Causes of bad breath from the throat: diseases, factors and treatment. Causes of bad throat odor

Bad smell from the throat - sensitive issue, which can create a lot of inconvenience for its owner. It's not just about the feeling of insecurity that comes with having to communicate with people or awkwardness on a date, but also the possible negative consequences for health. Understand the reasons unpleasant symptom Our review and video in this article will help.

In fact, to determine whether there is really an unpleasant smell from the throat, or whether it is caused by problems oral cavity or the digestive system is not so easy.

According to statistics, most often halitosis (as it is scientifically called bad smell from the mouth) cause:

caries;
insufficient oral hygiene;
chronic gastritis;
smoking and alcohol abuse.

Throat diseases cause bad breath in approximately 20 percent of cases. What diseases are associated with an unpleasant odor from the throat: the causes of the condition are listed below.

Chronic tonsillitis

Tonsillitis is inflammation palatine tonsils, most often of a bacterial nature. Most often, the disease begins against a background of weakened immunity, when the pathogen invades the mucous membrane and active inflammation develops.

If treated improperly, tonsil infection takes on a chronic, sluggish form with periods of exacerbation followed by remission. The mucus accumulated in the throat due to inflammation - with an unpleasant odor, viscous and abundant - causes significant discomfort.

Characteristic symptoms of the disease also include:

increased body temperature;
symptoms of intoxication;
headache;
weakness;
decreased performance;
strong pain when swallowing;
coughing up purulent clots (lumps with a smell come out of the throat).

When examining the throat, you can notice swollen, enlarged tonsils with a grayish or white purulent coating.

An otolaryngologist treats acute or chronic forms of tonsillitis. The main goal of therapy is to eliminate the pathogen.

This can be achieved by prescribing a course of antibiotics and rinsing with antiseptics. In chronic forms of the disease, tonsillectomy is often indicated - removal of the source of the unpleasant odor - inflamed tonsils.

Note! Tonsillectomy is easier to tolerate in childhood.

Flemoxin Solutab is a popular antibiotic for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis. The instructions prescribe for adults to take 500 mg tablets 2-3 times a day (depending on the severity of the condition), for 5-7 days. average price drug – 300 rub.

Tonsilloliths

Tonsilloliths, or tonsil plugs, are another type of chronic infection of the tonsils, in which bacteria, pus and mucus are confined to the capsule and become compacted. Such formations look like white or grayish pustules in the lacunae of the tonsils. Their size can reach 5-10 mm (see photo).

This disease may be asymptomatic or cause pain when swallowing, bad breath, and a lump in the throat. If you find yourself with tonsillitis, consult an ENT doctor. You should not remove plugs with your own hands. The specialist will rinse the tonsils with special apparatus and relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Throat cancer

Throat cancer is a dangerous pathology that is one of the ten most common among malignant neoplasms. Tumor growth is accompanied by tissue breakdown with unpleasant putrid smell.

The disease is practically asymptomatic for a long time, and this may be its only manifestation. From the throat, the smell spreads into the oropharynx, and it can be felt not only by the patient, but also by those around him.

Typical symptoms of throat cancer also include:

soreness, pain when swallowing;
feeling foreign body in the throat;
enlarged cervical lymph nodes;
progressive weight loss, refusal to eat;
unilateral hearing loss;
cough with mucopurulent sputum, sometimes streaked with blood.

Only an oncologist can diagnose throat cancer and prescribe the correct treatment. When diagnosed at an early stage and timely treatment the disease has a favorable prognosis.

Comparison table of the main causes of unpleasant odor in the throat:

Thus, bad breath can be a consequence of various diseases. Each of them, from chronic infection to oncological pathology, poses a danger to the body.

Be sure to consult a doctor if you are concerned about discharge, lumps in the throat with an unpleasant odor. The doctor will be able to determine the cause of the disease and prescribe proper treatment.

This is especially true for people whose work involves constant communication; the problems that arise are not only of a medical, but also of a social nature.

Before trying to eliminate this problem, you need to figure out what reasons could have caused it. In most cases, bad breath is caused by dental problems or pathology of internal organs, but is also possible due to low level oral hygiene.

Causes of halitosis

Bad breath is caused by anaerobic bacteria produced in the mouth or digestive tract. This can happen for several reasons:

foods consumed (radish, onion, garlic);
decaying food debris in the mouth;
caries, periodontal disease, massive plaque;
pathologies of ENT organs;
pulmonary diseases;
gastrointestinal diseases;
diabetes;
renal failure;
oncological diseases.

Bad breath is not a disease in itself; it is the disease that caused it that needs to be treated. Once the root cause is eliminated, it will stop bothering you. Acute infections in the throat (sore throat, pharyngeal abscess) can cause an unpleasant odor that goes away after recovery. If the patient long time your breath smells without obvious signs of illness, you should consult your doctor about chronic infections ENT organs.

Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the tonsils, since when chronic tonsillitis food and bacteria residues accumulate in their recesses, which are the source of an unpleasant odor in the throat.

Halitosis with tonsillitis

In many people, even healthy tonsils can develop plugs consisting of food debris, dead epithelial cells, bacteria and calcium salts. They are not dangerous, but they cause a lot of inconvenience, causing the sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Usually their size does not exceed a pea, but it is the accumulation of bacteria in them that causes the odor that accompanies tonsillitis.

How to properly treat tonsillitis? Many people, trying to quickly get rid of an unpleasant odor, try to remove plugs in the tonsils themselves using their fingers or cotton swabs. This should absolutely not be done; this method will only increase the source of infection.

You can remove stones from the tonsils using an irrigator with Laryngozol, but it is better to entrust this procedure to a doctor so as not to damage the tonsils with a strong stream of water. Bad breath with tonsillitis can be eliminated by rinsing with decoctions twice a day. medicinal herbs(chamomile, calendula) or salt water.

A good result is obtained by gargling with furatsilin solution and treating the throat with streptocide. The powder obtained from crushed tablets of white streptocide is sprinkled on the tonsils and the saliva is not swallowed for some time. Treatment is carried out within a week.

Pretty tonsillitis dangerous disease, especially for children and adolescents, since against its background there is a risk of developing other inflammatory processes(sinusitis). To get rid of it once and for all, many doctors suggest conservative treatment replace with tonsil removal surgery.

But it should be remembered that after removal of the tonsils, the protective properties of the body are reduced, since the tonsils act as a kind of barrier to microbes penetrating from the outside, and also inform the entire lymphatic system for timely production of antibodies.

Prevention of halitosis

There are many reasons for the occurrence of unpleasant odor from the mouth and throat, to eliminate it and freshen your breath, the following are recommended: preventive measures:

Rinse your mouth after every meal. Try to brush your teeth 2 times a day and use special dental floss.
Periodically clean your tongue and the inside of your cheeks with a toothbrush that has this function.
Change your diet to increase vegetables and fruits and decrease meat.
If you smoke, try to quit.
Avoid eating foods that may cause an unpleasant odor.
Drink more water and use sugar-free gum.
If you have dentures, they must be cleaned daily to prevent food debris and bacteria from accumulating in them.
Use special mouthwashes that have an antibacterial effect.

All these preventive measures will not get rid of the unpleasant odor if its cause lies in diseases gastrointestinal tract or ENT organs. In this situation, you should not put off visiting a doctor in order to get rid of the disease in time and breathe freely and easily.

Lump in the throat: reasons for the feeling of a lump, unpleasant odor, mucus, belching

The feeling that a foreign body is stuck in the throat, which makes it difficult to swallow even saliva, and after swallowing returns to its place again, is called a “lump in the throat.” The causes of this symptom can be different: from angioedema, which occurs when eating unusual foods (the introduction of a new drug, an insect bite) to diseases of the esophagus and thyroid gland, which really block the lumen of the throat. In all cases, only medical diagnosis will help.

The main thing is, don’t worry that you won’t be able to breathe: dangerous diseases, in which the throat can actually be blocked, develop gradually, not in 1 day (except for Quincke’s edema, but you will see it in the mirror). In addition, by “turning on” panic, you can only harm yourself by increasing the feeling of lack of air. Therefore, if you have a feeling of a lump, carefully examine your neck, look into your throat. If there is no sharp increase in the volume of the neck, and the tonsils have not closed together, calmly contact a therapist. And below we will tell you what reasons could cause the sensation of a lump.

Causes

The causes of a lump in the throat are varied - from “nervous soil”, when no narrowing of the respiratory or digestive tract actually occurs, to throat abscesses, which can cause asphyxia. Most often similar symptom occurs in pathological processes localized in the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and initial parts of the esophagus.

The main pathologies that cause the feeling of a lump in the throat are as follows:

chronic inflammation tonsils, throat lining, or vocal cords;
flow of mucus from the inflamed sinuses or nasal cavity into the throat;
inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat;
diseases of the pharyngeal muscles or disruption of the signal going to them along the nerves (with a stroke, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis);
esophageal tumors (benign or malignant);
diseases of the thyroid gland, accompanied by its enlargement;
reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and higher (gastro-esophageal reflux);
scleroderma with damage to the esophagus;
dermatomyositis with damage to the esophagus;
esophageal diverticulum;
throat abscesses: accumulation of pus above the epiglottis, in the tissue near the tonsils or in the tissue between the pharyngeal muscles;
esophageal spasm;
neuroses, panic attacks, hysteria;

Can a “lump” cause suffocation?

Sometimes it can, and it depends on the area in which the pathological process is located. To do this, let's look at how the human throat and underlying organs work - those structures whose disease can cause the sensation of a lump.

The oral and nasal cavities are not exactly “tubes” correct form. They flow into one large “pipe” - the pharynx. The latter is quite long (11-12 cm) and ends in a kind of “fork”:

on one side it passes into the larynx - the initial part of the respiratory tract, the place where vocal cords, forming sounds;
on the other hand, behind the larynx, the pharynx ends in the esophagus - a muscular tube that leads directly to the stomach.

Before the nasal cavity passes into the pharynx, at the mouth auditory tube- a formation connecting the ear and pharynx; in the area of the root of the tongue and on both sides of it there are tonsils - large accumulations of lymphoid tissue. The same tissue is scattered in the form of small “peas” in different places of the back wall of the pharynx.

