual factors. The frequency and duration of the spasms, stress levels, medical history and age are the main factors considered when creating a treatment plan.
Prescription muscle relaxants are commonly recommended for troublesome cases. Muscle relaxants help relax the tight muscles that cause cricopharyngeal spasm. A muscle relaxant is usually taken when the spasm begins. Most prescribed muscle relaxants are benzodiazepines, but because they are highly addictive, doctors may choose a different class.
Identifying and reducing stress also works to combat the onset of spasms. Exposure to stress causes the spasms to become more intense and frequent. Keeping track of trigger points can help a patient have fewer occurrences of spasms.
Heat can be another way to treat a cricopharyngeal spasm. Warm compresses or a heating pad on the throat can relieve discomfort and relax the muscles. Some patients may also experience relief from drinking warm liquids.
This condition generally does not persist long-term. Some cases are chronic, often due to muscle disorders or damage. In these cases, a doctor may recommend surgical repair or reconstruction.
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