Table of contents:
- What causes pain when swallowing?
- What can be done to relieve pain when swallowing?
- When should you see a doctor for painful swallowing?
Eating is a basic human need. By eating, humans get all the nutrients they need. This eating process is very long, starting from your mouth being opened to eat, swallowing, until the food is digested by the body. Disruption of one part of the eating process can certainly interfere with the body in getting the nutrients it needs.
One of the problems you may experience with eating is pain when swallowing. This problem can happen to everyone. You think pain when swallowing may be a normal thing, but it could be a sign of an illness.
What causes pain when swallowing?
Pain when swallowing is a problem that is common to everyone. You may feel pain from the neck down the back of the breastbone. The pain is like a burning throat and feels pressure. You will also usually feel pain in your chest, feel food is still stuck in your throat, feel heavy when you swallow, or feel a pressure on your neck when you swallow.
Pain when swallowing is usually a symptom of a throat problem, infectious disease, or allergic reaction. There are many causes for difficulty swallowing, from minor problems to more serious problems. If you experience pain when swallowing once or twice, it may be due to a minor health problem. Some of the mild causes of pain when swallowing include:
- Cold
- Flu
- Chronic cough
- Throat infection, such as strep throat
- Tonsillitis or inflammation of the tonsils
- Acid reflux
However, if you have difficulty swallowing for long periods of time on a regular basis, you may have a more serious health problem. Some of the causes of pain when swallowing due to serious health problems are:
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
- Injury to the throat
- Ear infection
- Esophageal cancer (but very rare)
Usually this pain when swallowing is accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever, chills, headache, dry cough, profuse sweating, and inflammation, if the cause is infection-related.
What can be done to relieve pain when swallowing?
Some things you can do at home to relieve pain when swallowing are:
- Eat slowly and should also choose foods that are easy to chew, such as porridge or soft foods. So, the process of swallowing food is easier.
- Avoid very cold or very hot foods, if they make your pain worse.
- Drink lots of water. It can soothe and also moisturize your throat. Also, to keep the body hydrated.
- Gargle with a mixture of one glass of warm water and 1 tsp of salt. Gargle up to the back of your throat. This can help relieve swelling and pain in your throat.
- Avoid substances that can irritate your throat, such as allergens, chemicals, and cigarette smoke.
- Inhalation of water vapor. This can help relieve inflammation in the throat.
When should you see a doctor for painful swallowing?
If you start to feel uncomfortable with pain when swallowing, you should immediately consult a doctor. Moreover, if you also experience the following symptoms:
- Difficulty opening your mouth
- Sore throat that gets worse
- Difficulty breathing
- Coughing up blood
- Joint pain
- There is a lump on the neck
- Skin rash
- Hoarseness for more than two weeks
- Symptoms last for a week or more