The task of lymphoid tissue is to “inspect” the air flow and bolus of food for microbes and agents potentially dangerous to the body. If any are found, the tonsils and separate areas to fight germs increase in size. They may then feel like a lump in the throat.

If a person inhales air that contains a certain number of microorganisms, usually both the palatine tonsils (which are what we see in the mirror when we open our mouth) and the pharyngeal tonsil, which lies on the border of the nose and pharynx, immediately enlarge. If they increase significantly (due to the simultaneous exposure of a large number of microbes to the air or the constant inhalation of small volumes of dust or microorganisms), not only a lump in the throat will be felt. This can cause difficulty breathing, but rarely to the point of suffocation.

A condition called peritonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess can cause suffocation. In this case, which is a complication purulent sore throat, pus permeates fatty tissue around the tonsils (one or two). With a large amount of pus, the enlarged tonsil blocks the path of air.

Impaired air passage and suffocation can develop as a result of edema or abscess of the epiglottis. This condition develops as a complication of allergies (most often food) or acute respiratory viral infections.

In the cases listed above, what comes to the fore is not the feeling of a lump in the throat, but severe pain in the throat, inability to swallow, fever and symptoms of intoxication (headache, weakness, nausea).

Another significant part of the “lumps” is caused by the so-called postnasal drip. This is the name of the condition when, as a result of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract (nose, paranasal sinuses, nasopharynx), mucus is formed and it flows down the back wall throats.

However, the main reasons for the sensation of a lump in the throat are localized in the esophagus - a tube that is designed to move food to those parts of the digestive system where it can be processed and digested. Pathological processes in the esophagus that can cause suffocation are those that either grow from its anterior wall, which is adjacent directly to the trachea (the trachea is in front) or have great hardness to try to close the tracheal cartilage. Before the feeling of lack of air appears, a “lump” and swallowing disturbances will be felt for a long time: first of solid food, then of liquid food.

Now let’s look at what could be the reasons for the appearance of a foreign body in the throat - depending on the symptoms that accompany the “lump”.

Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing

A lump in the throat when swallowing develops with any of the following diseases.

Cardiospasm (cardia achalasia)

This is a disease in which spasm occurs in the orbicularis muscle located between the esophagus and stomach.

Characterized by sudden difficulty swallowing, when warm liquid food or, in rare cases, solid food passes better. A person feels that food it will go better, if you walk after eating or eat while standing, or put pressure on your chest while eating. There may be pain in the upper part of the sternum, which is similar to pain in the heart.

Reflux esophagitis

This is the name of the condition when the contents of the stomach are constantly thrown into the esophagus and inflame its mucous membrane.

Symptoms of the disease: heartburn and sour belching that occur after eating (especially if you lie down immediately), when bending the body forward, if a person has eaten less than 1.5 hours before bedtime. With this disease, there is also pain in the chest (very reminiscent of pain in the heart), which radiates to the lower jaw, the area between the shoulder blades, and the left half of the chest. There may be a cough that develops only when lying down, dry throat, bloating, nausea, and vomiting.

Hiatal hernia

In this case, the stomach and, in some cases, the intestines, which should be in abdominal cavity, due to the expansion of the hole in the diaphragm through which the esophagus should pass, they find themselves (periodically or constantly) in the chest cavity.

The disease is very similar to reflux esophagitis: in addition to a “lump” in the throat, it is also characterized by heartburn after eating, pain in the pit of the stomach when a person has been standing in a bent position for a long time, and abdominal pain. If penetrating into chest cavity organs compress the heart or lungs, there will be shortness of breath, pain behind the sternum, blueness around the mouth, worsening after eating.

Thyroid pathologies

The sensation of a lump when swallowing occurs when thyroid increases and begins to put pressure on the underlying thyroid cartilage of the larynx. This may look like:

production increased amount hormones (hyperthyroidism), which is manifested by weight loss with increased appetite, increased heart rate, sweating, irritability, periodic attacks of abdominal pain and vomiting;
the production of a reduced amount of hormones (hypothyroidism), in which a person gains weight despite a decreased appetite. Such a patient has noticeable slowness and fast fatiguability, his memory is reduced, his skin becomes dry, and his hair becomes brittle and tends to fall out;
normal gland function. In this case, apart from a lump and an increase in the volume of the neck, there are no other noticeable symptoms.

Thyroid disease does not lead to swallowing problems.

Chronic pharyngitis

This is an inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa, occurring or as a consequence of insufficient treatment. acute pharyngitis, or prolonged exposure to dusty, dry or polluted air.

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis are: a feeling of dryness, sore throat, frequent attacks of dry painful cough. As the disease worsens, a sore throat is noted and the body temperature may rise.

Chronic laryngitis

This is the name for chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. Cause of disease: common acute laryngitis on the background professional activity(teachers, singers, speakers), smoking or alcohol abuse.

The disease manifests itself as a feeling of dryness in the throat, sore throat. The voice becomes hoarse until it is completely lost. There is also a dry, debilitating cough that develops in paroxysms. There may be a feeling of lack of air, pain when swallowing.

Mental disorders

This feeling is observed in 60% of people suffering from depression. The main symptoms: constant bad mood, inability to rejoice, constant pessimistic attitude, loss of interest in life or what used to make you happy.

The same complaint can be heard from people suffering from neuroses. These conditions arise after some kind of traumatic factor and can manifest themselves various symptoms: irritability, frequent phobias, panic attacks, anxiety, mood instability, sleep disorders, pain various localizations(in the heart, in the stomach, in the head), imbalance, dizziness. The diagnosis is made after excluding cardiac, neurological and other somatic diseases.

Complaints about this feeling are also made by people in whom psychiatrists, upon examination, discover hysterical personality disorder. This disease is more often found in women, when, against the background of a constantly observed unstable mood and a tendency to fantasize, attacks of transient blindness, deafness, and paralysis may appear. At the same time, a brain examination does not reveal any strokes or micro-strokes. "Lump", unlike attacks of blindness/deafness, can be observed constantly.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

It is manifested not only by a feeling of a lump in the throat, but also, most often, by dizziness, pain or crunching when turning the neck, and headache when the weather changes.

Foreign object in the esophagus

The feeling of a coma can be caused by an object stuck in the esophagus: fish bone, tablet, inedible particle taken with food.

Esophageal trauma

The esophagus can be injured by a probe (during fibrogastroscopy or placement of a feeding tube or evacuation of contents). The injury can be caused by a swallowed bone or a tablet: damage to the mucous membrane can be distinguished from the appearance of a foreign object there only after consulting a doctor: an ENT doctor or an endoscopist, who will have to perform fibrogastroscopy.

Oncological diseases

Throat cancer may cause this sensation. Oncology is accompanied by other symptoms: cough, difficulty swallowing solid food first, then liquid food, and sudden weight loss.

Cancer of the esophagus, in addition to these symptoms, pain and a feeling of fullness behind the sternum, regurgitation of food, and the production of a large amount of saliva are added to it. The feeling of a foreign body in the throat at first simply prevents you from eating food, then forces you to drink it, then only take liquid meals. If at this stage a person does not consult a doctor, he completely loses the ability to take food and water.

Sjögren's syndrome

This is a condition when your own immunity affects the connective tissue and external secretion glands (tear, salivary). It develops most often in women during menopause. It begins with a feeling of dry eyes, dry skin, mouth and genitals. Seizures appear in the corners of the mouth, causing pain at first only when yawning, and then when talking. As a result of dry mucous membranes, crusts form in the nose, and sinusitis, bronchitis, and gastritis are often observed. With this syndrome, a lump when swallowing is not one of the first symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis

This is a disease in which one’s own immunity attacks the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Such a lesion is observed in a mosaic pattern: some people have some pathological foci (for example, in the frontal lobe and cerebellum), while others have others (more in the spinal cord than in the brain). Therefore, there are no specific symptoms for this disease. When the nerve pathways leading to the esophagus are damaged, swallowing is impaired and a foreign body is felt in the throat. This symptom is rarely observed on its own, accompanied by other changes: tremor, paralysis of one or more limbs, strabismus, blurred vision, decreased sensitivity.

Previous stroke

The sensation of a foreign object in the throat when swallowing can be as a result of a stroke in those parts of the brain that are responsible for the act of swallowing. In this case, the process of food entering the stomach will be disrupted (difficult), but will not depend on whether the food is solid or liquid.

If after a stroke you only feel a lump in the throat, and swallowing is not impaired, most likely this is a consequence of a feeding tube in the stomach that passed through the pharynx and esophagus. In this case, the feeling of a foreign body should pass over time.

Scleroderma of the esophagus

Scleroderma is systemic disease, at which normal connective tissue becomes dense, the arterioles that feed it cease to function.

The disease does not affect the esophagus alone. It begins with damage to the feet and hands, which begin to freeze paroxysmally (at first only in the cold, after excitement or smoking, and then without any visible provoking factor), while they first become alabaster-white, then turn red. Such attacks are accompanied by pain in the fingers, a feeling of fullness, and burning.

Simultaneously with Raynaud's syndrome, which has now been described, the esophagus is also affected. This is manifested by worsening swallowing problems and heartburn. It becomes increasingly difficult for food to pass through the esophagus, which creates the sensation of a lump.

Myasthenia gravis

This disease is characterized by progressive weakness of the muscles, including those that carry out the swallowing process, those that “put a block” to prevent food from entering the respiratory tract, and those whose duty is to “expel” particles that have entered the trachea or bronchi by coughing. food.

Most often, myasthenia gravis begins with a violation of swallowing and coma, then difficulty in raising the eyelids (so a person has to raise his chin to look at something), and the voice changes.

Damage to the nerves involved in the act of swallowing

This can happen with thrombosis jugular vein, with a fracture of the base of the skull or glomus tumor. This is accompanied by disturbances in swallowing, tongue movement, and a lump in the throat.

Fazio-Londe syndrome

This is a rare inherited disease that develops in children, adolescents and young adults. The first manifestations of the disease are respiratory failure, wheezing, then the face becomes distorted, speech is impaired (becomes blurred, slurred), a feeling of a foreign body appears in the throat, and swallowing is impaired.

