The throat feels stuffy and uncomfortable

The situation of throat congestion is very common in daily life. It will not only cause certain harm to the patient's physical health, but also cause a series of diseases. Therefore, it is particularly important to understand the cause and learn scientific and effective treatment methods. Factors such as upper respiratory tract lesions adjacent to the pharynx, climate and regional environmental changes can cause this condition, which can be treated with local treatment methods.

1. The discomfort of throat congestion may be pharyngitis

1. Upper respiratory tract lesions adjacent to the pharynx

For example, chronic inflammation of the nasal cavity, sinuses, and nasopharynx may irritate the pharyngeal mucosa due to the reflux of inflammatory secretions through the posterior nasal cavity to the pharynx; diseases such as chronic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, chronic sinusitis, adenoids hypertrophy, snoring, or space-occupying lesions in the nasal cavity, sinuses, and nasopharynx affect nasal ventilation, causing long-term mouth breathing, causing long-term excessive dryness of the pharyngeal mucosa and leading to chronic pharyngitis; chronic inflammation of chronic tonsillitis can directly spread to the posterior pharyngeal wall, causing chronic pharyngitis; if oral inflammation is not controlled in time, it can also lead to chronic pharyngitis as the inflammation spreads.

2. Changes in climate and regional environment

Changes in temperature and humidity, poor air quality, stimulation from tobacco and alcohol, spicy and irritating foods, dust, harmful gases and radioactive exposure are also causes of chronic pharyngitis.

3. Occupational factors

People who use their voice extensively for a long time, such as teachers, singers, and those with susceptible physical conditions may also develop this disease.

4. Systemic factors

Chronic pharyngitis can also be caused by anemia, indigestion, gastroesophageal reflux, heart disease (due to blood circulation disorders affecting the pharyngeal venous return and causing local congestion in the pharynx), chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, rheumatism, liver and kidney diseases, etc. Endocrine disorders, autonomic nervous system disorders, infection with Bacillus rhinorrhoeae and diphtheroids, vitamin deficiency and immune dysfunction are all related to atrophic and dry pharyngitis.

5. Allergic factors

Inhaled allergens (including seasonal and perennial allergens), medications, chemical irritants in the workplace, and food allergens can all cause allergic pharyngitis.

2. What are the main symptoms of chronic pharyngitis?

Patients often feel a blockage in the throat, dryness and tightness, a sticky feeling of phlegm, or small ball-like "lumps" moving up and down in the throat, which they can neither swallow nor spit out. This is more obvious when swallowing saliva, but eating is not hindered. When inflammatory secretions irritate the laryngeal mucosa, the vocal cords can easily become swollen and congested, which can cause hoarseness over time.

1. Eliminate the cause

Quit smoking and drinking, and actively treat the primary diseases that cause chronic pharyngitis (acute pharyngitis, chronic inflammation of the nose and nasopharynx, reflux gastroesophageal disease, and improve work and living environment).

2. Lifestyle changes

Perform appropriate physical exercise, maintain a normal work and rest schedule, eat a light diet, and maintain a good mental state to improve the local functional state of the pharyngeal mucosa by enhancing one's overall immune function.

3. Local treatment

(1) Chronic simple pharyngitis can be treated by gargling with compound borax, furazolidone solution, etc. to keep the mouth and pharynx clean; or taking iodine lozenges, mint lozenges, etc. to treat chronic pharyngitis; Chinese medicine preparations also have a certain effect on chronic pharyngitis; compound iodine glycerin, 5% silver nitrate solution or 10% weak protein silver solution can be applied to the pharynx topically, which has astringent and anti-inflammatory effects; ultrasonic nebulization can relieve the symptoms of chronic pharyngitis; antibiotic treatment is generally not required.

(2) Chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis is more difficult to treat and can be treated with reference to chronic simple pharyngitis. In addition to the above methods, the raised lymph follicles on the posterior pharyngeal wall can also be treated with chemical drugs or electrocoagulation, freezing or laser therapy. Chemical drugs often use 20% silver nitrate or chromic acid solution to burn enlarged lymph follicles. Electrocoagulation is rarely used nowadays due to its many side effects. Laser or radiofrequency therapy is often used to treat the posterior pharyngeal wall lymph follicles. The above methods of treating lymph follicles may increase mucosal scarring and may aggravate symptoms. In addition, ultrasonic atomization therapy, local ultraviolet irradiation and diathermy therapy also have auxiliary effects on hypertrophic pharyngitis.

(3) Atrophic and dry pharyngitis are generally treated the same as chronic simple pharyngitis, but cauterization should not be used. Small doses of iodine can be taken or applied topically to the throat to promote increased secretion of the mucosal epithelium; ultrasonic nebulization therapy can also relieve dryness symptoms. Taking vitamins A, B2, C, and E can promote the growth of pharyngeal mucosal epithelial tissue. For patients with dry pharyngitis, caution should be exercised when considering tonsillectomy to avoid worsening of the condition after surgery.

(4) For chronic allergic pharyngitis, avoid contact with various possible allergens, use antihistamines or mast cell stabilizers, and apply glucocorticoids and immunomodulators locally or systemically for a short period of time.

(5) For chronic reflux pharyngitis, avoid eating foods that promote gastric acid secretion, such as chocolate, spicy foods, etc. to reduce reflux in the throat and reduce irritation to the pharyngeal mucosa; control the amount of food and water intake 3 to 4 hours before bedtime. In addition to the general treatment of chronic pharyngitis, gastric acid inhibitors and gastric mucosal protectants can be used in combination for treatment, while gastric diseases can be actively treated at the same time.