Pseudobulbar palsy

In this case, swallowing is impaired, speech is slurred, and a person may cry or laugh for any reason, especially when conducting neurological tests (by baring his teeth or holding some object across his lips).

Guillain-Barre syndrome

This is a disease that develops as a complication of intestinal infections, colds, herpetic infection when the activated immune system begins to attack cells nerve trunks. The disease begins with deterioration of movements of the feet or both feet and hands. If this immune reaction is not stopped, the nerves that carry commands to the parts of the limbs that are closer to the body (hips, shoulders) are affected. IN severe cases Swallowing is impaired, a nasal voice appears, and breathing may “switch off,” which is why such patients are treated in intensive care units.

Dystrophic myotonia

This is a hereditary disease, the symptoms of which often appear between the ages of 10 and 20 years. Less commonly, symptoms occur immediately after birth.

It is characterized by the appearance of spasmodic tension in the masticatory muscles and those muscles that flex the hand. Swallowing and facial expressions are impaired, the timbre of the voice changes, and sleep apnea may occur.

Other reasons

For diseases that force a person to breathe through the mouth (adenoiditis, chronic sinusitis)
If you are dehydrated (eg. food poisoning or intestinal infection: salmonellosis, dysentery).
Enlarged The lymph nodes under the lower jaw, near the corner lower jaw, on the front of the neck or near the hyoid bone.

Diseases that also cause an unpleasant odor

A lump in the throat with an unpleasant odor is a symptom characteristic of ENT diseases. Basically, it appears when chronic sinusitis and chronic tonsillitis.

Chronic sinusitis

It is manifested by prolonged mucous or mucopurulent discharge (“snot”) on one or both sides, the flow of which down the back wall of the pharynx and causes a sensation of “coma” with an unpleasant odor. Difficulty breathing through the nose - on one or both sides.

In addition, a person periodically feels a headache - it is on this side that sometimes a feeling of heaviness is felt directly in the area of the inflamed sinus. The sense of smell decreases until it is completely lost. Due to constant mouth breathing, dry mouth occurs, the ear on the affected side periodically feels stuffy, and hearing deteriorates.

Chronic tonsillitis

This is a long-term and indolent inflammation of the tonsils. The tonsil is a formation of soft tissue, with depressions and passages on the surface, and voids inside. If the tonsil becomes inflamed under the influence of a microbe and cannot cleanse itself, the inflammatory process in it becomes chronic. Food debris enters this amygdala, which also supports this process.

As a result, white lumps of dead leukocytes, microbes, food debris and cells exfoliated from the surface of the organ are formed in the tonsil. These are caseous plugs, which are the source of an extremely unpleasant odor.

When the inflammatory process worsens, the tonsils also secrete pus. Over the course of a day, up to half a glass can form, and all of it will be swallowed. This pus, on the one hand, is the “lump” in the throat. On the other hand, it leads to inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx and stomach, where it enters, which increases bad breath.

Zenker's diverticula

This is the name for protrusions of the wall of the esophagus that face outer side, at the level of the transition of the pharynx into the esophagus. The disease manifests itself as a sensation of a foreign body in the pharynx, difficulty swallowing both solid and liquid food. Since a diverticulum is a kind of “pocket” where food can (and does) enter, an unpleasant odor is often felt from the mouth.

Such patients also complain of regurgitation undigested food(especially when lying down), dry cough, nausea, change in voice timbre. There may be attacks of the “blockade phenomenon”: after eating, a person feels that he is suffocating, he begins to feel dizzy, and he may even faint. If you induce vomiting against this background, the attack goes away.

Diseases in which a lump is combined with belching

A lump in the throat and belching are characteristic of the following diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

Gastroesophageal reflux

This is the reflux of food from the stomach into the esophagus. It is described in the section “Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing.”

Esophagitis

This is the name for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the esophagus, which can be caused by various microbes, physical (consequences of a burn from hot food) or chemical (consequences of ingested acid or alkali). The cause may also be esophageal tuberculosis (only in the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis) or candidiasis (as a complication of oral thrush).

It is characterized by the development of the following symptoms:

burning behind the sternum after eating;
pain behind the sternum, which is present constantly or periodically, can radiate to the shoulders and the area between the shoulder blades;
the sensation of a lump in the throat and belching is present during and immediately after eating, which is associated with additional trauma to the inflamed mucous membrane from the food bolus;
periodically, a small amount of food from the esophagus may return back into the mouth.

Neuroses

These conditions in which the functioning of individual parts of the central nervous system, but their structure is not violated.

Taking certain medications

Treatment with those medications that have a damaging effect on the mucous membrane causes belching, and the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, which is often accompanied by this condition - a lump in the throat.

The main drugs that lead to the appearance of these two symptoms are painkillers (Nimesil, Diclofenac, Analgin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin) and hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone).

If you really need to take one of these drugs, and you notice the appearance of belching and a lump in the throat, consult a gastroenterologist on how to protect your stomach (usually drugs like Omeprazole or Rabeprazole are used for this). Take anti-inflammatory drugs only after meals.

Pregnancy

The combination of belching and a lump in the throat can be caused by pregnancy. This is explained by the fact that in this case the woman’s hormonal background changes, which leads to relaxation of the muscles located between different departments Gastrointestinal tract, including between the esophagus and stomach. As a result, food is often thrown into the esophagus, inflaming it, which causes belching and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat.

Combination of several diseases

It may happen that two unrelated diseases develop at the same time: for example, an increase in the volume of the thyroid gland, which causes a sensation of a lump in the throat, and inflammation of the stomach (gastritis), which causes belching. The same combination can be observed when consuming a large amount of gas-forming foods and drinks and acute respiratory infections with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat.

Hiatal hernia

The symptoms of this pathology are discussed in the section “Diseases accompanied by the sensation of a foreign body when swallowing.”

Esophageal trauma

Swallowing too hot, aggressive contents, inserting a feeding tube before anesthesia, or conducting a study such as fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FEGDS) can cause belching and coma.

Diseases in which both a foreign body and dryness are felt in the throat

Diseases in which both a lump and dry throat are noted are described above. This:

laryngitis: acute and chronic;
pharyngitis: acute and chronic;
chronic sinusitis;
allergic swelling of the epiglottis. This condition appears after eating some new food, walking in a flowering garden, using new medications or working with products household chemicals. It manifests itself as a lump in the throat, which quickly grows and interferes with breathing. It is necessary to urgently seek medical help.
Sjögren's syndrome;
adenoiditis;
diseases leading to dehydration;
smoking.

When you feel a lump in your throat as if made of mucus

A lump in the throat and mucus will be observed with:

postnasal drip, when mucus from an inflamed nose or nose drips down the back of the throat paranasal sinuses;
exposure to the mucous membrane of the throat from tobacco, spicy foods, alcohol, and vasoconstrictor nasal drops. In this case, your health does not suffer, and a “lump of mucus” is observed only in the morning;
chronic pharyngitis;
runny nose;
inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx;
allergic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis;
reflux of gastric contents into the throat (laryngopharyngeal reflux), which is manifested by a mucous lump and attacks of dry cough.

When a foreign body sensation is combined with a sore throat

The appearance of a sore throat and lump is characteristic of the following pathologies:

Acute tonsillitis, which is manifested by fever, weakness, and sometimes nausea. The throat hurts, it hurts to swallow both liquid and solid food.
Acute pharyngitis, which often occurs with acute respiratory infections (viral, fungal or bacterial origin). It manifests itself as a sore throat, a feeling of mucus, soreness and a lump in it, and a dry cough.
Acute laryngitis, which can also be a manifestation of acute respiratory infections or occur due to hypothermia and excessive use of the voice. It manifests itself as hoarseness of the voice, pain in the throat, which may intensify when swallowing, a feeling of dryness, soreness, and scratching in the throat. The cough is dry and painful at first, but soon phlegm begins to be coughed up.
Peritonsillar abscess - impregnation of fiber near the tonsils (most often one) with pus. Develops as a complication of purulent tonsillitis or purulent pharyngitis. Manifested by increasing sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, and bad breath.
Parapharyngeal abscess. In this case, the abscess is localized in the peripharyngeal space. This, like a paratonsillar abscess, is a complication of purulent tonsillitis, but it can also develop due to the flow of pus from the nasal sinuses into the peripharyngeal tissue, or the ingress of pus from the roots of the teeth. It is characterized by pain on one side of the throat, painful swallowing, difficulty opening the mouth, and high fever. Requires urgent surgical intervention, otherwise it may be complicated by the breakthrough of pus into the tissue around the large vessels of the neck, which may result in severe bleeding.
An abscess of the root of the tongue is characterized by a sensation of a lump in the throat, an increase in the volume of the tongue, which prevents it from fitting in the mouth and makes breathing difficult and speech slurred. The temperature rises, weakness and malaise appear, and sleep is disturbed. Necessary urgent treatment in the ENT department of the hospital.
Inflammation and abscess of the epiglottis are manifested by a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, pain in the throat, which increases with swallowing, increased body temperature, difficulty breathing, and a nasal voice.

What to do if you have a lump in your throat

Treatment for a lump in the throat depends on its cause. So, if it is a tumor formation, surgery is needed, followed by the administration of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Diverticula are also removed surgically. With the development of a paratonsillar or parapharyngeal abscess, an operation to open and drain the abscess is also necessary. But myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome and some other diseases are treated only conservatively.

Therefore, to determine the cause of the “lump,” contact an otolaryngologist (ENT). He will examine the pharynx and larynx, examine the epiglottis and palpate the neck to rule out a parapharyngeal abscess, and take a culture from the tonsils and posterior pharyngeal wall. If no pathological process is detected, you need to be examined further:

perform an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and test those hormones that the endocrinologist says;
perform an MRI of the brain, cervical spine spine and neck organs and undergo those examinations recommended by a neurologist;
visit a gastroenterologist, perform FEGDS (fibrogastroscopy).

If at least 1 symptom from the following occurs, consult a doctor immediately:

it became difficult to breathe;
temperature increased above 37.5°C;
swelling of the neck along with a sore throat;
coughing up sputum in which pus or blood is visible;
a lump in the throat appears either against the background of impaired sensitivity and movements in the legs or arms, or one can say that swallowing becomes more and more difficult each time;
if, in addition to a lump in the throat, there is a nasal voice, blurred speech, choking when swallowing.

While you are being examined, take the following measures:

Rinse your nose and gargle in the morning with salt water, for which you can dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of boiled water. sea or regular salt, or buy one of saline solutions at the pharmacy.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
Eliminate seafood, spicy foods, and high-fat dairy products from your diet.
If swallowing is impaired, introduce more liquid and high-calorie foods into your diet: broths passed through a blender chicken meat, fermented milk products, mixtures for enteral nutrition.
If mucus in the throat bothers you, include rosehip infusions, chicken broth, fresh apple puree, and warm soups in your diet. Just don't eat before bed.
If, along with a lump in your throat, your temperature has risen while you are waiting for the day for which you are scheduled to see an ENT specialist, gargle with antiseptic solutions: Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
If you notice that a lump in your throat has appeared after contact with an animal, eating new food, working in dusty conditions, etc., take antihistamine, optimally – 1st generation (although they cause drowsiness, they act quite quickly): “Diazolin”, “Suprastin”, “Tavegil”. If such a “lump” interferes with breathing, call an ambulance.

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The feeling that a foreign body is stuck in the throat, which makes it difficult to swallow even saliva, and after swallowing returns to its place again, is called a “lump in the throat.” The causes of this symptom can be different: from Quincke's edema, which occurs when eating unusual foods (the introduction of a new drug, an insect bite) to diseases of the esophagus and thyroid gland, which actually block the lumen of the throat. In all cases, only medical diagnosis will help.

Causes

The causes of a lump in the throat are varied - from “nervous soil”, when no narrowing of the respiratory or digestive tract actually occurs, to throat abscesses, which can cause asphyxia. Most often, such a symptom occurs in pathological processes localized in the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and the initial parts of the esophagus.

The main pathologies that cause the feeling of a lump in the throat are as follows:

chronic inflammation of the tonsils, mucous membrane of the throat or vocal cords;
flow of mucus from the inflamed sinuses or nasal cavity into the throat;
inflammation of the mucous membrane of the throat;
diseases of the pharyngeal muscles or disruption of the signal going to them along the nerves (with a stroke, spinal injury, multiple sclerosis);
esophageal tumors (benign or malignant);
diseases of the thyroid gland, accompanied by its enlargement;
reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and higher (gastro-esophageal reflux);
scleroderma with damage to the esophagus;
dermatomyositis with damage to the esophagus;
esophageal diverticulum;
throat abscesses: accumulation of pus above the epiglottis, in the tissue near the tonsils or in the tissue between the pharyngeal muscles;
esophageal spasm;
neuroses, panic attacks, hysteria;

Can a “lump” cause suffocation?

The oral and nasal cavities are “tubes” of not quite regular shape. They flow into one large “pipe” - the pharynx. The latter is quite long (11-12 cm) and ends in a kind of “fork”:

on one side it passes into the larynx - the initial section of the respiratory tract, the place where the vocal cords that form sounds are located;
on the other hand, behind the larynx, the pharynx ends in the esophagus - a muscular tube that leads directly to the stomach.

Before the nasal cavity passes into the pharynx, at the mouth of the auditory tube - the formation that communicates the ear and pharynx, in the area of the root of the tongue and on both sides of it there are tonsils - large accumulations of lymphoid tissue. The same tissue is scattered in the form of small “peas” in different places of the back wall of the pharynx.

A condition called peritonsillitis or peritonsillar abscess can cause suffocation. In this case, which is a complication of purulent tonsillitis, pus permeates the fatty tissue around the tonsils (one or two). With a large amount of pus, the enlarged tonsil blocks the path of air.

Now let’s look at what could be the reasons for the appearance of a foreign body in the throat - depending on the symptoms that accompany the “lump”.

Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing

A lump in the throat when swallowing develops with any of the following diseases.

Cardiospasm (cardia achalasia)

This is a disease in which spasm occurs in the orbicularis muscle located between the esophagus and stomach.

Characterized by sudden difficulty swallowing, when warm liquid food or, in rare cases, solid food passes better. A person feels that food will pass better if he walks after eating or eats while standing, or puts pressure on the chest while eating. There may be pain in the upper part of the sternum, which is similar to pain in the heart.

Reflux esophagitis

This is the name of the condition when the contents of the stomach are constantly thrown into the esophagus and inflame its mucous membrane.

Hiatal hernia

In this case, the stomach and, in some cases, the intestines, which should be in the abdominal cavity, due to the expansion of the hole in the diaphragm through which the esophagus should pass, find themselves (periodically or permanently) in the chest cavity.

The disease is very similar to reflux esophagitis: in addition to a “lump” in the throat, it is also characterized by heartburn after eating, pain in the pit of the stomach when a person has been standing in a bent position for a long time, and abdominal pain. If organs penetrating into the chest cavity compress the heart or lungs, shortness of breath, pain behind the sternum, and blueness around the mouth, worsening after eating, will be observed.

Thyroid pathologies

The feeling of a lump when swallowing occurs when the thyroid gland enlarges and begins to put pressure on the underlying thyroid cartilage of the larynx. This may look like:

production of an increased amount of hormones (hyperthyroidism), which is manifested by weight loss with increased appetite, increased heart rate, sweating, irritability, periodic attacks of abdominal pain and vomiting;
the production of a reduced amount of hormones (hypothyroidism), in which a person gains weight despite a decreased appetite. Such a patient exhibits slowness and fatigue, his memory is reduced, his skin becomes dry, and his hair becomes brittle and tends to fall out;
normal gland function. In this case, apart from a lump and an increase in the volume of the neck, there are no other noticeable symptoms.

Thyroid disease does not lead to swallowing problems.

Chronic pharyngitis

This is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, which occurs either as a result of insufficient treatment of acute pharyngitis, or during prolonged inhalation of dusty, dry or polluted air.

Symptoms of chronic pharyngitis are: a feeling of dryness, a sore throat, frequent attacks of a dry, painful cough. As the disease worsens, a sore throat is noted and the body temperature may rise.

Chronic laryngitis

This is the name for chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx. Cause of the disease: frequent acute laryngitis due to professional activity (teachers, singers, speakers), smoking or alcohol abuse.

Mental disorders

The same complaint can be heard from people suffering from neuroses. These conditions arise after some kind of psychotraumatic factor and can be manifested by various symptoms: irritability, frequent phobias, panic attacks, anxiety, mood instability, sleep disorders, pain of various locations (in the heart, in the stomach, in the head), imbalance, dizziness . The diagnosis is made after excluding cardiac, neurological and other somatic diseases.

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

It is manifested not only by a feeling of a lump in the throat, but also, most often, by dizziness, pain or crunching when turning the neck, and headache when the weather changes.

Foreign object in the esophagus

The feeling of a lump can be caused by an object stuck in the esophagus: a fish bone, a tablet, an inedible particle that gets in with food.

Esophageal trauma

Oncological diseases

Throat cancer may cause this sensation. accompanied by other symptoms: cough, difficulty swallowing first solid food, then liquid food, sudden weight loss.

Esophageal cancer, in addition to these symptoms, pain and a feeling of fullness behind the sternum, regurgitation of food, and the production of a large amount of saliva are added to it. The feeling of a foreign body in the throat at first simply prevents you from eating food, then forces you to drink it, then only take liquid meals. If at this stage a person does not consult a doctor, he completely loses the ability to take food and water.

Sjögren's syndrome

Multiple sclerosis

Previous stroke

Scleroderma of the esophagus

Scleroderma is a systemic disease in which normal connective tissue becomes dense and the arterioles that feed it cease to function.

Myasthenia gravis

This disease is characterized by progressive weakness of the muscles, including those that carry out the swallowing process, those that “put a block” to prevent food from entering the respiratory tract, and those whose duty is to “expel” particles that have entered the trachea or bronchi by coughing. food.

Most often, myasthenia gravis begins with a violation of swallowing and coma, then difficulty in raising the eyelids (so a person has to raise his chin to look at something), and the voice changes.

Damage to the nerves involved in the act of swallowing

This can happen with jugular vein thrombosis, a fracture of the base of the skull or a glomus tumor. This is accompanied by disturbances in swallowing, tongue movement, and a lump in the throat.

Fazio-Londe syndrome

This is a rare inherited disease that develops in children, adolescents and young adults. The first manifestations of the disease are breathing problems, wheezing, then the face becomes distorted, speech is impaired (becomes blurred, slurred), a feeling of a foreign body appears in the throat, and swallowing is impaired.

Pseudobulbar palsy

Guillain-Barre syndrome

This is a disease that develops as a complication of intestinal infection, colds, herpes infection, when the activated immune system begins to attack the cells of the nerve trunks. The disease begins with deterioration of movements of the feet or both feet and hands. If this immune reaction is not stopped, the nerves that carry commands to the parts of the limbs that are closer to the body (hips, shoulders) are affected. In severe cases, swallowing is impaired, the voice appears nasal, and breathing may “switch off,” which is why such patients are treated in intensive care units.

Dystrophic myotonia

This is a hereditary disease, the symptoms of which often appear between the ages of 10 and 20 years. Less commonly, symptoms occur immediately after birth.

Other reasons

For diseases that force a person to breathe through the mouth (adenoiditis, chronic sinusitis)
For dehydration (for example, food poisoning or intestinal infection: salmonellosis, dysentery).
Enlarged lymph nodes under the lower jaw, near the angle of the lower jaw, on the front of the neck, or near the hyoid bone.

Diseases that also cause an unpleasant odor

A lump in the throat with an unpleasant odor is a symptom characteristic of ENT diseases. Basically, it appears in chronic sinusitis and chronic tonsillitis.

Chronic sinusitis

Chronic tonsillitis

Zenker's diverticula

This is the name for protrusions of the wall of the esophagus, which are facing outward, at the level of the transition of the pharynx to the esophagus. The disease manifests itself as a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, difficulty swallowing both solid and liquid food. Since a diverticulum is a kind of “pocket” where food can (and does) enter, an unpleasant odor is often felt from the mouth.

Such patients also complain of regurgitation of undigested food (especially in a lying position), dry cough, nausea, and change in voice timbre. There may be attacks of the “blockade phenomenon”: after eating, a person feels that he is suffocating, he begins to feel dizzy, and he may even faint. If you induce vomiting against this background, the attack goes away.

Diseases in which a lump is combined with belching

A lump in the throat and belching are characteristic of the following diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

Gastroesophageal reflux

This is the reflux of food from the stomach into the esophagus. It is described in the section “Diseases accompanied by a sensation of a foreign body when swallowing.”

Esophagitis

It is characterized by the development of the following symptoms:

burning behind the sternum after eating;
pain behind the sternum, which is present constantly or periodically, can radiate to the shoulders and the area between the shoulder blades;
the sensation of a lump in the throat and belching is present during and immediately after eating, which is associated with additional trauma to the inflamed mucous membrane from the food bolus;
periodically, a small amount of food from the esophagus may return back into the mouth.

Neuroses

These are conditions in which the functioning of individual parts of the central nervous system is disrupted, but their structure is not disrupted.

Taking certain medications

The main drugs that lead to the appearance of these two symptoms are painkillers (Nimesil, Diclofenac, Analgin, Ibuprofen, Aspirin) and hormonal anti-inflammatory drugs (Prednisolone, Dexamethasone).

Pregnancy

The combination of belching and a lump in the throat can be caused by pregnancy. This is explained by the fact that in this case women change, which leads to relaxation of the muscles located between different parts of the gastrointestinal tract, including between the esophagus and stomach. As a result, food is often thrown into the esophagus, inflaming it, which causes belching and a sensation of a foreign body in the throat.

Combination of several diseases

Hiatal hernia

The symptoms of this pathology are discussed in the section “Diseases accompanied by the sensation of a foreign body when swallowing.”

Esophageal trauma

Swallowing too hot, aggressive contents, inserting a feeding tube before anesthesia, or conducting a study such as fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FEGDS) can cause belching and coma.

Diseases in which both a foreign body and dryness are felt in the throat

Diseases in which both a lump and dry throat are noted are described above. This:

laryngitis: acute and chronic;
pharyngitis: acute and chronic;
chronic sinusitis;
allergic swelling of the epiglottis. This condition appears after eating some new food, walking in a blooming garden, using new medications, or working with household chemicals. It manifests itself as a lump in the throat, which quickly grows and interferes with breathing. It is necessary to urgently seek medical help.
Sjögren's syndrome;
adenoiditis;
diseases leading to dehydration;
smoking.

When you feel a lump in your throat as if made of mucus

A lump in the throat and mucus will be observed with:

postnasal drip, when mucus from an inflamed nose or its paranasal sinuses flows down the back wall of the pharynx;
exposure to the mucous membrane of the throat from tobacco, spicy foods, alcohol, and vasoconstrictor nasal drops. In this case, your health does not suffer, and a “lump of mucus” is observed only in the morning;
chronic pharyngitis;
runny nose;
inflammation of the tonsils and pharynx;
allergic rhinitis, nasopharyngitis;
reflux of gastric contents into the throat (laryngopharyngeal reflux), which is manifested by a mucous lump and attacks of dry cough.

When a foreign body sensation is combined with a sore throat

The appearance of a sore throat and lump is characteristic of the following pathologies:

Acute tonsillitis, which is manifested by increased temperature, weakness, and sometimes nausea. The throat hurts, it hurts to swallow both liquid and solid food.
Acute pharyngitis, which often occurs with acute respiratory infections (viral, fungal or bacterial origin). It manifests itself as a sore throat, a feeling of mucus, soreness and a lump in it, and a dry cough.
Acute laryngitis, which can also be a manifestation of acute respiratory infections or occur due to hypothermia and excessive use of the voice. It manifests itself as hoarseness of the voice, pain in the throat, which may intensify when swallowing, a feeling of dryness, soreness, and scratching in the throat. The cough is dry and painful at first, but soon phlegm begins to be coughed up.
Peritonsillar abscess– impregnation of fiber near the tonsils (most often one) with pus. Develops as a complication of purulent tonsillitis or purulent pharyngitis. Manifested by increasing sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, and bad breath.
Parapharyngeal abscess. In this case, the abscess is localized in the peripharyngeal space. This, like a paratonsillar abscess, is a complication of purulent tonsillitis, but it can also develop due to the flow of pus from the nasal sinuses into the peripharyngeal tissue, or the ingress of pus from the roots of the teeth. It is characterized by pain on one side of the throat, painful swallowing, difficulty opening the mouth, and high fever. It requires urgent surgical intervention, otherwise it may be complicated by the breakthrough of pus into the tissue around the large vessels of the neck, which may result in severe bleeding.
Abscess of the root of the tongue characterized by a feeling of a lump in the throat, an increase in the volume of the tongue, which prevents it from fitting in the mouth and makes breathing difficult and speech slurred. The temperature rises, weakness and malaise appear, and sleep is disturbed. Urgent treatment is required in the ENT department of the hospital.
Inflammation and abscess of the epiglottis manifested by a sensation of a foreign body in the throat, pain in the throat, which intensifies when swallowing, increased body temperature, difficulty breathing, and a nasal voice.

What to do if you have a lump in your throat

Treatment for a lump in the throat depends on its cause. So, if it is a tumor formation, surgery is needed, followed by the administration of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Diverticula are also removed surgically. With the development of a paratonsillar or parapharyngeal abscess, an operation to open and drain the abscess is also necessary. But myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and some other diseases can only be treated conservatively.

perform an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and test those hormones that the endocrinologist says;
perform an MRI of the brain, cervical spine and neck organs and undergo those examinations recommended by a neurologist;
visit a gastroenterologist, perform FEGDS (fibrogastroscopy).

If at least 1 symptom from the following occurs, consult a doctor immediately:

it became difficult to breathe;
temperature increased above 37.5°C;
swelling of the neck along with a sore throat;
coughing up sputum in which pus or blood is visible;
a lump in the throat appears either against the background of impaired sensitivity and movements in the legs or arms, or one can say that swallowing becomes more and more difficult each time;
if, in addition to a lump in the throat, there is a nasal voice, blurred speech, choking when swallowing.

While you are being examined, take the following measures:

Rinse your nose and gargle in the morning with salt water, for which you can dissolve 1 tsp in 1 liter of boiled water. sea or regular salt, or buy one of the saline solutions at the pharmacy.
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
Eliminate seafood, spicy foods, and high-fat dairy products from your diet.
If swallowing is impaired, introduce more liquid and high-calorie foods into the diet: broths with chicken meat passed through a blender, fermented milk products, enteral nutrition mixtures.
If mucus in the throat bothers you, include chicken broth, fresh apple puree, and warm soups in your diet. Just don't eat before bed.
If, along with a lump in your throat, your temperature has risen while you are waiting for the day for which you are scheduled to see an ENT specialist, gargle with antiseptic solutions: Miramistin, Chlorhexidine.
If you notice that a lump in your throat has appeared after contact with an animal, eating new food, working in dusty conditions, and so on, take an antihistamine, optimally 1st generation (although they cause drowsiness, they act quite quickly): “Diazolin” , "Suprastin", "Tavegil". If such a “lump” interferes with breathing, call an ambulance.

Unpleasant smell throat is a rather delicate problem that causes a lot of inconvenience. This symptom contributes to the development of complexes in adults, so it is necessary to combat this problem.

First you need to establish the cause of the smell from the throat, and there are quite a few of them. Why does an unpleasant odor appear from the throat?

Tonsil plugs can cause bad throat odor

A bad throat may be associated with pathologies of the digestive system or diseases of the ENT organs. In most cases, this symptom occurs against the background dental diseases. The smell can appear due to improper oral hygiene, caries, chronic gastritis and etc.

Possible pathologies of the ENT organs that contribute to the appearance of an unpleasant odor from the throat:

Chronic tonsillitis develops with improper treatment and is characterized by periods of exacerbation. When the tonsils become inflamed, bacterial mucus accumulates in the throat, which has an unpleasant odor and causes discomfort. In addition, there is severe pain when swallowing, the passage of purulent clots, increased body temperature, weakness, etc.
Chronic rhinitis or sinusitis can also cause bad breath. Accumulated purulent mucus that drains down the back of the throat from the nasal cavity can cause an odor.
Blockages in the tonsils. Plugs can form in the tonsils, which become denser and form a kind of capsule. Grayish-white pustules are observed in the lacunae of the tonsils, which cause an unpleasant odor from the throat.
Throat cancer. The most dangerous pathology, against which a bad throat may appear, is considered to be throat cancer. It is characterized by the formation and growth of a tumor, which is accompanied by a putrid odor. This pathology can be asymptomatic for a long time, and the odor present may be the only symptom.

If there are no dental or ENT pathologies, but bad breath is still present, then the root of the problem should be sought in diseases of the internal organs.

The symptom is treated by a dentist, otolaryngologist and gastroenterologist.

At the first manifestation of a symptom, you need to undergo an examination and find the cause.

White dots on the tonsils indicate an inflammatory process that must be treated to avoid complications. IN otherwise there is a high probability of intoxication of the body.

The immune system is weakened, and against the background of a prolonged inflammatory process, the following symptoms may appear:

Kidney damage.
Muscle pain.
Rheumatism.
Heart rhythm disturbance.

Also, against the background of tonsillitis, the development of peritonsillar abscess, sepsis, and phlegmon of the neck is possible. These are dangerous pathologies that require urgent treatment.

It is necessary to promptly remove plugs on the tonsils and treat tonsillitis so as not to provoke the development of serious complications.

First diagnosis, then treatment!

Before starting treatment, it is necessary to determine the cause of bad breath. The doctor selects the treatment regimen taking into account the severity of the pathology.

If the cause of throat odor is plugs in the tonsils, then treatment involves the use of antibacterial agents, use of physiotherapeutic methods, taking immunostimulants, gargling:

Treatment usually takes 5-10 days. Antibiotics should be taken from the first day the congestion appears. Before prescribing antibiotics, sensitivity to the components of the drugs is tested. Antibiotics from the cephalosporin group are usually prescribed: Ceftriaxone, Cefin, etc. If drugs of this group are intolerant, Azithromycin, Augmentin, etc. may be prescribed.
From antiseptics Furacilin, Angilex, Dioxidine, Chlorhexidine, etc. are used for rinsing. This procedure should be carried out at least 5 times a day.
For tonsillitis, it is useful to lubricate the throat with Lugol, Chlorophyllipt, Yox, Iodinol.
To strengthen the immune system, it is recommended to use Levamisole, Isoprinosine, etc.

If you have chronic rhinitis, snot flows down the back wall of the throat, which also causes a stale smell from the throat. In this case, antiviral drugs are used, which are used to treat influenza, runny nose, and ARVI. If the appearance of rhinitis is associated with a bacteriological infection, then it is advisable to use antibacterial agents.

In addition, it is possible to use antihistamines: Diazolin, Zodak, Suprastin, etc. The doctor prescribes all drugs taking into account the patient’s condition, the severity of symptoms and concomitant pathologies.

We treat chronic tonsillitis with inhalations at home

To eliminate purulent plugs, inhalations are effective. It is recommended to use a nebulizer. Thanks to this device active ingredients penetrate deeply. You can perform inhalations using a decoction of sage, oak bark, essential oils of lavender or cedar.

If you don’t have a nebulizer, you can do steam inhalations. Popular recipes steam inhalation to remove plugs and get rid of unpleasant odors:

Pine buds with essential oils. Take a little pine buds, pour hot water and add a few drops of essential oil of sage, lavender, eucalyptus, etc. Do inhalations for 1.5 months. You can add honey to the prepared solution for inhalation.
Lemon juice. Add freshly squeezed lemon juice and a little honey to warm water. Mix the ingredients well and inhale.
Horseradish juice. Before carrying out the procedure, it must be diluted with water.

Alternative medicine recommends performing irrigation if, due to some circumstances, rinsing is impossible. To perform irrigation, you should take a syringe or syringe without a needle. Irrigation can be done with the help of medicines and herbal decoctions.

Gargling will help clear your tonsils and eliminate bad odor.

An effective procedure for eliminating congestion and symptoms of chronic tonsillitis is gargling. Such procedures disinfect the affected area and remove pathogens. In addition, gargling relieves inflammation and clears the tonsils of accumulated pus.

Rinse recipes:

Can be used for rinsing medicinal solutions(Furacilin, Streptocide). These drugs are diluted in a glass of water.
Can also be used alcohol tincture calendula, eucalyptus, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, iodine solution.
At home, it is useful to gargle with decoctions of chamomile, St. John's wort, sage, mint, yarrow, as well as a soda-salt solution.
You can also gargle with vodka or beet broth. Vodka does not need to be diluted with water. To prepare a beet-based decoction, you need to chop a large beet along with the peel and add two liters of water. Then simmer over low heat for an hour and strain.

The listed herbs are actively used for various pathologies ENT organs and have a pronounced antibacterial effect. While rinsing, care must be taken to ensure that the solution does not enter the respiratory system. To avoid this, you need to tilt your head to the side.

To prepare a decoction for rinsing, you need to take about 20-30 g of raw material and pour a glass of boiling water. Close the container with a lid and leave for 20-30 minutes. After this, strain and cool slightly. A decoction can be prepared from one plant or several herbs.

Useful video: purulent plugs in the tonsils

To avoid the appearance of throat odor, it is necessary to promptly treat diseases of the ENT organs. This is the only way to prevent the occurrence of plugs in the tonsils and other pathologies that cause bad breath.

It is necessary to clean the oral cavity regularly. To do this, you can use not only a toothbrush, but also floss.
Brushing your teeth at least 2 times a day.
Treat carious teeth and other oral diseases in a timely manner.
Eat more fruits and vegetables.
After eating, be sure to rinse your mouth.
Strengthen immunity.
Prevent the development of infectious pathologies.
Avoid hypothermia.
Follow the principles of a healthy lifestyle.

Bad breath smells - we need to figure out the reason

Bad throat is a delicate problem that can cause a lot of inconvenience to its owner. It's not just about the feeling of insecurity that comes with having to communicate with people or awkwardness on a date, but also the possible negative consequences for health. Our review and video in this article will help you understand the causes of this unpleasant symptom.

In fact, it is not so easy to determine whether there is really an unpleasant odor from the throat, or whether it is caused by problems in the oral cavity or digestive system.

According to statistics, most often halitosis (as bad breath is scientifically called) is caused by:

caries;
insufficient oral hygiene;
chronic gastritis;
smoking and alcohol abuse.

Throat diseases cause bad breath in approximately 20 percent of cases. What diseases are associated with an unpleasant odor from the throat: the causes of the condition are listed below.

Every fifth case of bad breath is associated with throat diseases

Tonsillitis is an inflammation of the tonsils, most often of a bacterial nature. Most often, the disease begins against a background of weakened immunity, when the pathogen invades the mucous membrane and active inflammation develops.

Characteristic symptoms of the disease also include:

increased body temperature;
symptoms of intoxication;
headache;
weakness;
decreased performance;
severe pain when swallowing;
coughing up purulent clots (lumps with a smell come out of the throat).

When examining the throat, you can notice swollen, enlarged tonsils with a grayish or white purulent coating.

Enlarged, red tonsils are the main sign of tonsillitis

An otolaryngologist treats acute or chronic forms of tonsillitis. The main goal of therapy is to eliminate the pathogen.

Note! Tonsillectomy is easier to tolerate in childhood.

Accumulation of pus in the tonsils with tonsillitis

This disease may be asymptomatic or cause pain when swallowing, bad breath, and a lump in the throat. If you find yourself with tonsillitis, consult an ENT doctor. You should not remove plugs with your own hands. The specialist will wash the tonsils using a special device and relieve unpleasant symptoms.

Throat cancer is a dangerous pathology, which is one of the ten most common malignant neoplasms. The growth of the tumor is accompanied by tissue decay with an unpleasant putrefactive odor.

Typical symptoms of throat cancer also include:

soreness, pain when swallowing;
feeling of a foreign body in the throat;
enlarged cervical lymph nodes;
progressive weight loss, refusal to eat;
unilateral hearing loss;
cough with mucopurulent sputum, sometimes streaked with blood.

Cancer diagnostic plan includes visual inspection, Ultrasound diagnostics, X-ray and cytological examination

Only an oncologist can diagnose throat cancer and prescribe the correct treatment. When diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly, the disease has a favorable prognosis.

Comparison table of the main causes of unpleasant odor in the throat:

Thus, bad breath can be a consequence of various diseases. Each of them, from chronic infection to cancer, poses a danger to the body.

Lumps in the throat with an unpleasant odor are a fairly common problem. Their appearance indicates the formation of purulent plugs on the tonsils. For tonsillitis and viral infections the structure of the tonsils changes. Consequently, lymphoid tissue becomes inflamed, which leads to the occurrence of such traffic jams. So what comes out of your throat with a bad odor?

Many people experience severe pain and burning in the throat. The reason for these manifestations is common cold, which provokes inflammatory lesion larynx. As a result, swelling of the mucous membranes is observed, which causes stimulation of the nerve fibers of the diseased area. This is what leads to intense pain.

Often the pathology develops against the background of a weakened immune system. It can easily be cured on your own by rinsing with a soda solution and drinking plenty of vitamins and fluids.

However, sometimes these symptoms are caused by more serious pathologies that require medical care. These include:

tonsillitis;
pharyngitis;
laryngitis.

The most common cause of the problem is chronic tonsillitis. Pus plugs that form in the throat are called tonsillitis. They are stones yellowish color, which are localized in gaps.

The structure of these formations can be soft or dense. The size may also vary - from a millimeter to several centimeters. When a problem occurs, there is an unpleasant odor from the throat, which causes serious discomfort.

Whenever similar manifestations a visit to the doctor is required. This will help deal with tonsil blockages and also prevent their subsequent formation.

White lumps from the throat with an unpleasant odor are more often observed in men. However, they are sometimes found in women and children. In children, this symptom is the result of chronic tonsillitis, which can develop as early as 2 years of age.

This pathology is characterized by the following manifestations:

pain when swallowing;
the appearance of chills;
increased temperature - sometimes it can reach 39.5 degrees;
unpleasant odor from the mouth;
discomfort in the throat;
headache;
white or yellowish lumps;
weakness;
discharge of purulent sputum when coughing.

An unpleasant odor from the throat appears due to the fact that the plugs include many bacterial microorganisms that produce hydrogen sulfide. It's no secret that this substance has a pungent aroma.

If lumps with an unpleasant odor come out of your throat, you should immediately consult an otolaryngologist. TO additional manifestations that indicate problems are occurring include the following:

pain when swallowing;
headache;
white lumps in the mouth;
increase in temperature;
decrease in physical activity;
unpleasant aroma.

Infection with bacterial microorganisms can provoke sepsis. This condition is characterized by headaches, persistent fever, constant weakness. This condition is very dangerous because it can provoke infectious-toxic shock.

Before using home recipes, you should consult a doctor. Yellow lumps from the throat with an unpleasant odor can indicate not only chronic form tonsillitis, but also about more dangerous illnesses that require urgent treatment.

Treatment for lumps in the throat with an unpleasant odor should be selected by an otolaryngologist. The doctor assesses the patient's condition and performs necessary tests, which allow us to identify the causes of this symptom.

If the provoking factor is tonsillitis, attention should be paid to the state of the immune system. Most often, the use of antibiotics provokes weakening protective forces body. In such a situation, a person needs long-term recovery and maintaining body tone. Good immunity allows you to defeat the disease and strengthen your strength after treatment.

The patient's condition directly depends on the severity of the disease. Therefore, the treatment regimen must be selected by a specialist, taking into account a number of criteria. IN difficult situations the patient needs inpatient treatment. If the disease develops slowly, home therapy is acceptable.

Typically, treatment for people with this diagnosis includes the following elements:

gargling;
use of physiotherapy;
use of immunostimulants and vitamin complexes to restore immunity;
taking antibiotics.

If a person develops globules from the throat with an unpleasant odor, treatment usually lasts 5-10 days. In this situation, antibacterial agents must be used from the first day. In addition, it is important to gargle frequently with antiseptic agents.

In this case, Angylex is often used,

To strengthen immune system, the use of immunostimulants is indicated. Such means include:

isoprinosine,
levamisole,
Bemityl.

A mandatory element of tonsillitis therapy is the use vitamin preparations. Additionally, doctors prescribe the use of vitamin C. Before using antibacterial agents, be sure to assess sensitivity to the ingredients of the drugs.

Until the results of the study are received, antibiotics from the cephalosporin group are most often prescribed. So, the doctor may prescribe drugs such as cefepin, ceftriaxone. Instructions for the use of antibacterial agents must be strictly followed.

When carrying out treatment in a hospital setting, physiotherapy is additionally used:

heating using electrophoresis;

Such measures can only be applied against the background normal temperature. If this indicator increases, the warming effect leads to the development of bacteria and even sometimes causes sepsis.

If lumps with an unpleasant odor fly out of your throat, you should consult an ENT doctor. The main goal of therapy is to eliminate purulent plugs that contribute to the active proliferation of bacterial microorganisms. If therapy is not started in time, complications may develop that will lead to the need for surgery.

For treatment and prevention runny nose, sore throat, ARVI and influenza in children, and adults Elena Malysheva recommends effective drug Immunity from Russian scientists. Thanks to its unique, and most importantly 100% natural composition the drug has extremely high efficiency in the treatment of sore throats, colds and strengthening the immune system.

To cope with pus plugs and bad breath, you can use effective home remedies:

Washing the tonsils. For this purpose, you can use a solution of furatsilin, iodine or hydrogen peroxide. An effective remedy There will be herbal decoctions and infusions - sage or chamomile. You should gargle 4-6 times a day.
Washing requires some skill. To perform the procedure, you should direct water to the tonsils, tilt your head to avoid liquid penetration into the organs respiratory system. To perform rinsing, you can use a large syringe or bulb.
Inhalations. For this purpose, decoctions are used medicinal plants and essential oils. During the procedure, the patient must inhale through the mouth so that hot pores reach the affected tonsils. In this case, you should use decoctions of medicinal plants - chamomile, oak bark, sage. Water with essential oils is also an excellent remedy. An excellent solution in this case would be cedar, lavender or eucalyptus oils.
Methods for restoring immunity. Tinctures are suitable for this purpose - you can use Eleutherococcus and Echinacea. You also need to take vitamins and avoid bad habits. Normalization of work and rest schedules and walks is of no small importance.

To speed up the healing process, you should review your diet. Be sure to eat foods that contain many vitamins and microelements. You should also control the balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

It is important to consider that treating tonsillitis at home is only permissible in simple cases. If folk remedies do not allow you to cope with lumps, you should definitely contact an otolaryngologist.

Some people, when lumps appear, try to deal with them on their own by clearing their throat mechanically. This is strictly prohibited. It will not be possible to completely remove tonsil blockages.

There is a high risk of damage to the mucous membranes. This will allow bacteria to enter the blood. As a result, they spread throughout the body and can cause the development of sepsis.

press on the tonsils with your fingers or any objects, trying to squeeze out the purulent contents;
try to clear the tonsils with matches or spoons;
use other cleansing methods.

Chronic tonsillitis requires correct implementation therapy. If treatment is not started in time, the white lumps will not disappear. Moreover, this pathology may cause negative consequences for good health. These include the following:

Dysbacteriosis, pathologies of the digestive system. Violation of the microflora in the oral cavity provokes a change in the flora of the digestive system. After entering the stomach, food carries a certain part of bacteria. Subsequently, they fill the entire gastrointestinal tract.
Blood poisoning. When bacterial microorganisms multiply, the likelihood of sepsis develops. Symptoms of this condition include headaches, fever, and general weakness.

If a person has been diagnosed with tonsillitis, he needs to register at the clinic. Then, twice a year, contact an otolaryngologist who will cleanse the tonsils. It's effective preventive measure, which significantly reduces the risk of re-infection.

To avoid problems, you need to follow these recommendations:

treat pathologies of ENT organs in a timely manner;
maintain voice mode;
support normal level humidity;
rinse your nose with saline solution;
lead healthy image life.

If white lumps appear in your throat, you should immediately consult a doctor. After a detailed diagnosis, the specialist will be able to determine the causes of the disease and select adequate therapy. Any self-medication options are prohibited. Home remedies can be used as a supplement to medications. Moreover, this can only be done on the recommendation of a doctor.

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By sputum, health workers understand the secretion that is secreted by the cells of the bronchi, which contains the contents of the nose and its sinuses, as well as saliva. Normally, it is transparent and mucous, there is little of it, and it is released only in the morning from people who smoke, work in dusty industries, or live in dry air conditions.

In these cases, it is called tracheobronchial secretion rather than sputum. With the development of pathologies, the following may enter the sputum: pus, when in respiratory tract there is bacterial inflammation, blood, when damage to the vessel occurs on the way from the nose to the end of the bronchi, mucus in cases of non-bacterial inflammation. This content may become more or less viscous.

Pathological processes as the cause of the accumulation of sputum in the throat without coughing usually occupy a localization from the nasopharynx, where the contents of the nose and its paranasal sinuses flow, to the trachea. If the disease has affected deeper structures: the trachea, bronchi or lung tissue, sputum production will be accompanied by a cough (in children younger age an analogue of coughing can be vomiting with big amount mucus or other contents). Bronchitis and pneumonia can, of course, occur without a cough, but then sputum production will not bother you.

The mucous membrane of the bronchi consists of cells on the surface of which there are cilia - microtubules that can move (normally - in the upward direction, towards the trachea). Between the ciliated cells are small glands called goblet cells. There are 4 times fewer of them than ciliated cells, but they are not located in such a way that after every four ciliated cells there is 1 goblet cell: there are areas consisting of only one, or only of the second type of cells. Glandular cells are completely absent in the small bronchi and bronchioles. Goblet cells and ciliated cells are united by a common name - “mucociliary apparatus”, and the process of movement of mucus in the bronchi and trachea is called mucociliary clearance.

Mucus produced by goblet cells is the basis of sputum. It is needed to remove from the bronchi those particles of dust and microbes that, due to their microscopic size, were not noticed by the cells with cilia that are in the nose and throat.

The vessels are tightly adjacent to the mucous membrane of the bronchi. From them come immune cells that control the absence of foreign particles in the air entering the lungs. Some immune cells are also present in the mucous membrane itself. Their function is the same.

Therefore, sputum, or more precisely, tracheobronchial secretion, is normal; without it, the bronchi would be covered from the inside with soot and impurities, and would be constantly inflamed. Its amount is from 10 to 100 ml per day. It may contain a small amount of leukocytes, but neither bacteria, nor atypical cells, nor fibers contained in the lung tissue are detected. The secretion forms slowly, gradually, and when it reaches the oropharynx, a healthy person, without noticing, swallows this minimal amount of mucous content.

This occurs due to either increased secretion production or deterioration of its excretion. There are many reasons for these conditions. Here are the main ones:

Work in enterprises with increased level air pollution with particles of silicates, coal or others.
Smoking.
Throat irritation alcoholic drinks, cold, spicy or hot foods can cause a feeling of phlegm without coughing. In this case, there is no malaise, no deterioration in breathing, or any other symptoms.
Pharyngo-laryngeal reflux. This is the name for the reflux of the contents of the throat, where the ingredients of the stomach, which do not have a pronounced acidic environment, have arrived, closer to the windpipe. Other symptoms of this condition are sore throat and cough.
Acute sinusitis. The main symptoms will be deterioration of the condition, fever, headache, and the release of copious amounts of snot. These symptoms come to the fore.
Chronic sinusitis. Most likely, this particular pathology will be described as “phlegm in the throat without cough.” It is manifested by difficulty in nasal breathing, deterioration of smell, and fatigue. Thick mucus secretes from the sinuses into the throat, and this happens constantly.
Chronic tonsillitis. Here the person is bothered by “phlegm”, bad breath, whitish masses may be visible on the tonsils, which can be released by themselves and with certain movements of the muscles of the mouth, their smell is unpleasant. The throat does not hurt, the temperature may be elevated, but within 37 – 37.3°C.
Chronic catarrhal rhinitis. Here, outside of an exacerbation, the nose only gets stuffy in the cold, and then only on one half; Sometimes a small amount of mucous discharge is released from the nose. During exacerbation, thick copious snot, they create a feeling of phlegm in the throat.
Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. Here the main symptom is difficulty breathing through the nose, one half of it, which is why a person may have a headache in this half. The sense of smell and taste also deteriorates, and a slight nasal sound appears. Discharge accumulates in the throat or is discharged outward.
Vasomotor rhinitis. In this case, a person may periodically be “overtaken” by attacks of sneezing, which occurs after itching in the nose, mouth or throat. Nasal breathing is periodically difficult, and discharge from the nose to the outside or into the pharyngeal cavity liquid mucus. These attacks are associated with sleep and can appear after a change in air temperature, overwork, eating spicy food, emotional stress or increased blood pressure.
Pharyngitis. Here, phlegm in the throat occurs against the background of soreness or pain in it. More often, the sum of these sensations causes a cough, which is either dry or produces a small amount of liquid sputum.
Sjögren's syndrome. At the same time, there is a decrease in saliva production, and due to dryness in the mouth, it seems as if phlegm has accumulated in the throat.

Based on this criterion, one can suspect:

mucous membrane white sputum testifies in favor of fungal (usually candidiasis) tonsillitis;
clear sputum with white streaks may accompany chronic catarrhal pharyngitis;
green, thick sputum may indicate chronic hypertrophic pharyngitis;
and if yellow sputum comes out and there is no cough, this speaks in favor of a purulent process in the upper respiratory tract (rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis).

Sputum production in the morning may indicate:

reflux esophagitis - reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and throat. In this case, there is weakness of the orbicularis muscle, which should not let what gets into the stomach back out. This pathology is usually accompanied by heartburn, which occurs when taking horizontal position after eating, as well as periodic belching of air or sour contents. Occurring during pregnancy and accompanied by constant heartburn, is a symptom associated with compression of the abdominal organs by the pregnant uterus;
chronic sinusitis. Symptoms: difficulty in nasal breathing, deterioration of the sense of smell up to its complete absence, mucus in the throat;
chronic bronchitis. In this case, the sputum has a mucopurulent (yellow or yellow-green) character, accompanied by weakness and low body temperature.
be the first sign of acute bronchitis. There is an increase in temperature, weakness, loss of appetite;
developing in the spring-autumn period, talk about bronchiectasis. Other symptoms include malaise and fever. In summer and winter, a person again feels relatively good;
appearing against the background of heart diseases, indicate their decompensation, that is, the appearance of congestion in the lungs;
developing in young children, talk about adenoiditis. In this case nasal breathing impaired, children breathe through their mouths, but there is no temperature or signs of acute respiratory infections.

If a person notices the appearance of a cough, after which sputum is released, this indicates a disease of the trachea, bronchi or lungs. It can be acute and chronic, inflammatory, allergic, tumor, or stagnant. It is impossible to make a diagnosis based on the presence of sputum alone: an examination, listening to lung sounds, an X-ray (and sometimes CT scan) lungs, sputum tests - general and bacteriological.

To some extent, the color of the sputum, its consistency and smell will help you navigate the diagnosis.

If you produce yellow sputum when you cough, this may indicate:

purulent process: acute bronchitis, pneumonia. It is possible to distinguish these conditions only according to instrumental studies (X-ray or computed tomogram of the lungs), since their symptoms are the same;
the presence of a large number of eosinophils in the lung or bronchial tissue, which also indicates eosinophilic pneumonia (then the color is yellow, like a canary);
sinusitis. It is noted here bad breath nose, separation of not only sputum, but also yellow mucopurulent snot, headache, malaise;
yellow liquid sputum with a small amount of mucus, which appears against the background of icteric discoloration of the skin (with hepatitis, tumor, cirrhosis of the liver or blockage of the bile ducts with a stone) indicates that damage to the lungs has occurred;
yellow ocher color speaks of siderosis, a disease that occurs in people who work with dust that contains iron oxides. With this pathology special symptoms, other than a cough, no.

Yellow-green sputum indicates:

purulent bronchitis;
bacterial pneumonia;
be normal sign after tuberculosis, which was cured with specific drugs.

If a rust-colored discharge is coughed up, this indicates that vascular injury has occurred in the respiratory tract, but the blood, by the time it reaches the oral cavity, has oxidized and hemoglobin has become hematin. This may happen when:

severe cough (then there will be streaks of rusty color that will disappear after 1-2 days);
pneumonia, when inflammation (purulent or viral), melting lung tissue, led to vascular damage. There will be: fever, shortness of breath, weakness, vomiting, lack of appetite, and sometimes diarrhea;
PE pulmonary embolism.

If brown mucus is coughed up, this also indicates the presence of “old”, oxidized blood in the respiratory tract:

if the lungs had one, almost always congenital pathology, like bullae (cavities filled with air). If such a bulla lay close to the bronchus and then ruptured, brown sputum will be released. If at the same time air also enters the pleural cavity, shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of air will be noted, which may increase. The “sick” half of the chest does not breathe, and pain was noted during the rupture of the bulla;
gangrene of the lung. Here a significant deterioration in the general condition comes to the fore: weakness, clouding of consciousness, vomiting, heat. The sputum is not only brown in color, but also has a putrid odor;
pneumoconiosis - a disease that occurs due to industrial (coal, silicon) dust. Characterized by chest pain, first a dry cough. Gradually, bronchitis becomes chronic, often leading to pneumonia;
lung cancer. The disease does not make itself felt for a long time, and coughing attacks gradually appear. A person suddenly loses weight, begins to sweat at night, and it becomes increasingly difficult for him to breathe;
tuberculosis. There is weakness, sweating (especially at night), lack of appetite, weight loss, and a prolonged dry cough.

Sputum that is light green to dark green in color indicates that there is a bacterial or fungal process in the lungs. This:

abscess or gangrene of the lung. Symptoms of pathologies are very similar (if we're talking about about acute rather than chronic abscess, the symptoms of which are more sparse). This severe weakness, malaise, shortness of breath, chest pain, very high body temperature, practically unresponsive to antipyretics;
bronchiectasis. This chronic pathology associated with dilation of the bronchi. It is characterized by a course of exacerbations and remissions. If there is an exacerbation in the morning and after being on the stomach, it goes away. purulent sputum(green, yellow-green). The person feels unwell and has a fever;
actinomycosis process. In this case, it is noted for a long time elevated temperature, malaise, coughing up mucopurulent greenish sputum;
Cystic fibrosis is a disease when almost all the secretions produced by the body’s glands become very viscous, are poorly evacuated and suppurate. It is characterized by frequent pneumonia and inflammation of the pancreas, retardation in growth and body weight. Without a special diet and enzyme supplementation, such people may die from complications of pneumonia;
sinusitis (its symptoms are described above).

Sputum white typical for:

ARI: then the sputum is transparent white, thick or foamy, mucous;
lung cancer: it is not only white, but there are streaks of blood in it. Weight loss and fatigue are also noted;
bronchial asthma: it is thick, glassy, released after a coughing attack;
heart diseases. The color of such sputum is whitish, the consistency is liquid.

Transparent, glassy, difficult to separate sputum is characteristic of bronchial asthma. The disease is characterized by exacerbations, when there is difficulty breathing (difficulty exhaling) and wheezing audible at a distance, and remissions, when the person feels satisfactory.

In order to evaluate this criterion, it is necessary to expectorate sputum into a transparent glass container, evaluate it immediately, and then remove it, cover it with a lid, and let it sit (in some cases, the sputum may separate, which will help in diagnosis).

Mucous sputum: it is released mainly during ARVI;
Liquid colorless characteristic of chronic processes developing in the trachea and pharynx;
Foamy white or pinkish sputum is released when pulmonary edema, which can accompany both heart disease and inhalation gas poisoning, pneumonia, and inflammation of the pancreas;
Sputum of a mucopurulent nature can be released with tracheitis, sore throat, bacterial bronchitis, complicated cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis;
Vitreous: characteristic of bronchial asthma and COPD.

An unpleasant odor is characteristic of complicated bronchiectasis or lung abscess. A fetid, putrid odor is characteristic of lung gangrene.

If the sputum separates into two layers when standing, it is probably a lung abscess. If there are three layers (the top one is foamy, then liquid, then flaky), this may be gangrene of the lung.

Sputum in tuberculosis has the following characteristics:

slimy consistency;
not abundant (100-500 ml/day);
then streaks of greenish or yellowish pus and white spots appear;
if cavities appear in the lungs that violate the integrity of the tissue, streaks of blood appear in the sputum: rusty or scarlet, larger or smaller in size, up to pulmonary hemorrhage.

With bronchitis, the sputum is mucopurulent in nature and practically odorless. If a vessel is damaged, bright scarlet streaks of blood enter the sputum.

In pneumonia, if purulent fusion of the vessels has not occurred, the sputum is mucopurulent in nature and yellow-green or yellow in color. If pneumonia is caused by the influenza virus, or a bacterial process has taken over large area, the discharge may have a rusty color or streaks of rusty or scarlet blood.

Sputum in asthma is mucous, viscous, whitish or transparent. Released after a coughing attack, it looks like molten glass and is called vitreous.

Halitosis (or bad breath) bothers quite a few people. Bad breath is often a consequence of some disease; it also causes discomfort in others and makes its owner worry about it. This is especially true for people whose work involves constant communication; the problems that arise are not only of a medical, but also of a social nature.

Causes of halitosis

Bad breath is caused by anaerobic bacteria produced in the mouth or digestive tract. This can happen for several reasons:

foods consumed (radish, onion, garlic);
decaying food debris in the mouth;
caries, periodontal disease, massive plaque;
pathologies of ENT organs;
pulmonary diseases;
gastrointestinal diseases;
diabetes;
renal failure;
oncological diseases.

Bad breath is not a disease in itself; it is the disease that caused it that needs to be treated. Once the root cause is eliminated, it will stop bothering you. Acute infections in the throat (sore throat, pharyngeal abscess) can cause an unpleasant odor that goes away after recovery. If the patient has bad breath for a long time without obvious manifestations of the disease, it is necessary to consult a doctor about chronic infections of the ENT organs.

Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the tonsils, since with chronic tonsillitis, food and bacteria residues accumulate in their recesses, which are the source of an unpleasant odor in the throat.

Halitosis with tonsillitis

How to properly treat tonsillitis? Many people, trying to quickly get rid of an unpleasant odor, try to remove plugs in the tonsil area on their own using their fingers or cotton swabs. This should absolutely not be done; this method will only increase the source of infection.

You can remove stones from the tonsils using an irrigator with Laryngozol, but it is better to entrust this procedure to a doctor so as not to damage the tonsils with a strong stream of water. Bad breath with tonsillitis can be eliminated by rinsing 2 times a day with decoctions of medicinal herbs (chamomile, calendula) or salt water.

Tonsillitis is a rather dangerous disease, especially for children and adolescents, since against its background there is a risk of developing other inflammatory processes (sinusitis). To get rid of it once and for all, many doctors suggest replacing conservative treatment with tonsil removal surgery.

But it should be remembered that after removal of the tonsils, the protective properties of the body are reduced, since the tonsils act as a kind of barrier to microbes penetrating from outside, and also inform the entire lymphatic system about this for the timely production of antibodies.

Prevention of halitosis

There are many reasons for the occurrence of unpleasant odor from the mouth and throat, to eliminate it and freshen your breath, the following preventive measures are recommended:

Rinse your mouth after every meal. Try to brush your teeth 2 times a day and use special dental floss.
Periodically clean your tongue and the inside of your cheeks with a toothbrush that has this function.
Change your diet to increase vegetables and fruits and decrease meat.
If you smoke, try to quit.
Avoid eating foods that may cause an unpleasant odor.
Drink more water and use sugar-free gum.
If you have dentures, they must be cleaned daily to prevent food debris and bacteria from accumulating in them.
Use special mouthwashes that have an antibacterial effect.

All these preventive measures will not be able to get rid of an unpleasant odor if its cause lies in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or ENT organs. In this situation, you should not put off visiting a doctor in order to get rid of the disease in time and breathe freely and easily.